Christmas magic at the Forst Brewery: Experience the Advent period with all your senses
Image gallery: Forst Christmas Forest
During the Advent season, South Tyrol is home to numerous small Christmas Markets that give each village a special charm. The Forst Brewery near Merano, South Tyrol's largest brewery, also creates a festive atmosphere in the run-up to Christmas. In the brewery complex in Foresta, the southernmost part of Lagundo, you will find crackling fires and comfortable fur armchairs between the buildings and restaurants, inviting you to linger and enjoy some culinary delicacies.
The Christmas Forest is one of the first Christmas Markets to open, starting in mid-November. It is open from Wednesday to Sunday until Christmas, and then daily from December 25 to January 6.
The five main locations:
- Forst Pavilion: a nostalgic barn with lots of wood and charm, serving culinary delights
- Christmas Forest: wooden huts set among decorated fir trees and open fires
- Gnome Forest: lovingly designed scenes for children
- Waffle House: the hub for sweet treats
- Market and Gourmet Mile: high-quality products from regional producers and artisans
Highlights:
A varied programme provides entertainment for the whole family. In early December, St. Nicholas and the Krampus pay a visit, and around Christmas, Father Christmas and Knecht Ruprecht stop by the Christmas Forest. Sheep await the children in the small zoo.
The supporting programme:
The wooden huts serve South Tyrolean specialities. At the colourful stalls, alongside souvenirs and culinary treats, you will find farm products such as South Tyrolean mountain cheese, jams, woodcrafts, and felt work. The ice rink with skate hire is also popular.
The performers include a mime artist, the lucky chimney sweep, the Three Wise Men and - to conclude the season - La Befana. In Italian folklore, La Befana is an old woman who brings small gifts to children during the night before January 6.
Forst Christmas Beer:
To match the atmosphere, every year there is a limited edition Forst Christmas Beer, a South Tyrolean beer with a mild malt aroma. It is sold in the iconic 2-litre bottle and features a different design on its handmade label each year: In 2025, it is Pope Boniface VIII.
He is the patron saint of brewers and maltsters and is depicted wearing a red cloak. The landscape depicted shows the speciality beer brewery, Forst Castle and the parish church of Lagundo.
Getting to the Forst Christmas Forest:
The B250 bus takes you from Merano train station to Lagundo train station in five minutes. From there, the brewery grounds are a 12-minute walk away. There is also a free car park at Lagundo train station if you arrive by car. Paid parking is available directly at the Forst brewery grounds.
