Museums in the Dolomites

The Bunker A Cold War Relic in South Tyrol Built between 1938 and 1942 as part of the Toblach defense line, the bunker was only activated in the 1950s under NATO’s defense plans against the Warsaw Pact. It was never used in combat, but espionage was widespread. Abandoned in 1993 and later privatized, it has housed the BunkerMuseum since 2017.

summer 2025
20.06. - 30.09.2025
Monday - Saturday: 1.30 - 6.00 pm
August 2025: open daily

all the year: groups on request (min. 8 people)

All the information and prices at our homepage!

The tourism museum in Haus Wassermann documents the history of tourism in Alta Pusteria.

On the first floor you can trace the foundations of tourism, the flair of the old inns and the many spas. Also showcased is the construction of the railway line in Val Pusteria, which led to the development of modern tourism. A separate room is given to the early development of Alpine sport.

On the second floor visitors discover the centuries-old history of the building. Some of the rooms focus on the history of the noble family Von Kurz and the Wassermann family. One entire room is dedicated to Emma Hellensteiner, Tyrol`s most famous innkeeper and hotelier. A simple chamber provides a glance into the working world of the servants.

Admission:
Adults: €5
Children under 6: free 

link to the video

A fantastic experience for the whole family!

The Mineral Museum Teis is dedicated to the famous Geodes of Teis which formed thanks to volcanic activities more than 290 million years ago. Besides Geodes of Teis, there are also exhibited other alpine minerals (rock crystals, smoky quartz, garnets etc.). The collection is Paul Fischnaller’s lifework who dedicated his life to the minerals.

A short introductory film gives insight into the formation of the Alps and the minerals. In the well-assorted museum shop you can purchase books, souvenirs, gemstones and healing stones.

Join Paul Fischnaller on his search for Geodes of Teis! Every Thursday, reservation required.

Ladin Museum - Tor Castle In the very heart of the Dolomites live more than 30,000 Dolomite Ladins whose identity is characterised mainly by two important features: the uniqueness of their language, which derives from popular Latin, and the extraordinary mountain landscape at the heart of the southern Alps. It is only thanks to the physical characteristics of this landscape that the Ladin language has survived today. It is the eldest of all languages spoken in this region and is restricted by the Italian and the German cultural and linguistic areas that surround it. The way through the museum focuses on some significant aspects of the present and past lives of the Dolomite Ladins, highlighting the important influences of cross-regional events on the lives of the population and pinpointing the existing interrelations between landscape forms and lifestyles. The museum is housed in the Ciastel de Tor, a castle dating back to 1230, created as a fiefdom of the Bishops of Brixen.

The castle is available as a wedding venue for couples interested in crowning an unforgettable day and experiencing a fairytale moment in a medieval castle.

In this museum, Reinhold Messner deals with the final aspect of the conflict between man and the mountains; the heritage of the mountains and the people who have lived in them since time immemorial.

The fifth Messner Mountain Museum was opened in summer 2011 in Bruneck Castle by the well-known mountaineer Reinhold Messner. There are countless exhibits from everyday life. With the interactive "MMM Mountain Peoples" project, Reinhold Messner aims not to "exhibit" people, but rather to invite them to take part in an exchange of experience with the local rural population.

Every year guests from another mountain region will spend the summer in the Messner Mountain Peoples Museum and talk about their way of life, accompanied by everyday cultural exhibits belonging to different mountain regions and their inhabitants, including the Sherpas, Incas, Tibetans and Mongolians.

Ticket prices:

Adults € 14,00, kids (6 - 14 years) € 6,00, students under 28 years and seniors over 65 years € 12,00, family ticket (1 adult + kids under 14 years) € 32,00, mini family ticket (1 adult + kids under 14 years) € 18,00, groups of 15 persons and more € 12,00, school classes (6 - 19 years) € 6,00

The South Tyrolean Folklore Museum is the oldest of the provincial museums in South Tyrol and offers a view of social life in the past. The noble residence “Mair am Hof”, built in the 17th century, gives you the opportunity of following a striking itinerary through the refined world of local aristocracy. The stately rooms of the landed gentry and the collections of the museum are located inside the residence. Translocated original farm houses, craft workshops and cottage gardens are situated on the three hectares of the green area. A walk through the open air site takes you into the everyday world of various peasant groups of the past: from the self-sufficient farmers to rural craftsmen, cottagers and labourers.

