Experience South Tyrol – Page 23

Earth pillars | Caines

How to reach the Earth pillars

An impressive natural spectacle are the earth pillars near Tirolo Castle and in Caines.

The earth pillars are a majestic natural phenomenon! The main premises for their emergence are the special characteristics of soil, the climate, a position that is sheltered from the wind as well as a huge piece of rock. Heavy rain provokes the soil to become soft and for this reason parts of the terrain to break away. Further rainfalls form corrugations in the terrain and slowly the pillars emerge, covered by a huge stone at the top, which also protects the pillars. Earth pillars mainly develop in moraine landscapes, which are typical in the Burgraviato area. However, only after thousands of years a very high earth pillar emerges. And this is also how this natural spectacle in Tirolo and Caines came into being…

Doing a circular walk is the best way to visit the earth pillars of Tirolo (see pic): in the village centre of Tirolo the path proceeds until Aura Castle and to the restaurant “Tiroler Kreuz”. The path leads you further to Tirolo Castle and back again into the village. Along the path several viewpoints exist, from where the earth pillars can be watched well. Due to a storm some years ago, few pillars were destroyed. If you take the Alta Muta cable car you can also admire the earth pillars.

To reach the Caines earth pillars you have to take the “Erdpyramidenweg” path (Earth Pillar Path). For approx. 35 minutes it proceeds from the Fineletal valley to the Ungerichthof farm in Caines. If you want to do a longer walk take the Caines Waalweg path. By the way: there are even more places with earth pillars in South Tyrol, in Terento and Plata in the Val Pusteria valley and at the Renon.

Gardens of Trauttmansdorff Castle | Merano

How to reach the Gardens of Trauttmansdorff Castle

The Gardens of Trauttmansdorff Castle, located in the town of Merano (Meran) in northern Italy, is a botanical garden nestled into a twelve-hectare amphitheater with an altitude differential of 100 meters. Trauttmansdorff offers spectacular views of exotic gardens and breathtaking vistas of the surrounding mountains and the spa resort town of Merano.

Colorful plants from all around the world thrive and bloom in Trauttmansdorff’s more than eighty garden landscapes. Ideal for both children and adults as well as for botany experts and laymen alike, the Gardens of Trauttmansdorff Castle is a unique blend of botanical gardens and recreational attractions. Multifaceted Experience Stations, spectacular themed gardens, Artist Pavilions, and intriguing animals turn the Gardens of Trauttmansdorff Castle – within easy walking distance from Merano – into a colorful world where visitors enjoy a variety of different experiences.

The Touriseum, South Tyrol’s Province Museum of Tourism, covers 200 years of tourism history in Tyrol and Merano in a very engaging way.

Attraction nearby:
– Touriseum | Merano

Please check this website for detailed information on opening hours and prices.

Contact:
The Gardens of Trauttmansdorff Castle
St.-Valentin-Str. 51a
39012 Merano
+39 0473 255600

Touriseum | Merano

How to reach the Touriseum

Highlight:
– Gardens of Trauttmansdorff Castle | Merano

The Touriseum, the South Tyrolean Museum of Tourism, is located at Trauttmansdoff Castle.
Opened in 2003, the South Tyrolean Museum of Tourism was thought as a further attraction to the visitors of the stunning Botanic Gardens of Castel Trauttmansdorff. In a stimulating and entertaining manner, it shows the historical development of tourism in South Tyrol, the most important events in the history of tourism in Tyrol, and information on the 700 years of history of Trauttmansdorff Castle.
Vacationers and travelers can kinda watch themselves in this museum, together with their motives for traveling, their behavior, illusions, and expectations. On the second floor of the castle, however, a small exhibition on the Empress Elisabeth of Austria (Sissi) and her time in Merano can be found.
How to get there? Just take bus no. 1B or no. 4 in the city center. The Touriseum and the Botanic Gardens of Castel Trauttmansdorff are accessible with one common ticket, for families with a family ticket.

Please check this website for detailed information on opening hours and prices.

Contact:
Touriseum
St. Valentinstr. 51a
39012 Merano
+39 0473 255655

Castle Scena | Scena

How to reach Castle Schenna

The mighty buildings of Castle Schenna just above the city of Meran are still partly surrounded by a moat. Using the bridge, you will come to the entrance of Castle Schenna and from there, if you pass the dungeon, you’ll arrive in the courtyard. An open staircase will lead you to the castle chambers. Castle Schenna in South Tyrol is open for guided tours. Only the wing containing the private rooms of the count’s family remains closed to the public. The halls and grand chambers are home to a painting and portrait gallery, a weapons collection, as well as numerous art-historic objects of Tyrolean history.

