Chienes – Roman Road, Churches and Castle History
Accommodation in Chienes
Chienes combines historic buildings with specific trail themes and a connection to excursions to Kronplatz. This means you can plan around both cultural history and hiking: one trail focuses on travel in Roman times, another hike starts at the GrĂĽnbach stream, and churches and a castle tell the stories of different periods of construction.
Hikes starting in Chienes
The Roman Road from Chienes to Ehrenburg starts in the centre of Chienes. Information and rest stops explore travel in Roman times. Another cultural and scenic hike also starts in Chienes and initially follows the Grünbach stream towards Schöneck Castle. The two trail descriptions have different focuses: the Roman Road centres on the stops exploring the history of Roman travel, while the other hike begins with a stretch alongside the stream and heads towards Schöneck Castle. Both start in Chienes, but have different destinations and initially described routes.
Castle history in Ehrenburg
Ehrenburg Castle can only be viewed from the outside. Its history begins with an initial structure dating from the 12th century; around 1732, the castle was remodelled in the Baroque style. These two dates mark its transformation from its early origins to its later Baroque form. The restriction is important for visitors: the castle can only be viewed from the outside.
Church art and building phases
In St. Sigmund, the present parish church was built between 1449 and 1489. Its high altar dates from 1440 and is one of the oldest and most significant winged altarpieces in South Tyrol. A winged altarpiece is characterised by its side wings; the term therefore also describes the form of the altar structure. The high altar is dated earlier than the construction period of the present church. This comparison links a specific construction date with the altar’s outstanding art-historical significance.
Another building in St. Sigmund is the Baroque Stöckl chapel dedicated to Our Lady of Sorrows. It was built in 1621 and extended in 1644. The separate dates make the original construction and subsequent extension clear as two distinct building phases. Together with the parish church, these dates represent different historical moments: the construction period of the present church, the earlier date of the high altar, and the building of the Stöckl chapel and its later extension.
Building history and art also highlight different aspects of Ehrenburg. The provost church of the Assumption of Mary is a Baroque building constructed between 1698 and 1701. Its crypt chapel houses the “Kornmuttergottes” and other notable works of art. While the dates place the church’s construction in context, the crypt chapel draws attention to the works of art it contains. The castle and church thus offer different perspectives on the history of Ehrenburg.
Milestone and excursion planning
The Ehrenburg milestone is around two metres tall, made of quartz phyllite, and is one of the best-preserved examples of its kind in South Tyrol. Its height, material and state of preservation set it apart from the churches and castle. Its name and approximate size give the milestone a distinctive profile among the cultural heritage described here.
Chienes is also a starting point for excursions to Kronplatz, which is easily accessible by public transport. If you are looking for a hotel in Chienes, you can plan your stay around the things that interest you most: the buildings described here, one of the hikes starting in Chienes, or an excursion to Kronplatz. These specific cultural and trail themes can help you plan your trip, without combining the two hikes or the historic sites into a single route.
Discover more destinations: Prettau, MĂĽhlwald, Terenten, Abtei, Luttach, Lappach, Issing, Innichen.
Return to the main travel overview: Pustertal.