The Dolomites are renowned all around the world for their unique -beauty. No other place can boast such contrasts between steep rocks and grassy pastures. Michael Wachtler presents the evolving of the Dolomites and their unique genesis in the historical Villa Wachtler. THE BIGGEST MUSEUM ABOUT THE DOLOMITES It will take you from the mysterious world of myths and legends to the bottom of our existence. “Megachirella wachtleri”, the ancient ancestor of today‘s snakes and lizards. The mysterious evolution of plants. Cavern bears in the Dolomites. NEW! DINOSAUR WORLD New researches yielded that in the Dolomites originated the ancestors of the dinosaurs. Beautiful dioramas and original skeletons show you their sensational ascension. NEW! THE LEGENDS OF DOLOMITES From Aurona, the land of gold and the lights to the Snow Queen Samblana. From the legend about the "Pale Mountains" to the Croderes, the people of stone. NEW! TREASURE DIGGING ALL THE YEAR Become an adventurous gold miner and crystal hunter yourself. You might just find a dinosaur, fossils, gold or a crystal of your own.

Niederdorf’s current town hall was once the noble residence of the Kurz zum Thurn family. Around 1800, it received its elegant facade with Ionic columns. It later served as a toll office and military barracks. Since 1928, it has been the seat of the municipal administration.

One of the South Tyrols most magnificent fortress complexes, Castle Trostburg was built at the end of the 12th century and then enlarged and fortified in the 16th century. It has a stupendous late-Renaissance hall in addition to a vaulted Gothic Stube. This is where the famous medieval poet Oswald von Wolkenstein lived.
The castle houses exhibitions and works of art from a variety of epochs. It is also home to a collection of around 80 models of South Tyrolean castles, the work of Ludwig Mitterdorfer (1885-1963).

Information and reservation for groups, tel. 0471 654 401. 

An unique botanical attraction, the highest rosary of Europe waits for you at the Hotel Uhrerhof in Bulla. Discover the variety of 6.000 roses of more than 150 various species. A steep mountain hillside was transformed into a garden park filled with flowers and perfume. Enjoy the beauty of nature! From July to September every day from 10.00 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. along the hillside at the Hotel Uhrerhof in Bulla. Dogs are not admitted.

Mount Kronplatz is already a success story – and still, there is always room for yet more potential in both summer and winter. With the MMM Corones project, Kronplatz has now written another historic chapter which adds a distinct cultural flavour to this outstanding example of Alpine competence. Inaugurated in 2003, the striking Concordia 2000 peace bell was a first step towards a wider cultural offer. And now, with the MMM Corones, an exciting new milestone has followed suit. The museum was designed and built by world-renowned Zaha Hadid, by many considered the most talented and innovative architect of our time. Zaha Hadid, Reinhold Messner and Kronplatz – that’s an impressive three key brands joining forces for this exciting new project. Adults: 14,00€, children 6–18 years: 6,00€, students (under 28 years): 12,00€, Seniors over 65 years: 12,00€, family ticket (2 adults + children under 14 years): 32,00€, mini-family ticket (1 adult + children under 14 years): 18,00€, groups min. 15 people: 12,00€/person, school classes 6–18 years: 6,00€/person
People with disabilities: 12,00€
LAST ADMISSION 15.30 O'CLOCK

Man’s fascination with mountains has been unbroken as long as anyone can remember.

LUMEN gives this fascination a photographic home: located at the summit of the region Kronplatz (in South Tyrol), 1,800 square metres are dedicated to mountain photography.

Spanning four floors LUMEN offers the possibility to experience the history of mountain photography from its beginnings until the present as well as displaying the art of mountain-photographers from all over the world.

 

Last entrance: 3.30 p.m.

Permanent exhibition of paintings by R. Mussner c/o Stüa dal Te Raetia. The works are also for sale.

