Experiences in Meran/Merano

This trail runs along both banks from the Gilf Gorge down to the point where the river enters the city. On the right bank, it connects directly with the path that leads to the Powder Tower and the Tappeiner Promenade; on the left, it joins with the Summer Promenade. Gilf Promenade is particularly intriguing for its subtropical vegetation. Its Walk of Poets also makes it the most romantic of Merano’s promenades: modern and contemporary love poetry is engraved onto a series of benches here.

The 357 opens in 2016 from an intuition of the starred chef Andrea Fenoglio who accounts for the high standard of the food on display. In 2020 the 357 was awarded best pizzeria of the whole South Tyrol by the illustrious Falstaff magazine. It’s a down-to-Earth welcoming place 3 minutes from the city centre where you can taste a good pizza prepared with a long leavening dough, filled with ingredients of the highest quality, or again tempting starters, rich salads and other courses, besides the ice cream made straight away and other genuine desserts. Furthermore, there is a wide offer of wines at the glass, many of them organic, the List of 100 wines, home-brewed craft beer on tap and a choice of spirits from all over the world. The restaurant offers indoor and outdoor seating and is open for lunch and dinner. Online reservation is recommended.

“Class instead of mass” as the saying goes, but at the Jürgen Weitgruber Estate Winery in Merano-Maia Alta, that is a specification that is followed consistently. In the vineyard, in the winery, and in the no less than 1,500 hours of work by hand every year.

The district of Maia Alta in Merano lies somewhat above the center of the old capital of Tyrol, with its slopes being sundrenched and hot in the summer with the nights significantly cooler. The particular microclimate contributes to high grape quality and a broad spectrum of aromas in the wines that are obtained from them.

On top of that, the vineyards of the Jürgen Weitgruber Estate Winery are located at elevations between 300 and 600 meters and are therefore planted on very different soils: from fine sandy and warm to rocky with a rich skeleton. “So all of our grape varieties find the conditions that are suitable for their needs,” explains Weitgruber.
The estate winery’s product line comprises Pinot Blanc, Kerner, Schiava, Lagrein, Pinot Noir, and Regent, and what is made from them are crisp, fruity, fresh white and rosé wines and harmonious red wines filled with character. Wines that have to fulfill two characteristics in the philosophy of the Weitgruber family: “Our focus,” the winegrower explains, “lies in being and remaining authentic and providing people with joy in our wines.”

And that may sound like a platitude, but that, too, is pursued consistently at the Jürgen Weitgruber Estate Winery in Merano-Maia Alta: in the vineyard, in the winery, and in the 1,500 hours of work by hand every year.

Villa Heidelberg is the right place for a family party, business lunch or dinner, small wedding or a romantic candlelight dinner. There are 30 seats on the inside of the restaurant, 20-25 seats in the “Vinschgauerstube” and 30-40 seats on the terrace. The owner “Edi”, the chef in the house, is running the restaurant together with his wife Lidia (in the service) already for 25 years. The variety of food in the Villa Heidelberg consists on the one hand of typical southtyrolean dishes and on the other hand of some creations from Edi. He is always tries to to cook with regional products and to adapt to the season. The owner “Edi”, the chef in the house, is running the restaurant together with his wife Lidia (in the service) already for 25 years. The variety of food in the Villa Heidelberg consists on the one hand of typical southtyrolean dishes and on the other hand of some creations from Edi. He is always tries to to cook with regional products and to adapt to the season.

The Europa Splendid Restaurant is the only restaurant in Merano that can enchant its guests with an original Art Nouveau dining room. Our guests are transported to another era - delightful, sensual, and full of life. We pamper our guests with Alpine-Mediterranean cuisine, which is particularly distinguished by its lightness.

The horse racecourse in Maia Bassa/Untermais is one of the largest and most beautiful in Europe. It is very centrally located, but also divides the urban body sharply. In 1886, the first horserace took place for Merano’s aristocratic visitors. But the modern-day period began only in 1936, when the Fascist regime had the new racecourse built by the star architect of the day, Vietti Violi. With stepped staircases, flat roofs and clear design features, its plastered buildings are excellent examples of the Italian rationalist style, which was developed out of the classical modernism of the Bauhaus school. At two stories high, 150 meters long and 20 meters high, the main grandstand seats 15,000 spectators. After its renovation, the building received the 2011 South Tyrolean Architecture Award.

