Die Gärten von Schloss Trauttmansdorff / I Giardini di Castel Trauttmansdorff / The Gardens of Traut

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Italy - Meran / Merano

Institution Code: TRAU

BGCI Member: Yes

About the Die Gärten von Schloss Trauttmansdorff / I Giardini di Castel Trauttmansdorff / The Gardens of Traut

The Gardens of Trauttmansdorff Castle were created from the ground up in 1994, opened in 2001. Located as it is in a mild climatic zone, the city of Merano offers optimal conditions for growing exotic and mostly evergreen plants, that would not normally survive north of the Alps. Encircled by the snow-capped Gruppo di Tessa (Texelgruppe) Mountains, Trauttmansdorff features more than eighty garden landscapes spread over twelve hectares.

Trauttmansdorff is divided into four garden worlds: Forests of the world, the Sun Gardens, the Landscapes of South Tyrol (Northern Italy) and the Water and Terraced Gardens. While the latter features historical European garden architecture, the central theme for the three other garden worlds is a comparison of natural and cultural landscapes. The plants in this garden landscapes are grouped by their geographic origin and form a multitude of vegetation and landscape typologies.
Trees and shrubs have been planted in a way to reflect their natural plant communities as closely as possible. Great importance has been placed on the connection between natural vegetation, climate, location and the intrusion of mankind. This allows natural forest societies from America, Asia, the Mediterranean and South Tyrol like a Alluvial Forest of the Mississippi, Japan or South Tyrol to be viewed alongside agricultural landscapes of the Rice Paddy Fields, the Olive Grove or a local vineyard.

The Gardens of Trauttmansdorff Castle complex is a unique fusion of nature, culture and art. Ten botanically themed Artist Pavilions, a blend of historical and modern architecture, blossoming highlights and fascinating fauna come together to create a very special spirit of innovation. Trauttmansdorff offers also a wide range of events, guided tours and special exhibitions. The exhibitions present an Array of botanical Topics, including “The Birds and the Bees” (2014), “Root, Bulb & Co.” (2012), “Heavenly Scents, Ungodly Stench!” (2010), “All about Palms!” (2008) or “The Myth of the Ginkgo” (2006). The exhibitions are designed to be every bit as exciting and interactive as the content is multifaceted, and endeavour to engage all the senses.

As South Tyrol´s most popular tourist destination Trauttmansdorff recorded more than 415,000 visitors over the course of the 2017 season from 1 April to 15 November. The botanical garden was created by the Laimburg Research Centre of Agriculture and Forestry, South Tyrol´s leading centre of expertise for agriculture, and now forms part of the Agentur Landesdomäne/Agenzia Demanio Provinciale, a public administration department of the Autonomous Province of Bolzano – South Tyrol.


Research Programmes:

Flowering Clay Wall: Plant species for sites at risk for erosion
This near-vertical flowerbed enables research on the growth behavior, especially root development, of different plant varieties and species. The goal is to learn the optimal method of planting steep, erosion-prone slopes and stabilize them permanently in an aesthetically pleasing manner.

Pollinating Fauna
A second project investigates pollinator fauna and documents the value of Trauttmansdorff as a refuge for animal pollinators within a landscape of increaslingly intense cultivation.

Urticularia stygia: Ex-situ cultivation
A third project is devoted to the ex-situ conservation of a carnivorous aquatic plant, which is rarely found locally: the Utricularia stygia. Trauttmansdorff cultivates the plants from a population that existed in Lake Caldaro up until 2010, with the aim of reintroducing them into their native waters.

Ornithologic Survey
The Trauttmansdorff's fourth project is centred on surveying the avian Fauna at the botanical garden, and began in 2018.

Main Address:
Die Gärten von Schloss Trauttmansdorff / I Giardini di Castel Trauttmansdorff / The Gardens of Traut
St. Valentin Str. 51a Via San Valentino
Meran / Merano
39012 Italy

Telephone: +00 39 (0) 473 255600
Fax: +00 39 (0) 473 255601
URL: www.trauttmansdorff.it
Primary Email: info@trauttmansdorff.it

Staff Details

  • Director's Name: Dr. Albert Wurzer
    Curator's Name: Dr. Karin Kompatscher
    Plant Records Officer's Name: Dipl. Ing. Gabriele Pircher
  • Total Staff:
    Horticultural Staff Number: 30
    Educational Staff Number: 18
    Research Staff Number:
    Administration Staff Number: 10

About the Garden

  • Institution Type: Botanic Garden
  • Status
  • Status: Private: No
    Status: State: No
    Status: Educational: Yes
    Status: Municipal: No
    Status: Satellite: No
    Status: Trust: No
  • Date founded: 2001
  • Physical Data
  • Natural Vegetation Area: Yes
    Natural vegetation area: Size: 3 Hectares
  • Landscaped Area: Yes
    Landscaped Area: Size: 9 Hectares
  • Total Area: 12 Hectares
    Latitude: 46.6552
    Longitude: 11.1880
    Altitude: 0.00 Metres

