The Lords of Lichtenberg
The Khuen-Belasi family came into possession of Schloss Lichtenberg around 1490 and inhabited the castle for more than three centuries.
The name Khuen-Belasi arose from the marriage of two ancient Tyrolean noble families and appears in sources from the early 17th century.
The Main Line at Lichtenberg
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The Khuen-Belasi at Lichtenberg
The Khuen were a Tyrolean noble family from the Inn Valley, recorded in medieval Latin documents as de Cunis. The hyphenated name Khuen-Belasi was established around 1610 when the family acquired feudal rights over the Belasi estate, adding it to their name.
Devout Catholics and patrons of the arts, the Khuen-Belasi financed castle extensions and chapels in the surrounding area. The St. Christina Chapel (1575), visible in the photograph, is one example of their religious patronage in the region. They remained connected to Lichtenberg for over 300 years (c. 1490–1807), until the last resident, Alois Khuen-Belasi, abandoned the castle.
Historical note: the celebrated Laurin frescoes in the castle chapel date from the period 1350–1400 — roughly one century before the Khuen family came to Lichtenberg. The Khuen-Belasi did not commission these frescoes; they were already part of the fabric of the building when the family took possession around 1490.
What the Archives Show
The South Tyrol State Archive holds an extensive collection of Khuen-Belasi family documents.
These sources enable a detailed reconstruction of the family history at Schloss Lichtenberg.
Südtiroler Landesarchiv
Dominikanerplatz 6
39100 Bozen / Bolzano
Bestand: Adelsarchiv Khuen-Belasi
Faszikel: 1–8
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