Brunnenplatz Square is situated between the Reichenbach, Rosenstein and Rundegg manors, on a noisy street intersection that was long without an eastern border. Urban planning considerations thus played an important role in the idea of closing the square off again. This was achieved with the early positioning of the main facade, which also had to take the height of the adjacent residences into consideration and was supposed to offer a timely addition. The bank's two-story glass front was thus intended as a stone facade of travertine, with irregular openings, to match the manor walls in a way and, similar to a trompe l’oeil, make it look like a five-story structure. A shed roof marks the main entrance to the bank and to the passageway, with a store, apartments, offices on the upper floors, and a public parking garage.

Discover a new charm in our historic garden. Enjoy lunch or dinner amidst nature’s beauty, beside the fireplace, and in the atmospheric castle cellar. Our offerings range from homemade cakes and coffee to fresh fruit juices and our own wines. The cuisine, blending tradition and innovation, will delight you with dishes made primarily from ingredients sourced from our castle garden. The castle also features B&B rooms, ideal for a relaxing stay, and is a popular venue for events, complete with dedicated catering services.

 The Tappeinerweg Trail runs above the city from east to west. In addition to excellent sunlight, the path offers sweeping views of the town below, the Merano Valley Basin and down into the Adige Valley.

Franz Tappeiner, a doctor and medical researcher from Val Venosta who was a passionate proponent of tourism in Merano, created the promenade and donated it to the city. The four-kilometre-long path splits off from the Gilf Promenade and follows the curve of Monte Benedetto until it reaches Quarazze. In addition to typical local vegetation, cork oak, eucalyptus, lotus, pine, various species of palms including Chinese palms, bamboo, cactus, agave, magnolias and olive trees are planted along the path.

There are numerous access points from the town centre:
• the steps leading up from behind the Duomo (main cathedral) along the road that leads to Dorf Tyrol
• from Via Galilei near the chairlift to Dorf Tyrol
• near the Silvana hill on Via Verdi - CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE
• from the Gilf-Promenade past the Gunppowder Tower
• on the orographic right side of the Ponte Romano

Various inns and restaurants along the path. 

Please note that the Tappeinerweg is exclusively a pedestrian zone. Riding bicycles or other vehicles is prohibited.

The new viewpoint on the roof of the middle station of the Cableway Naifjoch.
From here you can look down onto the town, far away to the surrounding mountains as far as the Ortler and high up to the Ifinger – every ridge seems close enough to touch! A photo to remember it by is a must!

Start: Piffing
Middle-station: VISTA
End: Waidmann Alpine Cottage

Discover the city's biodiversity and green spaces personally and individually at your own pace.

Along the 17 stations of the audio trail, you will come to inspiring places to linger, places of power and marvellous vantage points and learn interesting facts about urban nature. A treasure that has made the city famous as a garden city.

Click here to access the audio guides!

Click here to access the audio guides, with subtitles for deaf viewers.  


We suggest opting for comfortable footwear and bringing along a reusable water bottle, easily refillable at the fountains conveniently placed along the route. Water flows in the drinking fountains from spring to autumn. Depending on the weather and temperatures, the fountains are in operation from the beginning/middle of April to the middle/end of October.

“I’m just a small, passionate winegrower,” says Gerda Kiem. It’s just that anyone who is induced by that little word “small” to underestimate Kiem and her Mauslocherhof is making a mistake. A big mistake.

The Mauslocherhof is run by the winegrower according to clear guidelines. Kiem calls herself “an open-minded thinker who gets the best from nature with passion.” And that also means working sustainably and close to nature – both in the vineyard and in the winery. “For us, working sustainably is something which is self-evident,” the committed winegrower says, adding, “But we’ve always worked that way.”

The goal of the quality work at the Mauslocherhof is creating eloquent wines with a relationship to their zone which are authentic and have their own character. “They should be elegant, pleasant, balanced wines that reflect our commitment and our conscientious work in the vineyard and the winery,” Kiem explains. In order for it to be possible to achieve that, great value is placed at the Mauslocherhof in Cermes on an ideal selection of grape varieties. “For every plot of every single vineyard, we have considered for a long time and with great care which grape variety can best develop there,” the winegrower says.

