The fortress dominating the Alta Valsugana from the hill of Tegazzo

Castel Pergine, located high on the hill of Tegazzo in Pergine Valsugana, stands at an altitude of 657 meters. It dominates the Alta Valsugana from the basin of Lake Caldonazzo to the Fersina stream. Its strategic position has allowed it to control a wide territory and a vital connection point between Veneto and Trentino. While certain documentation is lacking, it is presumed that the site may have been a seat of a Roman or even pre-Roman castellar in ancient times.

The castle is of medieval origin, with some historians suggesting it arose in the Longobard era on a previous pre-Roman outpost. Although the first certain news dates back to 845, the first documented mention is from 1155. The fortress passed through the hands of the lords of Pergine before being seized in the 13th century by the troops of Ezzelino da Romano. It was later ransomed by Prince Enrico II and kept as a garrison to secure the traffic along the Valsugana border.

After being reconstructed in the 15th century, the castle saw various owners including Bernardo of Cles, a cardinal of Trento, and later the Wolkenstein family. Today, the manor has been restored and transformed into a hotel and restaurant. It is surrounded by an outer wall and features access through a square tower on the road leading to the town of Pergine. The foundation now uses the site for cultural activities, including theater, art exhibitions, and music.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons