Empress Sissi and the gardens

One of the most famous guests of the city of Merano in the 19th century was the Austrian Empress Sissi, and she was delighted!

When you visit the gardes of Trauttmansdorff Castle, you adjourn to noble terrain, as also the Empress Sissi wandered around this area. Twice she holidayed in Merano and today the former living spaces of the Empress host a collection of studies of the Touriseum, the South Tyrolean Museum of Tourism.

The Empress Sissi was keen on making extended walks across the downy oak forests at Trauttmansdorff Castle and to stroll around “far away and untroubled by the noises of the world”. In 1994, when the constructions of the gardens were in early stage, lilies and iris dating back to the times of Elizabeth have been found. Also the original paths have been integrated in the parkway. To the honour of the Austrian emperor couple, in 1908 a 3 m long white marble bench was established and today exactly this bench has been places on the newly designed terrace of Trauttmansdorff Castle and it offers an imperial view on the gardens.

Also the “Sissi Weg” (Sissi Path), which starts at Trauttmansdorff Castle, reminds on the imperial visit. This path takes you past lordy villas, impressive residences and old parkways and and in the centre of Merano. By the way, this path is also suitable for a family walk (also with prams) or with wheelchairs.