Opening hours:
1 April to 30. October
Visits only as guided tours on

From Tuesday to Friday
10.30am / 11.30am / 2pm / 3pm
Evening tour every Monday at 9pm

Price:

Adults	9,00 €
Children up to 14 years	3,00 €

Contact:
Castle Schenna
Schlossweg 14
39017 Scena
+39 0473 945630

Salego ruins | Siusi

How to reach the Salego ruins

The Salegg/Salego ruin is not far from the Hauenstein/Castelvecchio ruin, in the Hauensteiner Wald/Selva di Castelvecchio forest. Of the castle remain only some wall rests (hiking path no. 2 from Seis/Siusi).
The Ruin of Salegg/Salego is located above Siusi, at the foot of the Sciliar. You start at the bottom station of the Aerial cableway Siusi – Alpe di Siusi and follow the “Oswald von Wolkenstein” path. After half an hour walking you the Ruin Salegg/Salego.

Contact:
Salego Ruins
Via Sciliar 16
39040 Siusi allo Sciliar
+39 0471 707024

Alpe di Siusi | Bolzano and surroundings

How to reach the Seiser Alm

Breathtaking views over the peaks of the Dolomites, 300 days of sun, the vast infinity of Europe’s largest mountain plateau: The beauty of the Alpe di Siusi/Seiser Alm holiday area is legendary. The best way to discover the incredible nature and countryside on holiday is by getting out and about: Whether it’s on foot or by bike in the summer, by ski or snowboard on the slopes in winter: A holiday in the Alpe di Siusi holiday area in the Dolomites is a perfect blend of outdoor adventure with beautiful countryside and the pleasures of the palate; the South Tyrolean cuisine brings Alpine and Mediterranean culinary traditions together, which means that a holiday in the Dolomites provides something that’s sure to suit every taste.

A holiday on the Alpe di Siusi and the surrounding villages of Castelrotto/Kastelruth, Siusi/Seis, Fiè allo Sciliar/Völs am Schlern and Tires al Catinaccio/Tiers am Rosengarten leads you through the heart of the legendary Dolomites in the Alps. In summer, families can discover magical spots, head out on walks with Martha the witch and explore the nature reserve of the Sciliar-Catinaccio/ Schlern-Rosengarten, while a winter holiday in the Dolomites in winter offers masses of fun for kids on ski courses and at the ski kindergarten.

The wine-growing museum | Merano

How to reach Weinbaumuseum Schloss Rametz

This historic seat is listed as far back as 1227, as being a significant witness to the wine culture of this area.
Around 1860, the most noble grapes, such as Rheinriesling, Blauburgunder, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon had found an excellent breeding ground. The special position of these lovingly attended Gujot vineyards, leads to extremely high-quality grapes which, due to state-of-the-art cellar technology, are fermented to become our prize-winning wines.

Das Museum
In its four spacious halls the wine-growing museum shows beautiful tools used in viniculture across the ages. Many now forgotten tools have been collected over decades of dedicated work and the collection now ranges from tools for cultivating the land and for grape gathering and carrying to equipment and means for pest control.
There are also tools for the cultivation of cereals and the processing of cereals. This activity can look back at a very long tradition in the Vinschgau area, as is proven by the favorite local bread called “Vinschgerle”, which derives its name from this area.

Opening hours:
8th April to 10th November 2019:
Monday to Friday from 9 am to 4 pm
Saturday from 10 am to 12 pm
Sunday closed

Entry fees:

Adults	6,00€
under 16 years	free entry

Wine shop Tiroler Weinhaus:

Opening hours:
27th March to 11th November 2019:
Monday to Saturday from 9 am to 18:30 pm
Sunday closed

Contact:
The wine grow museum
Laberserstr. 4
39012 Merano
+39 0473-211011

Castelvecchio Ruin | Siusi

How to reach the Castelvecchio Ruin

Castelvecchio Fortress is located at 1,273 m asl in a dense forest at Siusi allo Sciliar. First mentioned in 1186 AD, the castle was inhabited by Eckhard von Villanders until 1367. His grandson, the minnesinger Oswald von Wolkenstein, later on inherited one third of the castle complex of Castelvecchio, while Knight Martin Jäger was owner of the other two thirds. Nevertheless the castle was not inhabited by none of the two. When Oswald von Wolkenstein wanted to marry Margarete von Schwangau at the age of 14, he needed a habitation befitting his social status, and for this reason he tried to make a conquest of the whole castle complex. As he did not have the money he summarily occupied the castle. This struggle ended in 1427, when Oswald solely obtained the castle. In these years also the famous “Hauensteinlied” song was composed (Hauenstein is the German name of the castle) by the famous minnesinger.

