Temporary exhibition: Crafted Paradises – Of People and Gardens

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Gardens and parks have taken many forms over the centuries, as can be traced in plans, views, books and photographs. The Austrian National Library in Vienna organised an exhibition from its extensive holdings in 2023 on this topic, which will here be supplemented by examples of Meran’s garden culture and art.

The exhibition “Crafted Paradises” shows how garden design has changed over the centuries: from the strictly laid out gardens of the Renaissance, through to the magnificent Baroque gardens and the English landscape garden. The 20th and 21st centuries have seen new themes come to the fore in terms of landscape architecture.

There is a particular focus on Meran: as early as the 19th century, both public and private green spaces had been deliberately created in the city. The emerging health tourism industry became an important driving force for the development of gardens and landscapes in Meran.

Such development culminated in 2001 with the opening of the Gardens of Trauttmansdorff Castle, which this year are celebrating their 25-year story of success.

This exhibition is the result of the collaborative efforts of the Gardens of Trauttmansdorff Castle, the Touriseum – the South Tyrol Museum of Tourism, and the curatorial team in Vienna.

Almost all of the paths running through the gardens are wheelchair and stroller friendly; all stairs and grades over 8% are marked on the overview map. In the Visitors’ Center, manual and electric-powered wheelchairs are available for visitors, free of charge.

Bus numbers 1 and 4 depart at 20-minute intervals from the Merano/Meran town centre as well as the central railway station.