Circular Hike to Rotund Castle Ruins

High above the village of Taufers im Münstertal (Tubre), the medieval ruins of Rotund Castle and Reichenberg Castle watch silently over the valley. Both fortresses date back to the Middle Ages and were originally built under the authority of the Bishops of Chur, who once ruled the region. Rotund Castle, perched at around 1,500 meters, is one of the highest castles in all of Tyrol and offers not only a glimpse into centuries past but also stunning panoramic views.

You can park your car in the village center of Taufers, ideally at the parking lot next to the Parish Church of St. Blasius. From there, follow a slightly wider forest road before turning left onto a woodland trail. The path climbs steeply through the forest and eventually splits—one way leads down to the lower-lying Reichenberg Castle ruins, about 150 meters below Rotund. You can make a short detour to explore it, or continue uphill directly to Rotund Castle.

After exploring the impressive ruins of Rotund, the trail continues through a peaceful stretch of forest, before descending to the Plurwaal irrigation channel—a traditional South Tyrolean watercourse. A scenic walk along the gently flowing water leads you back to your starting point.

Historical Background:
Rotund Castle was built around the year 900 on the orders of the Bishops of Chur and served as the residence of various noble families over the centuries. One such family, which lived there from approximately 1150 to 1288, even adopted the name “von Rotund”—likely inspired by the round layout of the central keep.
Later, the notorious von Reichenberg family, known as robber knights, took possession of Rotund. This is why it’s sometimes referred to as “Oberreichenberg” (Upper Reichenberg). Reichenberg Castle, situated below Rotund, also originally belonged to the Bishops of Chur. In the mid-12th century, it fell into the hands of the infamous Lord of Reichenberg, who gained a fearsome reputation in the region.
Both castles were eventually abandoned in the late 17th century and gradually fell into ruin. Today, they are owned by the municipality of Taufers and remain freely accessible to visitors—though there are no facilities on site.