History

From Puecherhof to Ansitz Zinnenberg

Originally a farmhouse belonging to the Melag estate, and also known as Puecherhof, the Zinnenberg manor gained its current architectural features under its owner Eustach Franzin between 1626 and 1630. Its history, however, dates farther back.

In 1446, Salomon Puecher left all his possessions to the Wilten Monastery in Innsbruck. These included the Puecherhof farm, which consisted of a house with parlour, kitchen, chamber, cellar, winepress, barn, stable and garden. The estate extended over an area of about 3 hectares, and with a 3:1 ratio of meadow to arable land, livestock farming was excluded in favour of viticulture, to which were dedicated increasing space and efforts.

From around 1480, the farm was managed by the Walch family until Franz Franzin took it over in 1540.

Some 30 years later, his sons Mathias and Florian Franzin received a grant of arms and Mathias inherited the Puecherhof farm. Mathias had five sons, one of whom, Eustachius, had the Ansitz Zinnenberg built between 1626 and 1630 and was bestowed the “von Zinnenberg” title in 1632. Eustachius Franzin had 3 wives and 16 children, the youngest of which, Franz Wilhelm, inherited Zinnenberg. The Franzin family’s rise in the 16^th and 17^th centuries was followed by less flourishing times during the 18^th century. In

1728, Ferdinand Anton Freytag zu Freyenfeld zu Plazegg – who was related to the Franzins by marriage – secured ownership of Ansitz Zinnenberg. It was around this time that plots of land from the estate were sold and annexed to other farms in the area. The period of decline continued in the following years, when more of the property was sold by owner Maria Eva Dornacher-Stark between 1772 and 1787. The levies due to the Wilten monastery were paid with some hesitation at this point – a clear sign of financial difficulties. In 1787, Baron von Yrsch, who was related to the Franzins by marriage, extinguished the debts and took over the estate.

Over the course of the 19^th century the estate was managed by farmers, and this continued until around the mid-20^th century, when a businessman from Bolzano, Maximilian Staffler, bought and restored what had become by then a very run-down estate. Ansitz Zinnenberg remained the property of the Staffler family until 2022, when it was acquired by its current owners, the Fink-Gostner family.

Today, Ansitz Zinnenberg is a sought-after wedding location and event venue, as well as a perfect place for Törggelen dinners – a much loved and equally indulgent South Tyrolean tradition. The manor also houses five recently renovated suites, which are available for rent.