History & Genius Loci

The first mention of the estate dates back to 1363, when it was still a simple farmhouse.

Over the centuries, the owners change several times and different families farm the property.

In the 17th century, the Prunner family acquired the estate, which was then a rural farm and developed it into a stately residence. The Prunner family is elevated to the status of nobility in 1611, becoming the "Prunners of Hirschprunn". In the course of this social ascent, the family's coat of arms is extended to include a stag (in German: "Hirsch") and a fountain, hence the estate's present name Hirschprunn.

At the beginning of the 17th century, the originally Gothic-Romanesque manor house is rebuilt in Renaissance style and extended by one floor. Cross-vaulted ceilings are added, which is very typical for the "Unterlandler" (southern Alto Adige) manor houses. Johann Christian Prunner gives the estate the final touch in 1681, adding Baroque architectural extensions to the original Renaissance palace. His main focus was on the second floor, which he extends into a stately wing. With this refurbishment, Casòn Hirschprunn succeeds in becoming a masterpiece of local aristocratic architecture.

In the 19th century, the Hirschprunn estate passes from the Prunner family to the Kager family through marriage. Under their management wine trade significantly increases and numerous alterations are made. The estate’s entire eastern wing - where our Vineria Paradeis is located today - is retrofitted with a cellar. In 1830 Johann Kager is the largest wine merchant in the Bassa Atesina.

In the 20th century, Karl Kager's nephew Hermann von Wiedmann Staffelfeld inherits the estate. The Wiedmann Staffelfeld family are the last owners who actually live in the palace. They were very popular in Magré at the time. The family finances the building of the village’s first girls' and boys' schools and the first water pipes in the municipality and helps with the construction of the Adige bridge. In 1940 the family decides to leave the country, as part of the “South Tyrol Option Agreement” during the Second World War, taking with them everything that is portable and selling the estate to the bishops of Trento. The change of ownership is accompanied by a phase of decline and neglect of this valuable building.

In 1991, Alois Lageder takes over the historic estate and the associated vineyards. The old walls are deliberately left unrestored, thus preserving their authentic character. The historic rooms are now used as a Vineria, a restaurant and for events.