The tourism museum in Haus Wassermann documents the history of tourism in Alta Pusteria.

On the first floor you can trace the foundations of tourism, the flair of the old inns and the many spas. Also showcased is the construction of the railway line in Val Pusteria, which led to the development of modern tourism. A separate room is given to the early development of Alpine sport.

On the second floor visitors discover the centuries-old history of the building. Some of the rooms focus on the history of the noble family Von Kurz and the Wassermann family. One entire room is dedicated to Emma Hellensteiner, Tyrol`s most famous innkeeper and hotelier. A simple chamber provides a glance into the working world of the servants.

Admission:
Adults: €5
Children under 6: free 

link to the video

In this museum, Reinhold Messner deals with the final aspect of the conflict between man and the mountains; the heritage of the mountains and the people who have lived in them since time immemorial.

The fifth Messner Mountain Museum was opened in summer 2011 in Bruneck Castle by the well-known mountaineer Reinhold Messner. There are countless exhibits from everyday life. With the interactive "MMM Mountain Peoples" project, Reinhold Messner aims not to "exhibit" people, but rather to invite them to take part in an exchange of experience with the local rural population.

Every year guests from another mountain region will spend the summer in the Messner Mountain Peoples Museum and talk about their way of life, accompanied by everyday cultural exhibits belonging to different mountain regions and their inhabitants, including the Sherpas, Incas, Tibetans and Mongolians.

Ticket prices:

Adults € 14,00, kids (6 - 14 years) € 6,00, students under 28 years and seniors over 65 years € 12,00, family ticket (1 adult + kids under 14 years) € 32,00, mini family ticket (1 adult + kids under 14 years) € 18,00, groups of 15 persons and more € 12,00, school classes (6 - 19 years) € 6,00

In the shadow of the majestic Collegiate Church stands a building of no less historical importance with an exterior that has not been changed since the 16th century. The eastern part dates back to the 10th Century, when the Benedictine Convent, founded in 769 by Duke Tassilo III, still existed, and was transformed into a Collegiate Church sometime around 1143. The western part was built in 1385. Today's appearance dates back to the 16th century. The ornamental paintings around the windows were realised by painters from the Bressanone School around 1550. The rooms on the ground floor served as storage rooms for food supplies, while the upper floors provided the religious chapter's room, the library, the archive, the dormitory and the work room for the librarians and the masters. Today, the building hosts the museum, the archive and the library of the Collegiate Church.

Opening times
10.06.-20.09.2025: Tuesday - Saturday, 2 - 7 pm

winter: upon request 2-3 days before

Prices
single ticket: € 5,00
children up to 14 years: free

Visitor Center Nature Park Schlern-Rosengarten: The area of the nature park Schlern-Rosengarten has a diversified history, not only in its prehistoric formation. The resulting flora and fauna as well as the management by the people, along with their customs and myths, have left their mark. The exhibition in the Visitor Center Nature Park tries to show all aspects of this area’s unique geology, which was the main reason leading to being named as a Dolomites UNESCO World Heritage Site, as well as the flora and fauna, which has always been a source of attraction and inspiration for scientists and nature lovers. In laborious detail work, the inhabitants of this area contributed significantly to the preservation of this valuable cultural and natural landscape. In addition to the exhibitions of the Visitor Center Nature Park department, the tourist office Seis am Schlern and the village library complete the offer for guests and locals.

Museum Gherdëina

The heritage of an entire valley

Geology and wooden toys, artistic tradition and Luis Trenker: the Gherdëina Museum offers an overview of everything that makes Val Gardena special. The journey through time begins there 250 million years ago with unique fossils and minerals. And if you feel like it, you can experience the large ichtyosaur from the Secëda mountain in its habitat in virtual reality.

Another attraction is the wooden toy from Val Gardena that has conquered children's rooms all over the world. From December 2025, a new exhibition will show the3 evolution of toys, with pieces from the collection of the toy manufacturer Sevi, which comprises 8,000 samples from seven decades.

