South Tyrolean Fruit Growing Museum

At Lana di Sotto, on the Waalweg path along the course of the Rio Brandis brook, there is the South Tyrolean Fruit Growing Museum - "Südtiroler Obstbaumuseum" in German, "Museo Altoatesino di Frutticoltura" in Italian. Once upon a time, the Valle dell'Adige valley used to be marshland. Only in the course of the 19th and 20th century, it was cultivated, making fruit-growing possible. Today South Tyrol is the largest connected fruit-growing area of Europe: 50 million apple trees make up 10% of the European production, 1% of which comes from Lana.

The South Tyrolean Fruit Growing Museum is staged in a listed building, the medieval Larchgut Residence - its tower house has been documented for the first time in 1301 AD. The museum provides information on fruit-growing, an important branch of economy in this area, on 60 information panels, spread on an area of 2,000 sqm. New technologies makes a visit to this museum, inaugurated in 1990, a worthwhile experience. The exhibits in the farm building, however, illustrate the development of tools and machines as well as the farmer's work from bygone times to the present-day and provides a vivid picture of life in the countryside.

A highlight of the museum is the oldest wine press of South Tyrol, dating back to 1570 and known as "Braunsberger Torggl". On the 2nd floor there are temporary exhibitions hosted by the Baroque hall. Workshops regarding apples, guided visits with apple tasting and the new exhibition for kids complete the offer. And how to reach the South Tyrolean Fruit Growing Museum? It can be found in the Larchgut Residence in Lana di Sotto and is best accessible in a walk along the Brandis Waalweg path (3.5 km, start at the Via Palade road) or by means of public transport (bus line 215).