Castel Belfort: A Historic Castle in Spormaggiore, Italy

Visitor Information

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Official Website: www.prolocospormaggiore.tn.it

Country: Italy

Civilization: Medieval European

Remains: Military

History

Castel Belfort stands in Spormaggiore, within Italy’s Trento province. It originated in 1311 when Tissone, son of Geremia I, obtained permission from Count Enrico of Tyrol to build a tower. This initial structure marked the beginning of the castle’s medieval presence in the Val di Non region.

In 1334, the castle became involved in local noble conflicts. After Tissone’s death in 1339, his heirs inherited the property but transferred it in 1350 to the Thun family. The Thun appointed the Reifer family as captains of Castel Sporo, who maintained control until 1415. That year, the lords of Sporo seized the castle, but following Pietro Sporo’s death, it returned to Frederick IV of Austria, Count of Tyrol.

Between 1427 and 1429, ownership shifted rapidly. Frederick IV granted the castle first to Giovanni Uber, then to judge Andrea Vogt. Later in 1429, the Thun family regained possession and restored the Reifer as captains by 1450. The Reifer line ended around 1470, after which the Neideck family, ministerials from Andrech, took control. The Neidecks expanded their holdings to include several castles but became extinct near 1500.

Following the Neidecks, the castle passed to the Concini family and was sold in 1543 to Leonardo Nogarola from Verona. In 1607, Antonio Pezzen, a notary of Brescia origin from Val di Non, acquired it. After the Pezzen family line ended, the Terlago family, related by marriage, inherited the castle.

Domenico Vigilio Spaur purchased Castel Belfort in 1642 but sold it eight years later to Antonio del Monte, married to Antonia Saracini. With no heirs, the castle became the property of the Saracini counts. A devastating fire in 1670 nearly destroyed the structure. The Saracini family demolished the ruins and rebuilt the castle as a fortress, applying 17th-century military architectural methods.

In 1785, the castle’s jurisdiction merged with those of Castel Sporo and Castel Flavon. The administrative center moved to Spormaggiore, leading to Castel Belfort’s abandonment and gradual ruin. The Saracini family retained ownership until the late 20th century, when the municipality of Spormaggiore purchased the site. In 2013, restoration efforts stabilized the ruins and improved access, earning recognition from the Circolo Trentino Architettura Contemporanea.

Remains

The site of Castel Belfort includes the remains of the original 14th-century tower and later expansions. After the 1670 fire, the castle was rebuilt as a fortress using military construction techniques of the 17th century. Although specific details about the layout or materials are not documented, the reconstruction reflects the defensive style of that period.

Today, the castle stands in a ruined state but has undergone conservation and stabilization to prevent further decay. These efforts have made the remains more accessible while preserving their historical character. No inscriptions, decorative elements, or archaeological artifacts such as tools or pottery have been reported at the site.

Castel Belfort’s location and structure historically served as the seat for local captains, particularly the Reifer family, and formed part of a jurisdictional network with nearby castles Sporo and Flavon. The ruins reflect this administrative and military role within the region’s medieval and early modern history.