The museum also houses secular and sacred wood carvings from the 18th and 19th centuries as well as a pictorial Lenten cloth and sculptures from the church of San Giacomo. Late medieval red chalk drawings from a farmhouse are presented in multimedia form and are not the only insight into local rural architecture.

Finally, there ist the cult figure of the mountaineer, film and television star Luis Trenker, whose film requirements, posters, books and awards are on display in the museum.

 

Guided tours in Italian, German and English (upon request)

For current opening hours, admission prices and events visit: www.museumgherdeina.it

In the Infopoint Dolomites UNESCO World Heritage Zans is shown the long history of the unique Dolomites in a time lapse.

The rocks, once in the seabed, are now building peaks and are sloping, bent or folded. This is reflected in the architectural concept of the Infopoint.

The Nature Park Visitor Center of Villnöss brings visitors closer to nature and is the perfect place to dwell on. A walkable aerial photo gives visitors a bird‘s eye perspective of the Puez-Geisler Nature Park. The exhibition area “Touch the mountains” focuses on the key topic - the geology of the Dolomites. The Puez-Geisler Nature Park has been designated the “Dolomites site office” because it is home to all of the rock types, deposits and weathering that are typically found in the Dolomites. The Puez-Geisler Nature Park in the Dolomites is estendet on a area of the 3 valleys: Gadertal valley, Gröden valley and Villnöss valley.  The “Nature’s treasure trove” on the second floor contains plenty to discover: animal fur, bird’s eggs, feathers, footprints, droppings, teeth, antlers, medicinal herbs … all of which - and much more - is on display and can be touched! The “Conquering Mountains” room is primarily dedicated to alpinism. The world’s probably most famous alpinist, Reinhold Messner, comes from Villnöss. He talks about his experiences in the mountains in a short film. The “Puez-Geisler Nature Park film” is also shown daily in the mountain cinema. Leave your stress at home, discover the world of the mountains, and feel like a hunter in the woods.

The fire helmet collection at the helmet museum in Gais is unique worldwide: over 700 splendid fire helmets from all over the world are on show in a museum covering 200 sq. m. The exhibits include, among other things, collector's items made from leather, steel and brass, helmets from Egypt, Thailand, Guatemala, New York and a multitude of other helmets from many different countries. The French helmets, which are made of metal, are especially elaborate, often being decorated with feathers.

Visits only on request by phone!

A fantastic experience for the whole family!

The Mineral Museum Teis is dedicated to the famous Geodes of Teis which formed thanks to volcanic activities more than 290 million years ago. Besides Geodes of Teis, there are also exhibited other alpine minerals (rock crystals, smoky quartz, garnets etc.). The collection is Paul Fischnaller’s lifework who dedicated his life to the minerals.

A short introductory film gives insight into the formation of the Alps and the minerals. In the well-assorted museum shop you can purchase books, souvenirs, gemstones and healing stones.

Join Paul Fischnaller on his search for Geodes of Teis! Every Thursday, reservation required.

The Old Courthouse, also known as the Görz House, is one of Niederdorf’s most important historic buildings. It once served as the seat of justice under the Counts of Görz in the Puster Valley. Its northern facade still features painted coats of arms, including those of Görz and Tyrol, as well as noble families. The building reflects the village's former political and judicial significance in regional history.

The Nature Park Visitor Center of Villnöss brings visitors closer to nature and is the perfect place to dwell on. A walkable aerial photo gives visitors a bird‘s eye perspective of the Puez-Geisler Nature Park. The exhibition area “Touch the mountains” focuses on the key topic - the geology of the Dolomites. The Puez-Geisler Nature Park has been designated the “Dolomites site office” because it is home to all of the rock types, deposits and weathering that are typically found in the Dolomites. The Puez-Geisler Nature Park in the Dolomites is estendet on a area of the 3 valleys: Gadertal valley, Gröden valley and Villnöss valley.  The “Nature’s treasure trove” on the second floor contains plenty to discover: animal fur, bird’s eggs, feathers, footprints, droppings, teeth, antlers, medicinal herbs … all of which - and much more - is on display and can be touched! The “Conquering Mountains” room is primarily dedicated to alpinism. The world’s probably most famous alpinist, Reinhold Messner, comes from Villnöss. He talks about his experiences in the mountains in a short film. The “Puez-Geisler Nature Park film” is also shown daily in the mountain cinema. Leave your stress at home, discover the world of the mountains, and feel like a hunter in the woods.

