Raffeiner Orchideenwelt offers an adventure, not only to orchid lovers, but for families too.

More than 12,000 plants have been embedded in the “jungle” on over 6,000 square meters of greenhouse space. Visitors can expect more than 500 different types of orchids, which offer a true natural spectacle of colors, shapes and fragrances.

But not only the uniqueness of the exotic beauties will fascinate our visitors, but the whole structure of the greenhouse: A lake landscape colored due to the Koi carp. Over a bridge you will geht to the other shore, passing a waterfall that awakens real holiday feelings.

Children are given space to play and different areas to learn playfully about orchids. All people, who want to know more about this flower can have a look into the orchid production.

The tropical villa with a beautiful pond, where orchids swim their tracks, invites you to linger. It could also be your very special event. Whether romantic or business – ideal for everyone.

In the ORCHIDEA, an eventful tour can best be concluded with a piece of homemade cake or a small delicacy prepared with love.
Whether on a tour on your own or in a group with a guided tour – you will feel our philosophy: to give joy to people with extraordinary and magnificent orchids from South Tyrol.

Explore the Raffeiner orchid world and be enchanted!

360° digital tour: https://360.livingtour.it/de/vt/Orchideenwelt-MondoOrchidee

Opening hours:
Thu–Sat 10.30 a.m.–5 p.m.; Sun and bank holidays 10.30 a.m.–1 p.m.; Mon closed.

More about Ötzi and the museum

The smallest town in South Tyrol – Glorenza – has an eventful history and an interesting past as a late medieval trading centre. The town walls, still fully preserved, lend the little town a unique character with their imposing gates and fortified towers. Historic tree-lined arcades, charming narrow alleyways, elegant buildings – the town is simply a cultural treasure.

In its idyllic location deep in the Val Venosta valley, surrounded by majestic mountains and picture-postcard scenery, Glorenza also offers the possibility to discover the natural beauty of the surrounding countryside. Come and be charmed by our little town and enjoy everything our stunning valley has to offer.

History

Glorenza was founded about 700 years ago, in the era of Meinhard II von Tirol. In the course of centuries, this town had an important role to place as a trade centre. Still today two important funfairs are staged righ there, the Bartolomeo market in August and the so-called „Sealamorkt“ in November.

As Glorenza has never grown beyond its murals, still today there are not more than 880 inhabitants. The city was able to preserve its historic character as Mediaeval town and is by the way considered an architectonic jewel: the circular wall with the three city towers and a series of fortified towers surround the charming alleys and corners, town houses of the 16th century and the arcades with their special atmosphere.

No wonder that Glorenza has repeatedly been chosen as film set. If you plan to spend your holidays in the Alta Val Venosta, you absolutely don’t have to miss out Glorenza. Also the Claudia Augusta cycling route stretches past the town gates. Take the opportunity and make a journey back in time in this lovely, Mediaeval market town.

History:

Castle Sigmundskron was called in the first historical mentions about 945 “Formicaria”. In 1027 the German emperor gave the dukedom of Trento as well as the county to Bolzano to the bishop of Trento. In this manner the building went over in his possession and was used from now on as a seat of the Amtsmänner responsible for this territory and, moreover, still for high court meetings.

An enlargement of the castle in 12. and 13. Therefore, Jhd. became necessary. Very pleasantly for the rulers of the area was the control of the navigation on Eisack and Etsch. The only entrance of Bolzano to Eppan could be closed up to the construction of the first bridge about 1200 easily. About 1473 the castle went over in the possession of Sigmund to the coin empires, princes of Tyrol. The lover of nice castles allowed to develop the arrangement immediately. As his most splendid construction the duke called this “castle Sigmundskron”.

However, soon afterwards Sigmund gets in financial difficulties. He must pledge his work, the castle slowly goes to ruin, because it is also not inhabited any more constantly. 1957: The next important event which takes place within these walls is the national rally against “Verwelschungsbestrebungen” (lot of Trento), i.e. against the disregard of the “Paris contract” about 1957.

In 1976 an innkeeper’s family raised for the first time the courage to renovate partially the castle to open the guest company in these romantic surroundings of course also at the same time. In 2006 The sacristan Mountain of museum of Firmian in the castle Sigmundskron/Firmian is opened.

