LUMAGICA Merano 2026/27: Sissi’s Journey Through Time
The Gardens of Trauttmansdorff Castle are well worth a visit in every season. In winter, they take on a whole new atmosphere. As evening falls, part of the botanical gardens is transformed into a captivating world of light, sound and projections. LUMAGICA Merano invites you to leave everyday life behind for a while and follow Sissi on a journey through time.
An evening stroll through Trauttmansdorff
From 19 November 2026 to 10 January 2027, the light trail is open every evening. The circular route, around 1.3 kilometres long, takes you past more than 300 illuminated installations. The Sound-to-Light shows are a highlight, combining water, lasers, light and sound effects in a striking audiovisual experience. Interactive stations along the way invite you to interact with the installations and become part of the experience. Allow around an hour and a half to explore the trail.
The experience is a little like stepping into a film: instead of watching the scenes on a screen, you move through them yourself. One illuminated scene leads to the next, with the path carrying you from one image to another. The interplay between the installations, the plants and the garden spaces gives each scene its own atmosphere.
Following in the footsteps of Empress Elisabeth
This year’s theme is “Sissi’s Journey Through Time”. Empress Elisabeth, who stayed at Trauttmansdorff Castle during two of her spa visits to Merano, provides the historical thread running through the experience. Inspired by her life and her connection to Merano, the display weaves historical details into a poetic story told through light, bringing past and present together.
Light installations, projections and interactive elements invite you to explore the gardens and take in each scene at your own pace. At the interactive stations, you can engage with the light yourself and become part of the experience.
A winter evening during your stay at Hohenwart
During a winter stay in Schenna, LUMAGICA makes a lovely evening outing and a chance to see a familiar place in a new light. The gardens are easy to reach without a car, too: bus route 232 connects Schenna directly to the Gardens of Trauttmansdorff Castle. The outing offers a change of pace from quieter moments at Hohenwart: a sauna infusion in the panoramic sauna, time to unwind in the saltwater pool or a glass of wine by the fireside.
It’s a chance to enjoy different sides of a winter holiday: crisp air and the scenery around Schenna during the day, followed by the illuminated garden paths of Trauttmansdorff in the evening.
LUMAGICA Merano: key information
- Dates: 19 November 2026 to 10 January 2027
- Opening times: daily, 16:30–21:00
- Closed on 24 December
- Route: around 1.3 km; allow about an hour and a half
- Location: Gardens of Trauttmansdorff Castle, Merano
- Distance from Hotel Hohenwart: 3.4 km
- Public transport: bus route 232 runs directly from Schenna to the gardens
- Good to know: sturdy footwear is recommended. Dogs are not allowed in the gardens.