Relatively young botanical garden on the suburbs of Merano within short period of the time became one of the most popular touris destinations in Alto Adige, appreciated by visitors of all ages as a place of quiet and leisure holidays. In 2005 it was elected “most beautiful park in Italy”, while the following year awarded the ambitious title of “Garden of Europe No 6 “.
Foto © I Giardini di Castel Trauttmansdorff/Merano
Although the location is habited for over five centuries the present castle has been build only at the end of 19th century for count Joseph von Trauttmansdorff.
Later has been acquisited by German baron Friedrich von Deuster and in 1970′s became state property governed by Autonomic Province of Bolzano. In 2001 the castle has been opened for tourists in the form of ‘touriseum’ presenting 200 years of history of tourism in Alto Adige.
On the second floor there are reconstructed rooms for Franz Joseph and Sissi, who stayed there over winters of 1870 and 1889. Visitors can follow the special ‘Sissi route’ leading through the city of Merano and neighbouring villages, parks and residences.
The botanical gardens around the castle are developed since 1994 by group of citizens of Merano, who utilized the area of the former castle gardens.
Today there are 12 hectars divided into four thematic areas consisting of 80 topic gardens, that unlike other alpine gardens, cover fauna from all over the world.
Landscapes of South Tyrol present both natural and man made landscapes from the area.
The Forests of the World show various forest types and cultural landscapes of America and Asia including interesting Japanese Gardens.
Mediterranean trees and plants are displayed in the Sun Gardens. The Water and Terraced Gardens present formal European residence parks like English garden, Renaissance garden with the maze made out of plants.
Wandering around a visitor can bump into 700 years old olive tree probablt from Sardinia, that at the moment of transfer weighted almost 6 tons.
From Australia came Wollemia Nobilis, a rare ‘fossil’ tree, known from fossils 65 years old.
The spring welcomes spectators with colorful field of over 150 000 tulips.
Opening hours:
( Apr 1st – Oct 31th ) 9:00 am – 7:00 pm
( Nov 1st – Nov 15th ) 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Fridays (Jun – Aug ) 9:00 am – 11:00 pm
The Gardens of Trauttmansdorff Castle
St-Valentin-Str. 51a
39012 Merano ITALY
Tel. +39 0473 235730
Fax +39 0473 235731
botanica@provinz.bz.it
