Castel Thun

Castel Thun, imposing and austere, was the seat of one the most important family of Trentino. The castle stands on a hill dominating the town of Vigo di Ton, with a panoramic view over the whole of the Non Valley. It is a complex system of fortifications, made up of towers, walls, bastions, parapets and trenches, and owes its present appearance to modifications during the 16th Century. The Porta Spagnola, a massive gate, also dating from this century, leads via a drawbridge to the first courtyard. Facing it is the imposing baronial palace. The spacious interior consists of a series of rooms in which the fine original furnishings and the family collection of paintings have survived. The most impressive and interesting room is the 16th Century Stanza del Vescovo (Bishop's Chamber) that is panelled throughout in wood from the Stone Pine. In 1992 Castel Thun was acquired by the Autonomous Province of Trento with is undertaking its restoration and it cataloguing the furnishing. The 17 April 2010 the Castle will be opened to the public.

Thun Castle is a rare example of a furnished residence where an exceptional artistic collection acquired throughout the many centuries of its history is still conserved. The fascinating series of rooms are furnished with couches, chests of drawers, cabinets, sideboards and lounge day beds. The walls are hung with family portraits, landscapes, still lifes, and paintings with religious and mythological themes. Among the artists are Jacopo Bassano, Camillo Procaccini, Giuseppe Maria Crespi, Giovanni Battista Lampi, Joseph Bergler along with the 19th century Mitteleuropea painters such as Kohl, Vollmer, Achenbach, and Heinlein. Precious glass tableware, goblets, glasses, pitchers and pedestal trays, mostly of Bohemian make, are displayed alongside Majolica ware, porcelain, alabaster sculptures, vases, candlestick holders, and objects made of pewter, bronze and copper. The collection of mêlée weapons and firearms and the rare collection of sleighs and carriages are eloquent testimony to the family's glorious past.

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