Castle Ortenstein, Medieval castle in Merano, Italy

The Ortenstein castle ruin above Merano consists today only of its bergfried, the 12-metre-high Pulverturm, on the southern slope of the Küchelberg or Zenoberg. The tower contains a steel staircase structure inside. No other walls of the castle survive.

Ortenstein Castle was built in the 13th century by the Counts of Tyrol and was destroyed soon afterwards by military action, so only the keep survives. That keep, 12 metres high, was used as a gunpowder store in the 17th and 18th centuries, which gave it the name Pulverturm. Linked with the nearby Passeirer Tor, it formed part of Meran's town wall and later served as a refuge for the townspeople in wartime.

The tower's name, Pulverturm, comes from its later use as a gunpowder store in the 17th and 18th centuries. After the castle was destroyed, the keep served as a refuge for Meran's population during wars. Today it marks the eastern end of the Tappeinerpromenade, a walking path above the town.

The site can be reached through marked hiking trails that connect to other historical locations in the area and remain open year-round. Wear sturdy shoes and be cautious in windy or rainy conditions, as the paths traverse uneven hillside terrain.

The tower's present name, Pulverturm (Powder Tower), comes from its later use as a gunpowder store in the 17th and 18th centuries. It also served as a refuge for Meran's population during wars, and today it marks the eastern end of the Tappeinerpromenade.