This scenic route, known as the Sentiero di Sissi in Italian and the Sissiweg in German, leads to the areas of town most beloved by Empress Elisabeth of Austria, better known as Sissi. The charming Habsburg sovereign stayed in Merano several times in the second half of the nineteenth century, and was enchanted by its charm. This path dedicated to her connects the Gardens of Trauttmansdorff Castle with the city centre; it passes through eleven stages along the way, each with a story to tell. From the castle that majestically dominates the botanical gardens, Sissi’s Path winds its way past Pienzenau and Rubein Castles, the Reichenbach Residence, Piazza Fontana (Brunnenplatz), Rottenstein Castle, and the Bavaria Hotel; it then continues down to the river, crosses the Roman Bridge, skirts the Wandelhalle and finally pays homage to the empress in the park dedicated to her. The park is on the edge of the Summer Promenade and there is a statue erected in Sissi’s honour. Obviously, the trail can be followed in either direction.
There is no tactile guidance system or other aids for the blind on this tour.
We suggest opting for comfortable footwear and bringing along a reusable water bottle, easily refillable at the fountains conveniently placed along the route. Water flows in the drinking fountains from spring to autumn. Depending on the weather and temperatures, the fountains are in operation from the beginning/middle of April to the middle/end of October.
You can easily reach the Gardens of Trauttmansdorff Castle by bike by following the Sissi Path via the Summer Promenade. Please note that cycling is not allowed on the Winter Promenade. The Summer Promenade is a gravel path, but from Kirchsteig onwards the route is paved. Some lanes are narrow, so please ride slowly and carefully. The path is shared by both cyclists and pedestrians, so please be mindful of others.
In the city centre there are reserved parking spaces for people with disabilities in Galileistraße and in the upper Freiheitsstraße. Please note that both streets are a traffic-calmed zone. Entry to this zone is only permitted if you have deposited your disabled parking permit and your car's licence plate number with the local council Gemeinde Meran in advance. We would also like to note that the Merano Market occurs in the upper Freiheitsstraße on Saturdays until 2 pm (from March to October), making parking unavailable during this period.
Please note: Sparkassenstraße and Galileistraße up to the Princes Castle are exclusively pedestrian zones from 10 am to 6.30 pm - bicycles must be pushed.
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