Maranatha Folk Art and Nativity Museum

The Maranatha Museum of Folk Art and Nativity Scenes in Lutago, Ahrntal Valley, inaugurated in 2000, is today the largest nativity scene exhibition in Europe. Since its opening, the museum has been continuously expanded and renovated: it now offers over 1,500 m² of exhibition space on two floors, plus an extensive themed garden dedicated to Alpine sculpture and craftsmanship.

Inside, visitors can admire Christmas artworks from various countries, alongside precious examples of local carving traditions. The exhibition route illustrates the evolution of woodcarving: from ancient tools and the first roots carved by shepherds to the modern wooden sculptures typical of the Ahrntal Valley.

The Artists’ Atelier and the Art of Sculpture

At the entrance of the artists’ atelier, two large display cases present miniatures of everyday objects, tools once used by farmers, and a series of rough-hewn carved heads showing how a face takes shape from a simple block of wood.

The atelier, where artist Lukas Troi has been working since 2003, is a dynamic space showcasing painting and figure restoration, model creation, new artworks, and custom commissions. The museum also offers tailor-made woodcarving services, custom art objects, and even nativity scene rentals during Advent.

The Sculptors’ Garden

Outdoors, the Sculptors’ Garden celebrates the ancestral bond between humans and nature. At its center stands a 500-year-old Swiss pine trunk, symbolizing the creative force of the Alpine landscape. Around it are fountains, chainsaw-carved figures, and modern shapes in stone and marble.

One section is dedicated to root sculptures, an art that originated among shepherds who, during long days on the mountain pastures, carved what nature provided: twisted roots, sticks, and pieces of wood transformed into masks and fantastical figures.

The Mask Room and the Krampus Tradition

A dedicated room hosts the Mask Exhibition, featuring depictions of witches, devils, grotesque figures, and characters from the traditional “St. Nicholas play.” The masks, also called larvae, are carved from Swiss pine or linden wood, enriched with horns (today real, once carved), and painted with oil colors.

The section dedicated to Tyrolean Krampus delves into a fascinating chapter of Alpine culture: each mask is carved from local wood using techniques passed down through generations.

Modern Art Atelier

Along the stairs leading to the sculptors’ workshop is the Modern Art Atelier, displaying small nativity scenes from around the world—many awarded in international competitions. Exhibits rotate every six months and include works by renowned artists such as Roberto Cippolone (CIRO), Willy Messner, Kurt Wierer, Leo Demetz, Bruno Lipp, and others.

The Aureola: A Unique Collection

Since 2009, the museum has also hosted the Aureola, an 80 m² exhibition area designed for high-value pieces: the annual nativity scene of the Cadipietra Nativity Association, an ancient Oriental nativity scene, a Swarovski nativity, an old Neapolitan nativity, and many more rare creations.

A Museum in Constant Evolution

The Maranatha Museum was born from an idea of the Gartner family and continues to grow thanks to talented sculptors and nativity scene makers such as Jonas Pitscheider, Lukas Troi, Olaf Flatscher, Paul Gartner, Eduard Untergasser, and Rainer Minatti. Guided tours, enhanced by thematic videos, offer insights into the history of the museum and woodcarving in the Ahrntal Valley.

The museum also offers painting, modeling, and carving courses, and features a 140 m² souvenir shop, where visitors can buy unique handcrafted products or request custom-made gifts.