The Town Museum of Graphic Arts was opened in 1995 in the restored and converted postal stables, where, in earlier centuries, horses were fed and watered, and postal coaches were prepared for travelers. On the ground floor, in addition to the entrance hall, is the permanent exhibition of late Gothic works by Michael Pacher, his assistant Friedrich Pacher and his pupils Simon and Veit von Taisten.Stadtmuseum Bruneck The first floor houses the temporary exhibitions, whilst the archive and offices are to be found on the second floor. The graphic arts gallery is located in the basement, which is made available to young artists for exhibitions. In addition, there is also an artists' workshop in the museum with all the necessary equipment for gravure printing, surface printing and relief printing (etching, lithography & woodcarving) and screen printing. The museum possesses, among other exhibits, 7500 book plates. The main focus is on the graphics of the 20th century from both the local region and abroad, and on collecting, presenting and working on them from a scientific perspective. A second area of emphasis is on restoring and exhibiting the original town museum's exhibits. In addition, numerous cultural initiatives are run by the museum. 

Opened in 2001, the Ladin Ciastel de Tor Museum brings visitors closer to the history, language, culture, archaeology, geology, legendary world, crafts and tourist development of the Ladin valleys in the Dolomites.

In the halls and inner courtyard of the castle built in the 13th century, exhibitions, concerts and seminars are held as well as meetings on various themes and aspects related to the Ladin language and culture.

A visit to the museum brings to light the most important events of the past and partly present life of the Ladin people, highlighting the significant influences of extra-regional events on their lives.

The Museum Ladin Ciastel de Tor is in a Mediaeval structure, so only a few of the exhibition areas are accessible to wheelchair users. However, the temporary exhibition is easily accessible to everyone.

In the Infopoint Dolomites UNESCO World Heritage Zans is shown the long history of the unique Dolomites in a time lapse.

The rocks, once in the seabed, are now building peaks and are sloping, bent or folded. This is reflected in the architectural concept of the Infopoint.

Roman period in Val Pusteria. The life of our ancestors 100BC-600AD. In the land of Saevates. The Museum Mansio Sebatum Archaelogical Museum is the first museum in South Tyrol dedicated to the ancient Romans who lived in the area around San Lorenzo. The exhibition displayed on three floors illustrates history and development of the ancient Mansio Sebatum settlement and includes many remarkable finds from and around San Lorenzo. The exhibition also provides results from researches on the Iron and Roman Ages which give detailed insight into the daliy life of those times.

SMACH Val dl'Ert is the public art park in the nature of San Martino in Badia winner of the special mention in the National Landscape Award 2023 awarded by the Ministry of Culture.
In the 24 hectares of pristine forest and pastures, the trail will lead you to discover 23 works that dialogue with the landscape and visitors.

The Val dl'Ert is conceived as a work in progress, in fact it is enriched with new works after each edition of the SMACH Biennale, which this year will open on July 8, 2023 presenting 10 new installations.

Admission is free and the park can be visited independently every day of the year. You can also contact SMACH for individual or group guided tours.

Visitor Center Nature Park Schlern-Rosengarten: The area of the nature park Schlern-Rosengarten has a diversified history, not only in its prehistoric formation. The resulting flora and fauna as well as the management by the people, along with their customs and myths, have left their mark. The exhibition in the Visitor Center Nature Park tries to show all aspects of this area’s unique geology, which was the main reason leading to being named as a Dolomites UNESCO World Heritage Site, as well as the flora and fauna, which has always been a source of attraction and inspiration for scientists and nature lovers. In laborious detail work, the inhabitants of this area contributed significantly to the preservation of this valuable cultural and natural landscape. In addition to the exhibitions of the Visitor Center Nature Park department, the tourist office Seis am Schlern and the village library complete the offer for guests and locals.