Ciastel Colz

"La gran ćiasa", the big house - that's how the massive box-shaped building is called by the locals. Ciastel Colz, also known as Rubatsch Residence, is located outside the centre of La Villa, a village belonging to the municipality of Badia.

The castle was mentioned for the first time in 1536 when Hans von Rubatsch received permission from nobody less than Ferdinand I, Holy Roman Emperor, to build himself a residence. One year later the Rubatsch Residence was completed, presenting itself as a Gothic building boasting a curtain wall, embrasures, bretèches and two rectangular towers as well as two round towers. At the end of the 16th century Colz Castle passed to the Lords of Colz.

In the middle of the 18th century, however, the building started to decay. After extensive restoration work in the last decades, the castle presents itself again as a venerable old building which is nowadays a popular venue for cultural events. It is also associated with the knight Wilhelm von Prack zu Asch who lived in the 16th century. This legendary figure called "Gran Bracün" has been accused of both heroic deeds and atrocities.