Touriseum – the Museum of Tourism

In the middle of the Gardens of Trauttmansdorff Castle, in the immediate vicinity of the town Meran, the homonymous castle - the former winter residence of Austria’s Empress Sissi - houses the Museum of Tourism, the Touriseum. The "Touriseum" is the first museum in the Alps totally dedicated to the history and present of tourism. A collection of 7,000 items are displayed on two floors tell about 200 years of South Tyrolean tourism history from two different points of view: of guests and of inhabitants.

The museum presents the historical development of tourism in South Tyrol in a stimulating and entertaining manner. Vacationers and travellers will see themselves in the museum, together with their motives for travel, behaviour, illusions and expectations. Again and again, the sojourner will recognize his or her own feelings and behaviour.

A permanent exhibition is arranged in chronological order and informs the visitor about the history of tourism in Tyrol until 1919 and in South Tyrol from 1919, from its beginnings around 1800 to present times. The permanent exhibition focuses mainly on stagings which incorporate selected items.
The storage facility is open to public and displays the items grouped by their topic: advertising, memories, gastronomy/accommodation, photo/film, travellers, personnel and curiosities.
The temporary exhibitions present at regular intervals different topics concerning tourism.