Juval Castle – A True Jewel!
Reinhold Messner's Juval Castle, which he acquired in the summer of 1983, is located at an altitude of 1,000 meters above the district of Staben, on the edge of the Texel Group Nature Park. This stronghold was built around the year 1278 by Hugo von Montalban. Since then, ownership of the castle has changed repeatedly. It has also undergone several periods of decay and restoration. When Reinhold Messner first purchased the castle, it looked more like a ruin than an ornate castle. He immediately ordered the renovation of the castle, which was to proceed in three phases, corresponding to its original construction. With the installation of the roof made of glass and steel intended to protect the ruin (the north tract) from further decay, the renovation work has been completed for the time being. Messner and his family spend their summer months at this idyllic castle. While there, he works on writing his books, manages the land, and develops museum-like installations. The Juval Castle is viewed as a work of art by both the population and the owner of the castle, himself. That's because it is simultaneously a castle, a museum, a winery, and an organic farm.