The Archaeological
Site of Palù of
Livenza
The Castle

The Springs
of Gorgazzo
The Springs
of Livenza
The Naturalistic
Park of
San Floriano

Polcenigo
Mezzomonte
Coltura
S. Giovanni

The "Sagra
dei Sèst"
Festival Program
Other Festivals



Street Map

THE CASTLE

The Castle of Polcenigo lies on the highest point of the hill and, because of its strategic position, comands a view over the valley. A legend says that in 875 Carlo il Calvo gave this place of sighting to a lieutenant, Count Blois of France. In 973 the Bishop of Belluno, to whom the county was given by Ottone I, reconfirmed the army leader Fantuccio in Count of Polcenigo, the first of a long and noble family. From that moment the fortress became a real medioeval castle with battlemented boundary walls, towers and communication trenches. In consequence the village rose; its first historic mention has beeen found in a deed of 1200 in which Aldrigo and Guarnerio of Polcenigo gave anyone permission to build a house inside castle boundary walls. The village expanded more and more, also economically, especially after the coming of the Republic of Venice (1420). Probably destroyed by a fire, the castle was rebuilt in XVIII century, as a Venetian Villa, as far as we know by the architect Matteo Lucchesi. Now the walls only remain of the ancient magnificence: the San Pietro Chapel, the roof, the dancing hall and the flight of 365 steps that led to the village have disappeared, but the castle facade still comands a view over the square, as a long time ago.