In the 16th century Christoph von Wolkenstein acquired the castle and had it extended, but already a century later it kept deteriorating. In 1976/77 restaurations were carried out and inside the chapel remainings of frescos were layed open. In the course of these works a bronze sword and other items have been found, dating back to Mediaeval times. Today Castelvecchio Fortress is in possession of the diocese Bolzano-Bressanone and only some murals have been preserved. The ruin is open to the public and can be reached on foot from Siusi within half an hour.

Opening hours:
Open all year round

Tessa Group Nature Park | Venosta Valley

How to reach the Gruppo di Tessa Nature Park

Texelgruppe / Gruppo di Tessa Nature Park Visitor Center opened in 1984 in the middle school in Naturns / Naturno and assumed its current form in 1992. The facility’s motto, Water and Light, reflects the diversity and interdependence of the park’s habitats. .

Water is one of the center’s leitmotifs, which is embodied by a replica of a spring biotope, an exhibit concerning the intriguing Waale irrigation technique, and a pond biotope.

The microscopes at Texelgruppe / Gruppo di Tessa Nature Park Visitor Center houseenable visitors to discover that “lowly” lichen or micro-organisms are veritable works of art of Mother Nature. In the reading area, visitors can classify plants and insects that they have brought with them, to which end the staff is happy to supply magnifying glasses and other instruments.

Large wall projections display the variety of interdependent habitats found in Texelgruppe / Gruppo di Tessa Nature Park, along with its characteristic flora and fauna. A relief and a trail map (scale 1:25,000) help visitors to orient themselves in this, South Tyrol’s largest nature park. On the upper level of the facility, visitors can test their senses with smelling sachets and tactile boxes. On a monitor, 20 registered bird sounds can be assigned to the different birds living in the nature park. The life-like taxidermy animals exhibited in natural imitations of their Alpine habitats, which range from mountain forests to glacier regions, are also an impressive attraction. Multi-screen elements guide the visitor through the diversity of all of South Tyrol’s nature parks and provide information concerning nature and landscape conservation in the region.

Opening hours:
9th April- 12th October:
Tuesday – Saturday: 9.30am – 12.30pm & 2.30pm – 6pm
Open also on Sundays in July, August and September.

Price:
Free entry

Contact:
Gruppo di Tessa Nature Park
Feldgasse 3
39025 Naturno
+39 0473 668201

Prince’s Castle | Merano

How to rerach the Prince’s Castle

The Prince’s Castle Merano in the centre of the spa town was the city residence of the Counts of Tyrol.
Sigismund, Archduke of Austria, had this modest castle – “Landesfürstliche Burg” in German, “Castello Principesco” in Italian – built in central location of Merano (Meran) in the second half of the 15th century. He probably used this fortress behind the town hall, at the foot of Mt. Benedetto, as his private city residence. However, this ensemble of buildings rather resembles an artistically designed, solid building with low enclosure than a fully-developed castle. For this reason it is simply often referred to as residence. Up to the 16th century the Prince’s Castle remained a royal residence. In 1516, also Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor, resided in the castle.

As the building repeatedly changed hands, it started deteriorating in the course of the centuries. In 1875 finally, the city of Merano purchased the building. Between 1878 and 1880, a restoration period followed, based on the drawings of the internationally famous architect Friedrich von Schmidt, who also directed the renovations of the Dome of Vienna. When these renovations came to an end, the castle was opened also for the public. Today it hosts the Prince’s Castle Museum.

Its wood-panelled ancient parlours, tiled stoves, bedrooms and maiden rooms provide an interesting insight into the life in Mediaeval times. The furniture, however, dates back to the Gothic and Renaissance periods. Also some weapons such as lances and halberds have been preserved. Moreover there is a little chapel decorated with frescoes dating back to the 16th century. And how to reach the Prince’s Castle? It is located in the centre of the spa town, with access from Via Galilei road or from the Arcades of Merano. There are also some parking lots (subject to charge) in the surroundings.

Opening hours:
to 6th January:
from Tuesday to Saturday from 10.30 am to 5 pm
Sundays and bank holidays from 10.30 am to 1 pm
closed on Mondays

Entry fee:

Adults	5,00 €
Reduced	4,00 €
Teenager under 18 years	free entry

Contact:
Prince’s Castle
Via G. Galilei
39012 Merano
+39 329 0186390