And the care with the selection of varieties has led to a broad product line. On the red side, this encompasses Lagrein, Merlot, and Pinot Noir, and with the whites Gewürztraminer, Yellow Muscat, Pinot Blanc, and Sauvignon Blanc. As has been stated, “small winegrowers” are not to be underestimated. Ever.

Andrea Fenoglio seems never to run out of his creative vein, which he displays in his restaurant "Sissi" in front of the Prince’s Castle behind the Lauben arcades. His latest menu "Settepiatti" is certainly to be tried. His cuisine is a lively one, always with an eye to the playful aspect, rich of interesting sparks without forgetting the courses more related to tradition, reinterpreted in a modern key. Great attention is paid to the choice of products, always the real main characters. The informal though ever accurate service creates a cosy atmosphere up to the point of often giving the impression of being at home. Five hundred different wines on the list, twenty of them offered even at the glass and always at a more than decent price. This restaurant is an ideal choice for a quality quick lunch as well.

To mark the 30th anniversary of the Merano Municipal Library, the library and the South Tyrolean Artists' Association came up with a special gift for Merano. Ten authors have created an unforgettable monument to Merano and the people of Merano. The texts - written primarily for this literary walk - offer a new way to explore Merano's historic centre. The stories tell of underdogs as well as the glittering world of the Kurhaus, the Tappeinerweg and Powder Tower, and Merano's past.

This tour is available only in German or Italian language.

Click here to start the tour:https://direct.hearonymus.com/guide/1323

Subtitles are not available for this audio guide.

We suggest opting for comfortable footwear and bringing along a reusable water bottle, easily refillable at the fountains conveniently placed along the route. Water flows in the drinking fountains from spring to autumn. Depending on the weather and temperatures, the fountains are in operation from the beginning/middle of April to the middle/end of October.

Come to our bistrot or our wonderful sunny terrace and be delighted by our culinary delicacies. Children are welcome and will have a lot of fun in our game area or in the small playhouse in the garden. Eventually, a stroll along the Sissi's path will make your day excellent. Do pay a visit, we're looking forward to welcoming you!

The winegrowing tradition of a family being older than that of the estate winery itself is rare, but that is the case with the Waldner family. The family has been growing grapes in Marlengo for 350 years, but it was only in 2007 that Josef Waldner built the Eichenstein Estate Winery in Merano, to which its own winery, a wine bar, and a guest chalet were added step by step.

The vineyards of the Eichenstein Estate Winery lie in Montefranco above Merano at an elevation of 550 to 600 meters. “The interplay between microclimate, terrain, geology, and soil composition is extraordinary at Eichenstein,” Waldner explains. In concrete terms, that means that the estate winery’s grapevines grow on porphyry-quartzite and granite soils, in a Mediterranean climate, and on an Alpine landscape.

Added to these natural conditions is the know-how of the experienced winegrower, who focuses on a consistent quality policy, harvesting by hand, and vinification that is adapted to each grape variety. Thus the white wine grapes are pressed gently, fermented in stainless steel or wood, and the new wine is kept on the yeast for several months. The red wine grapes, on the other hand, are kept in maceration vats for around three weeks in contact with the skins, and only after the completion of the alcoholic fermentation are the red wines placed in small oak casks for biological malolactic fermentation, where they are aged for an additional twelve months. “Our selections age for up to two years in the winery before they are put up for sale,” Waldner explains.

The results are authentic wines filled with character which, as the winegrower says, “remain in the memory”. “The soul of our wines,” Waldner says, “has to move the drinker.”

The Terme Merano Bistro occupies the finest sun terrace in the resort. It has the beautiful Spa Park on one side and splendid art nouveau buildings on the other and faces Merano’s new architectural landmark: the Terme Merano spa building. The Bistro offers pleasures of the palate in the form of light Mediterranean cuisine fused with local products and finger-food offerings with vitality-packed ingredients, delicious branches, delicious aperitifs and cocktails, and fine Italian wines. A variety of events are held in the square and on the Bistro terrace throughout the year and especially in the warmer months.

Named after the torrent that flows through the city, this promenade winds along the right bank of the Passer River, in the centre of Merano/Meran. There are two stretches, one between the Ponte della Posta and Ponte Teatro, the other that hence takes to the Ponte di Ferro.

