In Val di Non, among the apple orchards surrounding the town of Tassullo, stands a castle which for centuries was the residence of the same noble family and which still today preserves furniture, paintings, rooms and objects belonging to its inhabitants. It is Castel Valer, in the municipality of Ville d’Anaunia, in Trentino, recognizable for its imposing octagonal tower which dominates the landscape from around 40 meters high.
The manor, which until a few years ago was still a private residence, today belongs to the autonomous Province of Trento and can be visited through guided tours. Furthermore, during the Christmas period, families have the opportunity to explore it by following the clues contained in a letter ideally written by the last count to his nephew, an initiative that allows them to learn about the history of the castle through the events of those who inhabited it.
A medieval castle surrounded by the apple orchards of the Val di Non
To reach Castel Valer you start from the town of Tassullo, where a walk of about fifteen minutes leads to the hill on which the complex stands. The route passes through one of the most characteristic agricultural landscapes of the Val di Non, with the orchards that surround the manor and change appearance depending on the seasons.
The position of the castle originally had a strategic function, as it allowed control of the ancient road that connected Cles, Tassullo, Nanno and Flavon. The first documented mention dates back to 1191, although the origins of the complex are probably even older.
What makes it immediately recognizable is the octagonal granite tower, about 40 meters high and considered the tallest in Trentino. Its particular plan, rather unusual in Alpine military architecture, constitutes one of the most interesting elements of the manor, which progressively developed right around the tower.
Over the centuries, two main nuclei were built: the Castel di sotto, older and linked to the original defensive functions, and the Castel di sopra, from the Renaissance period, when the fortification was progressively transformed into a noble residence.
The Spaur family and the count who lived in the castle until 2021
Much of the history of Castel Valer is linked to the Spaur family, who maintained ownership for around six centuries, expanding the buildings and adapting them to the needs of different generations.
The last count to have inhabited the manor was Ulrico Spaur, who passed away in February 2021. Until then Castel Valer had retained a domestic dimension, as evidenced by the internal rooms, in which there are still furnishings, portraits, historic stoves and objects that belonged to the family.
Walking through the rooms you can observe the studies, the Gothic kitchen, the Madruzzian rooms and the large Ulrico hall, environments that tell how daily life took place in a noble residence and how the habits of its inhabitants had changed over time.
For many years the castle remained closed to the public, while the first regular openings date back to 2017, when an agreement between the family and the Val di Non Tourism Company made it possible to organize guided tours.
In June 2023, the autonomous Province of Trento purchased Castel Valer from the Spaur heirs, through a real estate transaction with a total value of 15.6 million euros, which included an exchange of properties and an economic settlement. The acquisition made it possible to permanently allocate the complex to the valorisation of the cultural heritage of the area.
From fifteenth-century frescoes to Gothic cuisine: what to see inside
One of the most interesting aspects of Castel Valer concerns the state of conservation of the rooms, which allow us to retrace different eras without losing the connection with the history of the family that inhabited them.
The guided tour includes the internal courtyards, the gardens and some of the most representative rooms, including the chapel of San Valerio, from which the castle takes its name. Inside there is a cycle of fifteenth-century frescoes created by the brothers Giovanni and Battista Baschenis, painters belonging to a family of artists originally from Bergamo.
The paintings depict San Valerio and other saints, including Sebastiano and Fabiano, and testify to the role that religious devotion had in the life of the noble families of the time.
The Gothic kitchen is also particularly interesting, one of the rooms that allow us to imagine the daily organization of the residence. The noble rooms, however, preserve furnishings, paintings and decorations that tell the taste of different generations, while the Ulrico room and the Coat of Arms Room were intended for representation and social moments.
The architecture of the complex also reserves some curiosities. The walls and buildings developed following the shape of the octagonal tower, giving rise to a set of courtyards, passages and loggias in which medieval, Gothic and Renaissance elements coexist.
At Christmas the castle is visited following a letter from the last count
For the winter of 2026-2027 Castel Valer offers a particular experience dedicated to families, who will be able to get to know the manor through an imaginary letter addressed by Count Ulrico Spaur to his nephew.
The route is organized like a small hunt for clues: with a booklet in hand, children and adults go through the rooms following the traces left in the story, while the guides illustrate the history of the castle and the stories of its inhabitants.
The letter thus becomes the underlying theme of the visit, during which participants can discover the historical environments through small details, anecdotes and references to the life of the Spaur family.
Santa Claus will also meet in Castel Valer in December, scheduled for the Sundays of 6, 13, 20 and 27 December 2026, at 10am and 3.30pm.
Children will be able to meet Santa Claus in front of the large fireplace in the Ulrico room, while the journey will end in the Coat of Arms Room, where they will be offered biscuits and hot apple juice, one of the most representative products of the valley.
How to visit Castel Valer: timetables and reservations
Castel Valer is located in Tassullo, in the municipality of Ville d’Anaunia, in the province of Trento, and can be visited exclusively through guided tours upon reservation, organized according to a calendar that varies throughout the year.
For the 2026-2027 Christmas holidays, openings are scheduled from 5 to 8 December, from 12 to 31 December, with closing on Christmas Day, and from 2 to 6 January. The generally scheduled times are 10am and 3pm, with some variations on public holidays and on the occasion of special events. On Sunday 3 January, at 10am, a visit is scheduled in the formula dedicated to children, teenagers and families.
Those arriving by car can park in Piazza Carlo Antonio Pilati, in the center of Tassullo, and continue on foot along the panoramic road that leads to the castle, reachable in about fifteen minutes. People with particular mobility difficulties can contact the Val di Non Tourist Office in advance to check the possibility of arriving closer to the entrance by car.
To book a visit or find out updated availability, you can contact the Val di Non Tourism Office by calling 0463 830133 or writing to info@visitvaldinon.it.
The castle can also be visited in other seasons, when the apple orchards surrounding it are filled with flowers or fruit. The walk from Tassullo, the octagonal tower and the preserved environments allow you to learn about a part of the history of Trentino through a residence which, after being inhabited for centuries by the same family, has become public heritage.
