Castel Thun

About the museum

Castel Thun stands on a knoll in the Val di Non, near Vigo di Ton. The name derives from the Tono family, who obtained the castle in 1267 by investiture from the prince-bishops of Trento; in the late Middle Ages the Thun family extended their domain over much of the Noce valleys. The noble palace grew out of a 13th-century keep and was gradually transformed from a fortress into a residence; its present appearance is mainly the result of 16th- and 18th-century works. Around the middle of the 16th century Sigismondo Thun had the curtain wall built, with the Porta Spagnola, dated 1566.

The Thun family lived in the castle until the death of Count Zdenko Franz Thun Hohenstein in 1982. In 1992 the Autonomous Province of Trento bought it and began restoration work, cataloguing of the furnishings and inventory of the archive. After about eighteen years of work, the castle opened to the public on 17 April 2010 as a venue of the Castello del Buonconsiglio, together with Trento, Beseno and Stenico.

Today Castel Thun is a rare example of a noble residence still furnished, with furniture from the 16th to the 19th century, family portraits, the Cappella di San Giorgio frescoed by Konrad Waider and the famous Stanza del Vescovo, panelled in cirmolo (Swiss stone pine) wood. The Galleria delle Carrozze houses carriages and sleighs of the family, almost all from the second half of the 19th century, while the gardens and the walls with towers and bastions surround the palace.

Highlights

• Stanza del Vescovo with its 16th-century panelling in cirmolo (Swiss stone pine) wood
• Cappella di San Giorgio with the fresco cycle by Konrad Waider
• Sala degli Antenati with portraits of the Thun family
• Galleria delle Carrozze with 19th-century carriages and sleighs
• Porta Spagnola, curtain walls, towers and gardens

Permanent exhibitions

• Piano nobile – Sala degli Antenati, Stanza del Vescovo, Camera Azzurra and other furnished rooms with furniture, portraits and paintings of the Thun family.
• Piano terra e Cappella di San Giorgio – Inner courtyard with Renaissance frescoes, chapel consecrated in 1504, Sala delle Guardie, old kitchen and tinello (dining room).
• Galleria delle Carrozze – Collection of service carriages, sporting carriages, calashes and sleighs of the Thun family, almost all from the second half of the 19th century.

Founded

2010

Operated by

Provincia autonoma di Trento (Castello del Buonconsiglio, monumenti e collezioni provinciali)

Admission & discounts

Free admission: Every first Sunday of the month from October to March (“Domenica al museo”), for all visitors.

Free admission also for holders of the Trentino Guest Card, teachers accompanying school groups, cultural heritage professionals with a card, licensed tourist guides on duty, and Italians resident abroad registered with the AIRE of the Trentino municipalities. Tickets once bought cannot be changed or refunded. The educational service for schools costs €3 per pupil. Prices and opening times may vary for temporary exhibitions.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: no information
• Elevator: not available
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The castle has architectural barriers and no lifts; the last stretch of the pedestrian road to the entrance is a very steep climb with a partly uneven surface. It is advisable to contact the museum (0461 492811, education@buonconsiglio.it) to agree on access arrangements. Each venue has toilets for families and people with disabilities too. Guide dogs are always admitted.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Stroller-friendly: not available
• Baby changing facilities
• Playground / play area

The Family Space has a breastfeeding corner and a play and relaxation corner for the youngest; family toilets have a changing table. Fixed-time family activities are planned. Pushchairs cannot be taken into the castle and can be left at the ticket office; they are allowed in the gardens.

Getting there & parking

By car: A22 motorway, exit San Michele all'Adige, then State Road 43 of the Val di Non to Vigo di Ton (about 30 km, 32 minutes from Trento according to the museum's website). The castle stands on a knoll: the last stretch on foot is a steep climb.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop
• Coat check
• Wi-Fi

Café open only in the summer period. Publications and gifts are bought at the ticket office, where bulky backpacks and bags can also be left. Free Wi-Fi (Trentino Wi-Fi network, registration with e-mail) for up to two hours, with coverage not guaranteed everywhere.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent

The spaces of Castel Thun and of the other venues of the Castello del Buonconsiglio are available for press conferences, gala dinners, and film and photo shoots; requests are made via the online form and the price list published on the website.

Plan your visit