he Fruit Growing Museum is located in Lana, one of the oldest fruit growing communities in the province of Bolzano, just a few kilometres from Merano. The Fruit Growing Museum exhibits extensive documentation on the development of fruit growing from its beginnings to the present day. The museum is housed in the 14th century Larchgut building.
The Fruit Growing Museum is a tribute to one of South Tyrol's most important crops: the apple. More than 6 billion apples are harvested here every year. And Lana near Merano provides about 1% of this production: hence the idea to set up the museum here, in one of the oldest large municipalities in South Tyrol, which has always been dedicated to fruit growing.
The exhibition in the Fruit Growing Museum focuses on three important aspects of apple cultivation: the beginnings, with land reclamation and the embankment of the river Adige; frost protection in fruit growing, where the methods used to protect orchards from spring frost are illustrated, from the first tools such as smoke or heat to modern temperature control systems; plant protection and pest control, from rudimentary bark scraping tools to organic farming systems.
The museum houses the oldest press in the region, dating back to 1570. Temporary exhibitions are often held on the second floor. There are also apple workshops and guided tours with tasting.
The Fruit Growing Museum is housed in the Larchgut Building, an old medieval building consisting of a tower from 1300 and a three-storey Gothic building from 1500. Next to the museum is the company headquarters and the courtyard with some fruit trees.
Opening hours
1. April - 28. October
Tuesday to Friday: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Saturday: 1 - 4 p.m. last entry: one hour before closing time
30th October - 3rd November
Monday to Friday: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Prices
adults: 6€
children and youths (6 - 18 Jahre): 2.50€
family ticket: 12€
groups of 10 and more persons: 4,50€
groups of 20 and more persons: 3,50€
How to get to the Fruit Growing Museum
The museum is located in Lana di Sotto and can be reached by following the Brandis Waalweg path from Via Palade in about 3.5 km, or by taking the 215 bus from Postal.
For further information:
Fruit Growing Museum c/o Larchgut Building
Brandis Promenade, 4 - Lana (BZ)
Tel. (+39) 0473 564387
