Photo: South Tyrol Presule Village Castle Italy

Presule Castle near the village of Presule, South Tyrol in Italy, is overshadowed by the Dolomites Mount Sciliar.

The Presule Castle near the village of Presule in the South Tyrol region of Italy, has the problem of being known by multiple names, due to the German/Italian population of the South Tyrol. Schloss Prosels is the German version, Castello di Presule is Italian - but to add confusion the Italians also call it Castel Colonna.History of the Castle of Presule seems to have begun around 1200, it was mentioned as castrum praesile in 1279 documentation. It is likely the lords of Vols/Fie had the castle built.In 1517 the Presule Castle was transformed into a more elegant and grand residence. The Count Leonhard von Vols (or Leonardo I di Fie) was the lord at that time, he died in 1530. When Leonhard II inherited the castle his family decided to add Colonna to their name - hence the Castel Colonna.The Castle of Presule was inhabited by the Vols/Colonna family until 1804 when the dynasty ended. For the next 176 years there were 14 different occupants, and a long period of non tenancy when the castle was badly neglected. ... continue below the picture...

... In 1981 the Kuratorium Schloss Prosels took charge and restored and renovated the castle to its former splendor. Today, the Castello di Presule still stands proudly on the green lands in the shadow of Sciliar, a mountain 2,563 meters high, in the Dolomite Range of the South Tyrol, Italy.The story of Presule Castle is a common one for the many, many castles in Europe. Some are in ruins, some are partially habitable, some have been handed down from generation to generation, then there are the castles that have been lovingly restored by philanthropic folk who love history and realize its benefit to the children of today and the future.Castello Presule (Schloss Presoele), Italy, South Tirol, Europe, Europe 2006.