In the first part there are many artistic flower-beds, palms, ice-cream shops and cafes. Here you can admire the liberty architecture of the Kurhaus, whereas on the lower part of the promenade, surrounded by various historical buildings, you’ll find the artworks of the Human Figures project.

The promenade is easily walkable with pushchairs, too.

On top of Windspitz peak the gaze wanders over the mighty Ifinger/Mount Ivigna, whose silhouette seems tangible here.

From Mittager/Mount Cantino you get an awe-inspiring panoramic view which reach as far as the most dramatic summits in the Dolomites as well as the Ortler/Ortles and Texelgruppe/Tessa Group.

The hike requires a good physical condition.

The housing complex is situated north of the racetrack in a quiet residential area. The rectangular plot of land is reflected in the geometric lines of the four-story block of apartments containing sixteen flats: The outlines and facade are simple and clear, without any design effects. A large protruding attic forms a concise end to the roofline. The division of the front of the lightly plastered walls occurs through two types of window: full length balcony windows, and the windows of the rooms reaching up to the ceiling, which are placed in alternation, creating a lively structural arrangement. The colorful balcony parapets add to the visual effect. The clear design is of particular benefit inside the well laid out apartments − everything is light, friendly and easy to furnish.

Gaston in the heart of Meran under the Lauben arcades is known for its tasty pizzas from the woodfired oven and all kinds of culinary delights. Whether as a couple or with the whole family, Gaston is the ideal place to have a good time at lunch or in the evening with Mediterranean and classic dishes in a pleasant atmosphere.

Right in the old centre of Merano, the Rössl Bianco proposes its traditional food specialties of the Italian and Tyrolean cuisine. The menu at lunch changes daily and for dinner the guests are treated to a variety of plates all made with fresh and refined local products. A glass of one of the noble wines from the house cellar is not to be missed either. A nice and welcoming staff tops off the culinary experience under the arcades of the city. The bar of the Rössl Bianco has a number of spirits, cocktails and wines on display,along with exquisite coffee specialties and cool aperitifs.

Welcome to the parlour of Merano’s citizens. Order breakfast, make deals over a business lunch, or simply sit down and relax for an aperitif or a nightcap. This is where the city meets. Everyone is welcome at the Liberty's Bar – with delicious food served around the clock. A treat for hotel guests as well as passers-by exploring Merano by day (and night). Friends meeting for a catchup and coffee. Trendy youngsters having a mimosa or regular orange juice. Double dates ordering bottles of Monreale sparkling wine. The Liberty's Bar terrace is the ideal place to see who’s out and about in the city. After all, Corso della Libertà in Merano is the beating heart of the old city centre. So take a seat and enjoy the view.

Very sunny and well sheltered from the wind, the Winter Promenade runs along the river; it is the natural continuation of the Passer Promenade. Its most distinctive landmark is the Wandelhalle covered passageway, which provides shelter from inclement weather. The Wandelhalle also houses a gallery of paintings depicting landscapes of South Tyrol and busts of significant figures in the city’s history.

The Pratenberg Estate Winery in Merano is held firmly in female hands. It is with great passion that winegrower Karoline Sinn has created a small, independent estate that takes advantage of the mild climate and cool katabatic winds, the steep terraces with a southern exposure, and special soils.
“Glacial sediments of porphyry sandstone and secondary metamorphite and granite.” One would almost think that Sinn was a geologist when she describes the foundation of her vineyards. And even if you have not yet completely understood which soils are concerned, the short version is: they are ideal for authentic, individual, unmistakable wines.

“I like to describe my wines as the grape in the glass,” Sinn says. “They are not lush, but on the contrary, they are animating, lively, and at the same time agreeable, with fine acidity and an elegant interplay of aromas.” Originality is something upon which the winegrower from Merano places as much value as reflecting upon one’s own strengths. And upon quality, in any case.

In the end, the signature of Karoline Sinn can be tasted in her wines just as much as the natural conditions with which the Pratenberg Estate Winery in Merano is blessed. And perhaps also the motto according to which she runs the winery: “Have the time to take the time and to give things time.”