Architectural style: The castle is built mainly in the highly medieval style. The slender donjon in the untercastle shows Late-Gothic rebuildings. From the 13th century is the residential tower with round arch door as well as round arch windows. One recognises two gun turrets by the up to 5-m-thick curtain wall in the upper precastle, among the rest, moreover, you find a living – and economic building in the court (the place of the today’s restaurant). Specific features: Highly – and untercastle are unambiguously separated by a rock formation, a natural barrier which one often does not find thus. Duke Sigmund made the castle by stonecutters decorate, it had to go nicest in his collection. The different dimensions of the loopholes also do not correspond to the norm of that time.

Juval Castle, the summer residence of the world-famous mountaineer, Reinhold Messner and the Messner Mountain Museum.

Medieval Juval Castle is situated on a prehistoric place of worship at the entrance to the pristine Val Senales. The castle was built around 1278 by Hugo von Montalban. In 1540, Juval Castle changed ownership and reached its heyday in those years. In 1913, the Dutch Colonial William Rowland turned up at the dilapidated castle and had it professionally restored. Since 1983 Juval Castle has been the residence of extreme mountaineer Reinhold Messner and has turned Juval Castle into the main site of the MMM Messner Mountain Museum. The castle contains an extensive Tibetan collection as well as the Mountain Gallery and the ethnic mask collection with exhibits from five continents. Juval Castle also boasts some Renaissance-era frescoes that can be visited. Alpine fauna can sometimes be spotted wandering about in the castle grounds and there is also a farm with its own vineyards and a winery. The attached winery Unterortl, the organic farm Oberortl, and the Schlosswirt revitalize these small-scale cultural landscape in Lower Venosta Valley.

For this gorgeous picture and the innovating spirit that lies behind its conception, Trauttmansdorff was named Italy’s Most Beautiful Garden in 2005 and Europe’s No. 6 Garden in 2006. Its subsequent crowning as International Garden of the Year in 2013 launched this unique complex in the firmament of world’s most beautiful gardens and parks.

In 2021, the Gardens of Trauttmansdorff Castle will celebrate their 20th anniversary and biodiversity will reign supreme there. In keeping with the theme of “Diversity,” the Gardens will be showing how important biological diversity is for humanity, animals and plants.

Trauttmansdorff Castle sits enthroned in the centre of the gardens: this imposing structure, where Empress Elisabeth would come to stay during the winter, now houses the South Tyrol Museum of Tourism, a.k.a. Touriseum.

Planned opening hours (latest admittance always an hour and a half before closing time):

• May 29th – July 23rd: open daily from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.;
• July 24th – August 14th: from Saturday to Thursday 9 a.m. – 7 p.m.; on Fridays 9 a.m. – 11 p.m.
• August 15th – October 15th: open daily from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. (latest admittance at 5.30 p.m.);
• October 16th – 31st: open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.;
• November 1st – 8th: open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Featuring some 110,000 inhabitants, Trento is the capital of the Trentino region and actually boasts a fascinating history. Founded by the Celts, fairly soon the ancient settlement was conquered by the Romans and named “Tridentum”. In 1004 AD Emperor Heinrich II appointed the bishops as new rulers over the city. Despite several revolutions and uprisings, the bishops continued ruling the town until in 1796 Napoleon and its troops invaded the area.

Later, Trento became part of the Austro-Hungarian empire. A number of construction works characterised the following period, ranging from the construction of the Brennero motorway to the development of a modern townscape. The city’s autonomy contributed a lot to the fact that Trento has become such an important administrative and economic centre as well as a renowned university city.

Several frescoes found on the palazzi in the inner city show mythologic figures and stories: from the German emperors travelling to Rome to the Council of Trento in 1545 or the diocese of the prince bishops.

The city of Trento has a lot to offer: from palazzi and castles to a peaceful atmosphere, lots of culture and not to forget its oh-so tasty culinary delicacies! Sometimes tourists seem to forget about the particularities of this town, as they prefer hiking up the surrounding mountains or are too busy when walking through the alleys. But the fascinating heart of the city is extraordinary.

Numerous ancient Roman remains, museums and palazzi are waiting to be discovered: the castle Castello del Buonconsiglio, the churches Santa Maria Maggiore, San Apollinare or San Lorenzo, Palazzo Pretorio and the fountain of Neptune, Piazza del Duomo and the San Vigilio cathedral, the memorial of Dante Alighieri, the Diocesan Museum or the Museum of Natural History, the planetarium and the Gianni Caproni Aeronautics Museum,…

MUSE exhibits use the metaphor of the mountain to describe life on Earth. You start from the top: the terrace and the 4th floor allow us to encounter the sun and ice; from there, you descend to investigate the issues of biodiversity, sustainability, and evolution, until you reach the basement and the wonders of the tropical greenhouse.