The Gardens of Trauttmansdorff Castle, Botanical garden and tourism museum in Merano, Italy
The Gardens of Trauttmansdorff Castle spread across grounds with roughly 80 garden sections arranged in an amphitheater-like layout centered around a central pond. These sections feature plants from different climates and regions, connected by paths that wind through the entire space.
The castle began as a noble residence and later attracted visits from Austrian Empress Elisabeth, who appreciated the local climate and setting. This connection eventually led to transforming the castle and grounds into a museum dedicated to tourism history in the region.
The Touriseum museum inside the castle displays original objects from over two centuries of tourism history in South Tyrol, showing how travelers and visitors shaped the region over time. These collections reveal the changing ways people discovered and valued the area through the eyes of those who came to visit.
The gardens are open during the warmer months and can be explored at your own pace, with clearly marked paths suitable for different abilities. Signs along the routes explain the various plants and sections, so visitors can learn about everything as they walk through.
Throughout the grounds, artistic pavilions serve as observation points, including one large structure shaped like binoculars that frames views across the entire garden area. This playful element adds an artistic surprise to the botanical experience and makes the space feel more like a work of art than just a collection of plants.
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