Shield farms in Val Passiria
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Shield farms
In the Middle Age, the shield farms were aristocratic residences which distinguished themselves as castle-like "stone houses" from the timber houses of the Passeier Valley. A part of the shield farms is reducible to noblemen which built their residences in the Passeier Valley due to the close vicinity to Tirol castle.
Another part goes back to the vassals of the Tyrolean sovereigns who at the beginning of the 14th century were honoured for their courage and bravery at the arms: together with the exemption from taxes, the vassals were raised to an aristocratic status enjoying many privileges. They obtained the right of free hunting and fishing and they were allowed to wear the sword, knife and spear also in church and tribunal.
Due to the relocation of the ducal castle from Meran to Innsbruck in the year 1420, the shield farms, as they have been called since the 15th century, lost their importance.
