Castel Rendelstein or Rendlstein (in German Schloss Rendelstein or Rendlstein) is a castle in Bolzano, in the Sant'Antonio area, a few steps from Castel Klebenstein (or Sant'Antonio), along the course of the Talvera.
What to see
Today one would hardly call it a castle: it is a large house of grey stone. In the past it was a small noble manor: on the river side stood an inhabited crenellated tower, on the other the palace. In 1859 two floors of the tower were pulled down, making it in effect unrecognisable; today the palace and the enclosure wall towards the road are recognisable.
The little castle was built in 1237 by the Vanga as an outpost of Castel Roncolo, then passed to a family of the minor nobility, the Rendelstein indeed, in the hands of the vassal Conrad of Rendelstein. The first mention as Rennilstein is of 1278, in the urbarium of Novacella abbey near Bressanone; the ministerials of the same name appear in 1294 with Schwiker of Renlistein. In the 16th century the castle belonged to the Schidmann, then often changed owners, until it came to the von Kofler family in the 19th century. For a time it was run as an inn, «zum Gschlössl», by farmers, and inside there are private homes.
Visiting
The castle is in the Sant'Antonio area, along the Talvera; since it houses private homes, the sources consulted give no possibility of visiting inside, and it is best to check from outside what can be seen.
Our editors' tip
Look for the enclosure wall towards the road and the palace: they are the elements that remain recognisable after the pulling down, in 1859, of two floors of the tower that faced the river.
