If you come to Merano, one of the highlights, especially in spring (best time is April or May) is are the botanic gardens of Castle Trauttmansdorff.
Already the Austrian empress Sissi knew to appreciate this lovely area and chose Castel Trauttmansdorff as her favourite winter residence. So there is a reason for it why there are a path, a terrace, a promenade and even a whole street named after the graceful Austrian empress.

Nowadays, Trauttmansdorff Castle houses the South Tyrolean Museum of Tourism, also known as Touriseum. Here you are introduced to the historical development of tourism in this region in a truly stimulating and entertaining manner. Tourists and travellers will see themselves in the museum, together with their motives for travel, behaviour, illusions, and expectations.

Enchanting flowers and plants from all over the world attract thousands of visitors, every year from early spring to late autumn. Magic viewpoints, adorable flowers and the majestic mountains of Merano render the place an oh-so special one.

And what an extraordinary biodiversity is found at the heart of the gardens, ranging from water and terraced gardens to a Mediterranean park; not to forget the so-called “Forests of the World”. Planted to groups according to their origins, you may “travel” across the most different countries: Japan, North or even South America.
How comes? Well, this is possible only due to the gentle Mediterranean climate of Merano, ideally-suited to a rich number of exotic plants.