South Tyrolean Fruit Growing Museum

The Larchgut Residence at Lana di Sotto is seat of the Fruit Growing Museum which has been inaugurated in 1990. This museum illustrates stages of fruit growing in South Tyrol - and of course especially at Merano and surroundings - by exhibiting items and machines and more than 60 charts. Media and models complete the offer. An exhibition area of some 1,000 sqm makes an illustrative and enjoyable presentation of the subject possible. Workshops on apples, e.g. how to prepare apple strudel, and other events also inform about fruit growing and fruits in general. Also old varieties of apples (more than 40) are presented.

Also methods of crop spraying and its development in the course of time are a central point in the presentation of apple tree cultivation. The 'Braunsberger Torggl' is, however, slightly off-topic. This grape press dates back to the 16th century and is the oldest grape press of South Tyrol. The Larchgut Residence includes an ancient residential tower and was mentioned for the first time in 1301. Shortly before, the residence has been built by the Lords of Lana-Brandis. In 1530 a Gothic annex was added to the building.

South Tyrol is the largest fruit growing area at one stretch of Europe - 18,000 hectares and 50 million apple trees, resulting in 10 percent of the European production in South Tyrol alone. One percent of these apples come from Lana!