Sigmundskron Castle (German: Schloss Sigmundskron, Italian: Castel Firmiano, from the Firmian family) is an extensive castle and set of fortifications near Bozen/Bolzano in South Tyrol. The first historical mention of the castle, under the name Formicaria (later Formigar), dates back to AD 945. In 1027 Emperor Conrad II transferred it to the Bishop of Trent. In the 12th century it was given to ministeriales, those unfree knights who made up a large majority of German knighthood during that time. Around 1473 the Prince of Tyrol, Duke Sigismund the Rich, bought the castle, renamed it Sigmundskron (Sigmund's Crown)Castle and had it developed to withstand firearms. Of the old castle of Formigar there are only a few remnants left today, mostly located on the highest point of the site. Due to financial difficulties Sigmund had to pledge the castle soon afterwards. As a result the site fell increasingly into disrepair. From the end of the 18th century the castle changed aristocratic hands, until in 1976, the half-ruined castle was partially restored by an innkeeper's family and opened as a restaurant. In 1996 the castle passed into the possession of the Province of Bolzano. In the spring of 2003, after much controversy, the South Tyrolean mountaineer Reinhold Messner was given a licence for his long-planned mountain museum. During construction work a Neolithic grave was discovered in March 2006, in which a woman's skeletal remains were found. The age of the grave is estimated to be 6,000-7,000 years old. The fortress is an important political symbol in South Tyrol. In 1957 the largest protest rally in the history of South Tyrol was held here. More than 30,000 gathered in the castle to protest and demand freedom for South Tyrol from Trent. They succeeeded in having an autonomous province twined with, but not dependent on, Italian-speaking Trent. This shot was taken from the highway. I want to visit it in the future. Thanks for your kind comments.