The Gardens of Trauttmansdorff Castle

The current structure of the Castle dates back to 1847, when count Joseph von Trauttmansdorff rebuilt it upon the ancient medieval ruins of the castle that one of his ancestors, a soldier, bought in 1500. This renovation is the first example of neo-gothic architecture in Tyrol. Empress Sissi spent here two winters, in 1870 and in 1889.
At the end of the XIX century the castle was bought at auction by the German baron Friedrich von Deuster who brought it back to its ancient splendors.
After South Tyrol was annexed to Italy, the baron von Deuster was dispossessed of his properties and the castle passed under Italian administration, knowing a long decadence.
In 1971 the castle passed under the rule of the autonomous province of Bolzano which, in 1991, decided to turn it into the Museum of Tourism and to set a botanic garden in the park of the castle.

On April 15 2003, after four years of work, the Turiseum was opened. This museum is unique in its genre in the Alps, since it is the first museum of tourism describing the history of mountain holidays.

The museum, which has its seat in the restored Trauttmansdorff Castle, Merano, presents three main topics: the phenomena which developed tourism in South Tyrol and its consequences on people and environment, the tourists – inhabitants relationship and the organization of the tourist sector compared to other activities.

The Turiseum, divided into two sections, the first from 1800 to 1914 and the second from 1914 till nowadays, houses the permanent exhibition of the history of tourism in the historical Tyrol, in a sort of journey back to ancient times with the support of full-scale models, period sceneries and film clips.

The museum has been thought as a place for studies open to the public and the collected materials have been divided into categories: advertising, souvenirs, gastronomy, period pictures and film clips, for a total amount of about 2500 objects dated 1890 - 1940.

An interesting attraction is the South Tyrol game, a giant pinball machine taking you on a journey into the clichés of South Tyrol. Since 2008 three rooms of the Touriseum are dedicated to Princess Sissi, with permanent exhibition of objects that belonged to her.

This year the Touriseum presents the special exhibition “Sie wünschen? Desidera?” (What would you like?), dedicated to the waiter profession.

2011 OPENING TIMES

• 1st April –31st October: 9:00 am - 7:00 pm (last entrance 6:00 pm)
• 1st November –15th November: 9:00 am - 5:00 pm (last entrance 4:00 pm)
• Fridays in June, July and August: 9:00 am – 11:00 pm (last entrance 10:00 pm)

Entry ticket for the Gardens of Trauttmansdorff Castle is valid also for the Touriseum.

The botanic garden extends all around Trauttmansdorff Castle.
Bordered by a downy oak forest, the garden, which enjoys the particularly mild climate of the area, extends over 12 hectares. Here nature and art come together forming a unique aesthetic unity, different blooms follow one another underlining the seasonal changes, and all is enriched by interesting events and areas dedicated to sensorial experiences: a visit to the botanical garden is a unique experience at every age.
Thanks to a perfect balance between nature and art and an innovative spirit, the gardens were elected in 2005 “Most beautiful park in Italy” and on the following year got 6th place among the Gardens of Europe.

The first exotic plants were brought to Merano more than 150 years ago to embellish the great parks and gardens of the town. Plants have been arranged according to their country of origin, taking into account the relationships between natural vegetation, climate, soil and human influence.

The gardens are divided into four big areas: Forests of the World, with deciduous trees and conifers of American and Asiatic origin; the Sun Gardens, with Mediterranean plants; Water and Terraced Gardens, with its creative structures, ups and downs, water courses; Landscapes of South Tyrol, hosting the plants that shape the local territory.

THE WHOLE WORLD IN ONE GARDEN

Sun Gardens

Mediterranean plants like the olive tree, the grapevine, figs, cypresses and lavender create the unmistakable ambience of the south. On the southern slope below the castle lies Italy's northernmost olive grove. Fragrant dwarf shrubs and evergreen shrubs vie with one another, while the live oaks act as a reminder of the natural plant cover of the Mediterranean region, since they once formed extensive forests there.

Water and Terraced Gardens

The Water and Terraced Gardens bring together a wide variety of different types of gardens: stepped paths lead to the formal Italian-style Garden, to the English Garden of Herbaceous Perennials and to the Sensual Garden. Perfectly trimmed evergreen shrubs are followed by colorful flower borders. The steps are accompanied by watercourses that flow into the gently curving water-lily pond with its colorful bank vegetation...

Landscapes of South Tyrol

History and culture change the landscape. Migrating tribes left their traces behind in South Tyrol, peasants were seeking land for grazing and tillage, new cultivated plants became established. Vineyards and orchards, chestnut groves, cornfields and pastures began more and more to replace the natural landscape. South Tyrol, as it presents itself today, is largely a cultivated landscape.

Forests of the world

In the Forests of the World, deciduous trees and conifers of American and Asiatic origin grow alongside each other. Climate and soil determine the type of forest: in the mild climate of Southern Japan and Florida, evergreen broadleaved forests thrive. Some trees from these regions have been cultivated in Merano gardens and parks for decades, possibly due to the mild winters of the area.