Thomas Allom, “Views in the
Johston, Printer
London, 1836
Extrait des pages 112-113
STARKENBERG
In an oblique direction, between Imst and Nassereit, is situated the hereditary
castle of Starkenberg
; a family highly favoured by Leopold the pious, though deeply
humiliated by his son Frederick ; a family, who outvied in riches and estates,
many German princes and the most wealthy merchants ; possessing, as it did,
besides Starkenberg, the castles of Kronburg, Schlanders, Juval, Ulten, Eschenlohe, Gayen, Vorst, Naturns,
Hohen-Eppan, Galsaun, Zwingenberg and Greifenstein.
On the left borders of the Adige, towering high above the delightful walks,
extending for more than a league, rich with the foliage of the vine, appearig
almost pendant in the sky, over the shadowy fig and chesnut groves of Terlan,
is seen a conical rock, rearing aloft its pointed head, detached from the
mountain-wall piled up behind it, and on its summit standing the castle of Greifenstein,
like the nest of a royal eagle. On a much lower projection of the same rock
is situated a small church, striking one with astonishment, erected by the
brothers Cosmas and Damian, and which was consecrated as early as the year
1230. For centuries has Starkenberg been intimately connected with the political
history of the country, and for many years was it the rallying point of the banished
and rebellious nobility. Oswald of Wolkenstein, the distinguished knight, the Minnesinger
musician and traveller, who traversed three portions of the globe, held
this castle as a certain place of refuge, which he exemplified by repulsing a
general assault. For years the Starkenbergs defied the whole power of Duke
Frederick, and in derision of the long-continued famine, threw a large fattened
swine from the castle walls ; whence originated the provincial name among the
peasantry of das Sauschloss, or the Sow’s Castle. In the
neighbourhood of Greifenstein is seen Siebeneich, opposite the ruins of
castle Maultasch, situated in the marshes which border both sides of the river
Adige, passing by Caltern and Tramin ; and nearer Imst, are situated the castles
of Schroffenstein and Kronburg.