World-renowned artist Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart sits down at a fortepiano and performs a mass he composed before a private audience. Revolution breaks out in Rome, and Pope Pius IX is secretly evacuated to safety. The famous painter Marcello Fogolini seeks sanctuary, where he ends up painting never-before-seen frescoes.
These are just a few of the countless stories and events that have occurred at Castel Valer. Built between the 12th and 17th century, the castle has been a significant part of European history for nearly 1,000 years.
And now you can take ownership of its legacy.
700 Years in the Castle: The Spaur Family
The Family Count Spaur Zu Flavon and Valer’s lineage can be traced back to the 12th century, where as early as 1146, Anton Spaur participated in the Zurich Knight Games. The family’s coat of arms showcases a lion on its hind legs holding a cup in its front paws, signifying the Spaur family’s hereditary rights of cupbearers. The family had the right to pour wine for the emperor, but only after tasting it to test if it had been poisoned.
The earliest records show that the family resided in Non Valley until 1346, when Earl of Tyrol (Habsburg) gave Castel Valer to the Spaur family in exchange for their pledged service.
Over the centuries, the Spaurs have made their mark on European history, producing archbishops across Vienna, Salzburg, Brixen, and Trent. They also produced high-ranking military officials, vicars, stewards in Innsbruck and the Tyrol, canonesses, and abbesses of Hall in Tyrol, Essen, and Buchau (Baden Württemberg).
For nearly 700 years, the Spaurs have owned and maintained Castel Valer. Until now. For the first time in history, Castel Valer’s ownership will transfer to a new owner when it goes to auction on September 22nd.
A Millennium of History
It would be impossible to recount all the historic events that have taken place at Castel Valer. The structure consists of two connected castles that were built on the foundations of a Roman castle between the 12th and 17th century. The central tower stands 130 feet (40 meters) tall, providing surveillance of Non Valley. The only access to the tower was originally a wooden bridge that could be destroyed in case of enemy occupation. Located along the ancient Roman road from Gaul to Rome, the Roman Empire used the tower as a base to pass light signals and warnings. The historic road still exists today.
In 1527, the Italian painter Marcello Fogolino fled Venice and sought refuge at Castel Valer. During his time at the castle, Fogolino painted numerous frescoes. To this day, many of his frescoes adorn the Madruzzo rooms and have never been seen before.
In 1776, the same historic year that the United States declared independence from Great Britain, on the other side of the world Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart composed Spaur Mass (KV258) for the Spaur family. It is a beautiful piece of music, and experts say that Mozart performed the mass to a private reception in the Knight’s Hall of Castel Valer.
In 1848, revolution broke out across Western Europe. Karl Spaur was an ambassador to the Holy See. Spaur disguised Pope Pius IX and helped him escape Rome in a specially-designed carriage.
A Historic Auction
Sitting on 18.5 acres (7.5 hectares), Castel Valer consists of 80 rooms, including 15 bedrooms, 14 bathrooms, five kitchens, two renowned chapels, a wine cellar, a sauna, and more. The entire castle has been restored over the past 20 years with modern amenities.
Since 1346, Castel Valer has remained in the Spaur family. This is a truly rare opportunity to not only purchase your very own authentic castle, but to claim nearly 1,000 years of history.
When considering the best way to share this opportunity with the world, seller representative Heidemarie Schwatlo of box8 AG selected Concierge Auctions. She stated, “This is a fantastic way to expose a luxury property like Castel Valer to a global audience. This property will have a new owner on September 22. This is your only chance to own your own private castle.”
To learn more about this opportunity or to schedule an appointment to view the property, call Paulina Kimbel at 011 49 30 2241 2718.
#ClaimYourCastle on September 22nd.
For more information on the history of Castel Valer and the surrounding region, please watch this short film.