Art and nature have been blending since 2001 at the Gardens of Trauttmansdorff Castle, set in a natural amphitheatre on the eastern outskirts of Merano, with more than 80 garden landscapes from around the world and several unique Experience Stations, including ten Artist Pavillions and a spectacular viewing platform designed by star architect Matteo Thun, in addition to attractions the Botanical Underworld and a „Lovers’ Garden“.

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.

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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.

Towering high above the deep Eggental Canyon is the impressive Cornedo Castle.

The symbol of the local municipality, it was built around 1200 by the Greifenstein family and is considered one of the most beautiful in South Tyrol. Among the highlights are the courtyard and fountain, open-air staircases and loggia spread over two floors.

Tours (only possible with a guide) are held in April, May, June, September and October on Fridays at 2:00 and 3:30 pm.

Reservation necessary!

The astronomical and solar Observatories, the window on the universe in San Valentino. After lengthy preparations the Astronomical Observatory was erected in the year between 1999 and 2002. In 2006 the Solar Observatory was inaugurated. The position, the constructions and the equipment allow close observation of the celestial bodies and the sky, while offering basic information on astronomy. The conference hall under the cupola is designed for multimedia prensentations.

The Museum of Nature South Tyrol lies in the ancient administrative Headquarters of the Emperor of Austria, Maximilian the First. The variety of South Tyrolean landscape is exhibited on a surface of 100 square metres, with special regard to the Birth of the Dolomites. The main attraction is the marine aquarium, as well as the temporary exhibitions.

At the beginning of the Sarntal Valley you’ll find Runkelstein Castle, on the northern outskirts of town. You can easily get there on foot walking the lush green Talfer promenade or using a bike by taking the bike path. You can also hop on number 12 bus (Sunday Nr. 14), as well as the free shuttle departing from Walther Square (for further information contact Bolzano’s Tourism Office). At the foot of the castle you’ll find parking space for cars and bikes.

Built in 1237 on a jutting edge of rock, the castle has been worked on and enlarged many times over and it boasts a collection of beautiful frescoes, depicting life scenes from court, hunting parties, knightly tournaments and scenes from everyday life. Literary depictions are not missing, as they also illustrate the adventures of Tristan and Isolda and those of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table. It is the biggest collection of profane frescoes and the best preserved one of the Middle Age. There are always some interesting cultural events going on at the castle, wich from time to time liven up the halls and court of Roncolo. A restaurant offers the chance to taste local dishes in a medieval setting.

The Plattner farm house in Costalovara is more than 600 years old. The Gramm Family, a mercantile family from Bolzano, has carried out an exemplary restoration of it liaising closely with the provincial historic preservation agency and so, also because of its unique location, it is one of the most picturesque farmsteads in the region. Today it accommodates a bee-keeping museum that illustrates in a lively and vivid way the sweet art of making honey. The magnificent Plattnerhof is the largest private collection of South Tyrol’s beekeeping and it is also a monument of rural architecture and savoir vivre. A nature trail on the picturesque hill near to the house explains the world of bees to visitors.

The Plattner Bienenhof offers various products around bees and honey.

The oldest glacier mummy in the world, Ötzi the Iceman, has found his last resting place at the South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology. Dating from the Copper Age (5,300 years old), he can been seen with his original clothing and equipment. Each year there are different special exhibitions on archaeological topics from South Tyrol to supplement the permanent display.

 

More about Ötzi and the museum

Prösels Castle was built in 1200 by the masters of Völs, the noble servers of the bishop of Brixen. In the early 16th century, the head of the provincial government, Leonhard von Völs, turned the castle into a Renaissance residence. The castle as it looks today is almost entirely the work of Leonhard von Völs. In the year 1981, the company KURATORIUM SCHLOSS PRÖSELS Ltd. purchased the castle.

Discover the Rittersaal, the Pfeilersaal, Kaminzimmer ,the Castle chapel and many other rooms in the Renaissance castle on a guided tour. Special programmes are available for school groups and families.

Monastery of Novacella was founded by the blessed bishop Hartmann in 1142 as an Augustinian monastery. Thanks to its monastery school it became one of the most important centre of education and art. In 1742 the monastery was the largest in Tyrol, the Romanesque abbey church of Abbazia di Novacella was redesigned in Baroque style. Unique at  the monastery of Novacella is the round building of Castello dell’Angelo, former hostel and defence facility. The Gothic cloister benefits from valuable frescoes, while the well in the courtyard depicts the wonders of the world. The 8th wonder is said to be Novacella. The Rococo library of the monastery  of Novacella is uniquely beautiful, the Pinacoteca houses medieval paintings by outstanding masters Michael and Friedrich Pacher and Marx Reichlich. The Turkish wall dates back to turbulent times. The mill, water buildings and wine cellar point to the economic importance of the monastery. The area around the monastery is the northernmost winegrowing region of Italy with the well-known white wines Sylvaner, Müller-Thurgau and Kerner.

New: The museum, the cloister, the church and the library can be visited independently

Other information about the monastery of Novacella

The historical garden: The historical garden is situated at the entrance to the monastery complex. It reopened in summer 2004 following extensive restoration work.
News: The monastery garden can be visited indipendently.

The monastery of Novacella is closed on Sundays and Catholic Holidays. 

To the south of Bolzano, on porphyry rock, a vast castle arrangement, by the way, one oldest is in South Tirol. On account of her impressive situation, it is – as it is due to her beauty – also far away obviously.

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.