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7 things you should definitely do at the Gardens of Trauttmansdorff Castle. Glimpse snow-capped mountains while reclining under palm trees, listen to world-famous musicians at the water lily pond, or play a game on what uis arguably the world's largest pinball machine.

Did you know that roses smell like lilac, apple, raspberry and even myrrh and clove? Yes, roses boast an incredible range of fragrances. At the Gardens of Trauttmansdorff Castle in Merano/Meran you can see and experience all of these and many more fragrances in 80 different garden landscapes over a total of twelve hectares.

In addition to the roses, thousands of hyacinths give off their sweet smell in the spring. The lemon and orange trees are in bloom, and everything comes to life. This continues in summer, when the spherical lavender bushes below the castle provide Mediterranean flair. Summertime in the Sense Garden smells intensively of chocolate and vanilla-scented flowers and the silvery herbs (Lobularie) smell wonderfully of honey.

Another thing that many do not know: the flowers in the garden area may be touched. With many plants, their fragrance spreads only by a rubbing of the leaves. So do not be shy, go for the green!
Autumn also has a lot to offer for the nose: the sweet-scented osmanthus blooms here, and the autumn camellias bloom under exotic hemp palms. By the way, almost all of the paths in the gardens are suitable for prams and wheelchairs, and there are always highlights along the way. One of these is the blossoming clay walls – unique in the world with their original planting on almost vertical flowerbeds.

Seeing, experiencing and exploring everything in one day is almost impossible at the Gardens of Trauttmansdorff Castle. Do not miss these 7 things:

Cool your feet in the brook of the Japanese Garden
In the forest gardens - one of four thematic areas in the Gardens of Trauttmansdorff Castle - there are miniature forests from America and Asia, and in betwen them the Japanese Garden. Each stone, the course of the brook, the arrangement of the plants and the small Machiai house were created according to the plans of a Japanese master of garden art. If it is really hot in the summer, there is nothing better than to cool your feet in the stream.
Soak up the sun on the Palm Beach
Nowhere else in the gardens is the unique connection between Mediterranean and Alpine made as clear as on the Palm Beach above the castle. Here you can relax in one of the sun loungers under exotic pine and fan palms. Put your toes in the fine sea sand and enjoy the view of the snow-capped mountain peaks of the 3000 meter-high Texelgruppe mountains.
Read a book on the Lemon Terrace
On the Lemon Terrace you can experience the flair of the true Dolce Vita. Is there any better place to immerse yourself in the world of a good book than surrounded by blooming or fruit-bearing lemon and orange trees?
Venture through the Botanical Underworld
A 200-meter-long underground course leads through the mysteries of the plant world of the ground. Light displays and sound installations lead from cave to cave. In a scary way,learn all about nutrients, roots, water and the earth. Anyone who dares has earned themselves an ice cream afterwards!

Eat an ice cream at the Water Lily Pond
The Water Lily Pond is the heart of the Gardens of Trauttmansdorff Castle. Throughout almost the entire summer, water lilies and exotic lotus flowers blossom across the Lily Pond. Even in midsummer, the flowers sill bloom in the water and on the terraced gardens. Here you can enjoy a delicious ice cream overlooking the Lily Pond.
Tip: In the evening, the Water Lily Pond is illuminated in an atmospheric way and in the summer Garden Nights take place here – a famous concert series featuring internationally-renowned artists. Every Friday in June, July and August enjoy an Aperitivo Lungo at the Palm Café at the Water Lily Pond. And a picnic site at the Water Lily pond under the palm trees and the starry sky has been newly added.
Pinball in the Touriseum
Trauttmansdorff Castle served the Empress Elisabeth as her holiday home in the 19th century. Today, the castle houses the Touriseum – the South Tyrol Museum of Tourism. There are always special exhibitions and a gigantic wooden pinball machine. This is perhaps not what you might imagine, but rather, a ten-meter-long "South Tyrolean game" made by Val Gardena Valley woodcarving artists, and by the way, most likely the largest pinball machine in the world.
Discover animals: from A for alpaca to R for Racka sheep
In the gardens, not only many flowering highlights but also lots of animals awaiting visitors: alpacas, rabbits, Racka sheep and miniature goats are as much at home here as macaws and lories, Chinese ducks, Japanese carp and many others. In the terrarium of the new glasshouse, you can also admire insects, spiders, amphibians and reptiles.

Yes, there is a lot to discover here. No wonder that the Gardens of Trauttmansdorff Castle have been awarded numerous prizes and are now South Tyrol's visitor attraction no 1.

Herbs from the Gardens of Trauttmansdorff Castle

The Terme Merano offers relaxing massages with plants from the botanical garden:

O Sole Mio

In summer, in addition to the Garden Nights, the annual Merano Music Weeks take place.

Flower hotel or camping in the countryside?

All types of accommodation can be found here.

And how is the weather today?

The weatherman knows!

The Gardens of Trauttmansdorff Castle

Art and nature have been blending since 2001 at the Gardens of Trauttmansdorff Castle, set in a natural amphitheatre on the eastern outskirts of Merano, with ...