Oswald von Wolkenstein Ritt — Departure from Castel Forte (Trostburg), Ponte Gardena

The ride begins at Castel Forte

The Oswald von Wolkenstein Ritt is the most spectacular medieval equestrian tournament in South Tyrol, and every year it officially begins at Castel Forte (Trostburg), the imposing manor standing on a rocky spur above Ponte Gardena (Waidbruck), in the province of Bolzano, at the gateway to Val Gardena in the Isarco Valley. At dawn on the Sunday of the competition, thirty-six teams of riders gather at the foot of the castle and head toward the Sciliar plateau: it is the most significant opening moment of the entire event.

Castel Forte, the cradle of Oswald von Wolkenstein

The choice of Ponte Gardena as the starting point is no coincidence. Castel Forte, documented as early as 1173, belonged to the Wolkenstein family for about six centuries and was the childhood home of Oswald von Wolkenstein (c. 1377–1445), a poet, composer, and knight who remains one of the most fascinating figures of the Tyrolean Late Middle Ages, and to whom the tournament is dedicated. Today, the manor houses the Provincial Museum of Castles of the South Tyrolean Institute of Castles: starting here means beginning the race in the very place from which it takes its name and inspiration.

The tournament and its four challenges

The event, created in 1983 from an idea by artist Hanspeter Demetz, is a team competition: thirty-six quartets of riders, representing local villages and farms, compete for the banner by facing four challenges scattered across the landscape of the UNESCO World Heritage Dolomites:

• Ring jousting (Ringstechen) at Monte Calvario in Castelrotto;
• Labyrinth at Matzlbödele in Siusi allo Sciliar;
• Gallop with obstacles at the Fiè Lake (Völser Weiher);
• Gate passage (Tor-Ritt) at Castel Presule (Schloss Prösels), where the awards ceremony takes place.

More than just a race: the festival

Surrounding the departure from Ponte Gardena and the challenges on the plateau is a true popular festival, featuring a grand historical parade on horseback, marching bands, flag-wavers, and performers in medieval costumes marching through the center of Castelrotto, the main hub of the celebrations. Typical South Tyrolean gastronomy, live music, and family entertainment round out an event that combines equestrian sports, historical re-enactment, and South Tyrolean identity.

Why it's worth the trip

Witnessing the departure of the riders from Castel Forte, with the medieval manor silhouetted above the village of Ponte Gardena, is an experience that transports you back in time. It is the best way to experience the Oswald von Wolkenstein Ritt from its most symbolic moment, in the municipality of Ponte Gardena and in the heart of Trentino-South Tyrol.