Year-round mountain coaster fun on rails: The 1.1 km white-knuckle ride starts at Pivigna, the mountain station of both the ropeway and the Falzeben gondola lift. From there, the whole family is sent whizzing down the hillside in just a few minutes – at times up to twelve metres above the ground. Guaranteed thrills for all ages! After their speedy descent, the brave lugers are gently pulled back up to the starting point in their toboggans.

 

Upon request, all bold and courageous bobsledders can pick up a souvenir photo at the starting point of the track.

SCHEDULE SUMMER
Daily: 10.00-16.30
High season: 10.00-17.15

SCHEDULE WINTER
Friday, Saturday and Sunday: 11.00-16.30 (Mon-Thu closed)
High season: 10.00-16.30

ATTENTION: any reservation needed - except for groups.

A statue of Blasius Trogmann stands in the Merano neighborhood of Maia Bassa, where a street is named after him, too. That is not a coincidence: Blasius Trogmann is regarded as Andreas Hofer’s most important ally in the Tyrolean Rebellion of 1809. A native of Merano, Trogmann had another passion apart from the one for his home, however: wine growing and winemaking.

Blasius Trogmann was able to pursue that particular passion at his home, the Finkhof estate in Hagen, a Merano neighborhood with generous sunlight situated between the spa town proper and the Trauttmansdorff Castle Gardens. A contemporary chronicler notes: “(...) in the quiet and tranquil grounds of Hagenach, the vines, turned toward the midday sun, cook a delicious juice.”

People realized very early that Hagen was a suitable area for wine growing: the Finkhof estate was first mentioned in a document in 1213. In the 18th and early 19th century, the aforementioned Blasius Trogmann would be the one to work that land and deliver his wines all the way to the capital of the Austrian empire. Even today, more than 200 years later, the estate is still run by the Trogmann Innerhofer family. And they are still passionate about wine, which they also sell in their very own farm store, the Bottega contadina Merano. All four members of the family work in the business, making a living from wine growing.

Wines produced by the Finkhof winery include a light and fruity Schiava (Vernatsch), an intense Merlot, and a complex Lagrein. In addition, traditional methods are used to process Schiava grapes into sparkling wine, which is sold under the brand name “Hagenach,” named for the area where it grows and matures. Last but not least, the range is rounded off with an elegant white cuvée bearing a name which proves that the people of the Merano Finkhof winery feel an obligation toward their family and estate heritage: it is called “Blasius.” 

 

A very reserved building structure was created on a narrow building site between the multiform heritage-listed building of the former Grand Hotel Savoy and some simple row houses. The basic cubic shape tapers slightly at both of the lower floors, lending the solid building a floating feeling. Staggered windows in the facades, uniform in size, break up the building’s austerity. A transparent, visually light glass bridge elegantly links the new building with the facade of the old Savoy. The simple form of the new concrete structure, with flat roof, lends both buildings a contrapuntal aesthetic appeal. The cool clarity of the design is also reflected in the interior of the new building, which has a transparent and fluidly designed sequence of rooms.

This scenic route, known as the Sentiero di Sissi in Italian and the Sissiweg in German, leads to the areas of town most beloved by Empress Elisabeth of Austria, better known as Sissi. The charming Habsburg sovereign stayed in Merano several times in the second half of the nineteenth century, and was enchanted by its charm. This path dedicated to her connects the Gardens of Trauttmansdorff Castle with the city centre; it passes through eleven stages along the way, each with a story to tell. From the castle that majestically dominates the botanical gardens, Sissi’s Path winds its way past Pienzenau and Rubein Castles, the Reichenbach Residence, Piazza Fontana (Brunnenplatz), Rottenstein Castle, and the Bavaria Hotel; it then continues down to the river, crosses the Roman Bridge, skirts the Wandelhalle and finally pays homage to the empress in the park dedicated to her. The park is on the edge of the Summer Promenade and there is a statue erected in Sissi’s honour. Obviously, the trail can be followed in either direction.

A twin to the Winter Promenade located on the opposite side of the river, the Summer Promenade has wonderfully lush vegetation: cedars of Lebanon, giant redwoods, poplars and various species of pines provide shade and a cool respite from hot summer days. At the beginning of the promenade, you’ll find Sissi Park; an elegant sculpture of Empress Elisabeth of Austria, done in Lasa marble, presides regally over the park.