Trauttmansdorff Castle Gardens


The Gardens of Trauttmansdorff Castle are botanical gardens located on the grounds of Trauttmansdorff Castle in Meran, Italy. The gardens are open daily in the warmer months; an admission fee is charged.

History

The gardens were initially laid out circa 1850 by Count Trauttmansdorff during the castle's restoration. Empress Elisabeth of Austria was a frequent visitor to Meran and the gardens. A bronze bust in her memory was placed in the gardens after her assassination in Geneva in 1898.

Gardens

Today the castle grounds contain about 80 dedicated gardens with local and exotic plants, organized by region of origin, including typical landscapes of South Tyrol. Principal features of interest include:
The gardens also contain Aesculapian Snakes in their natural habitat, courtesy of the Alpine Zoo of Innsbruck, an aviary, a Japanese alluvial forest, rice terraces, and tea plantations.