Features and Facilities

  • Herbarium: No
  • Micropropagation/ Tissue Culture Facilities: No
    Seed Bank: No
    Published Plant Catalogue: No
    Computer Plant Record System: Yes
  • Open to public: Yes
    Friends society: No
    Retail Outlet: Shop: Yes
    Retail Outlet: Plant Sales: No
    Disabled access: Yes
  • Number of Visitors: 415

Plant Collections

  • Special Collections:1.
    Forests of the World
    Miniature Forests from the Americas and Asia


    A North American Natural Landscapes:

    Cypress Swamps
    Alluvial Forest of the Mississippi
    Cypress Marsh
    Moist Deciduous Forests of North America
    Moist Coniferous Forest with Rhododendrons
    Moist Temperate Deciduous Forest
    Coniferous Forest with Giant Sequoia
    Coniferous Forest with Coast Redwood


    B East Asian Natural Landscapes:

    Evergreen Laurel Forest of East Asia
    Alluvial Vegetation in Japan
    Moist Coniferous Forest with Rhododendrons in Japan
    Moist Temperate Deciduous Forest in Japan
    Japanese Moist Coniferous Forests with Rhododendrons
    Dry Temperate Deciduous Forest in Japan


    C East Asian Cultural Landscapes and Garden Art from Asia:

    Rice Fields of East Asia
    Tea Plantation of East Asia
    Bamboo Forest
    Japanese Garden


    D Themed Gardens and Plant Collections:
    Rhododendron Collection
    Tree Peony Collection
    Hydrangea Collection
    Japanese Flowering Cherries
    Palm Collection (Palm Beach)
    Glass House with Tropical Crop Plants and Orchids
    Useful Plants from the Americas
    The Grotto’s Origins of Life - Multimedia Show
    Fern Glen and Living Fossils (with Wollemia nobilis)
    Flowering Clay Wall (vertical gardens)


    E Pavilions:

    Deciduous Forests
    Ornamental Plants from Around the Globe



    2.
    The Sun Gardens
    Mediterranean Flora


    A Mediterranean Natural Landscapes:

    Sclerophyllous Forests
    Macchia
    Garrigue


    B Mediterranean Cultivated Landscapes:

    Olive Grove
    Lavender Field
    Sage Collection
    Useful Plants from the Mediterranean Region
    Limonaia (Citrus Collection)
    Succulents from the Semidesert


    C Other Natural Landscapes:

    Wild Fruit-Tree Groves of the Near East
    Cedar Forests of the Western Himalayas


    D Themed Gardens and Plant Collections:

    The Forbidden Garden (Poisonous Plants)
    Salvia Collection
    Succulents


    E Pavilions:

    Scent Organ
    Plants from Regions with Mediterranean Climates
    Succulent Plants



    3. Landscapes of South Tyrol:
    Local Nature & Traditions


    A South Tyrolean Natural Landscapes:

    Downy Oak Forest
    Alluvial Forest
    Lakeshore Vegetation


    B South Tyrolean Cultivated Landscapes:

    Vineyard
    Fruit Orchard
    Chestnut Groves
    Meadow Orchards
    Cottage Garden
    Cultivation of Cereal Grains
    Native Hedgerows
    Straw Meadows


    C Experience Stations & Themed Gardens:

    The Botanical Underworld
    Geological Mosaic
    Matteo Thun‘s Viewing Platform
    Garden for Lovers
    Dahlia Garden


    D Pavilions:

    Cultivated Landscapes displacing Natural Landscapes
    Plants in Spring
    Plants in Fall
    Downy Oak Forests


    4.
    The Water and Terraced Gardens


    A European Garden Design:

    Italian Garden
    English Perennial Garden


    B Themed Gardens and Plant Collections:

    Clematis
    Paeonia
    Palm Grove
    Sense Garden
    Rose Garden (historical and old Roses)
    The Forbidden Garden


    C Pavilions:

    Water Plants






    Total Plant Collections:

    Dahlia
    Clematis
    Hydrangea
    Salvia
    Rhododendrons
    Bamboos
    Tropical crop plants
    Herbaceous peonies
    Palms
    Tree peonies
    Citrus
    Succulents
    Roses
    Living fossils
    Autochthonous grapes
    Trees and shrubs from America, Asia, Mediterranean, South Tyrol
  • Invasive Species Monitoring: Yes

Conservation Programmes

  • Conservation Programme: Yes
    Medicinal Plant Programme: No
    Ex Situ Conservation Programme: No
    Reintroduction Programme: No

Research Programmes

  • Ecology: Yes
    Horticulture: Yes
    Pollination Biology: Yes

Education Programmes

  • Visitor/Education Centre: Yes
    Education Signs in Garden: Yes
    Public Lectures/Talks: Yes
    Education Booklets/Leaflets: Yes
    Guided Tours: Yes
    Permanent Public Displays: Yes
    Special Exhibitions: Yes
    Courses for School Children: Yes
    Courses for University/College Students: Yes
    Courses for General Public: Yes
    Education Programme: Yes