And the winner is ...
Awards and Honors
The Gardens of Trauttmansdorff Castle have become one of the most important attractions in South Tyrol! The successful combination of nature, culture, and art, as well as the spirit of innovation, has received multiple awards.
The inclusion in the showcase garden partner network is subject to a series of quality criteria, which concern the natural design and maintenance according to the "Natur im Garten" criteria, but also take into consideration the garden's tourism potential.
"After winning the 'European Award for Ecological Gardening' last year, we are very proud to have received this award as well. This shows us that we have taken the right path and motivates the entire team of the Gardens of Trauttmansdorff Castle to continue working in this direction," said Gabriele Pircher, Director of the Gardens of Trauttmansdorff Castle.
Since 2015, "Natur im Garten", represented by the province of Lower Austria and the associations "European Garden Association - Natur im Garten International" and "Natur im Garten" GmbH, has been awarding a prize every two years to recognize the most outstanding achievements in ecological gardening. The Gardens of Trauttmansdorff Castle presented the project "Diversity - the importance of biological diversity for humans, animals and plants" and entered the competition in the category "Promotion of biodiversity in gardens and green spaces". The aim of this project is to promote the concept of "diversity" through experience and learning, raising awareness among guests in the Gardens. This happens through a pathway around the entire perimeter of Trauttmansdorff. "Diversity" won against 11 other high-quality projects from Germany, Austria, Russia and the Netherlands. The Gardens of Trauttmansdorff Castle project represents real added value for people and the environment and is a contribution to increase biodiversity.
On 19 March 2013, the Gardens of Trauttmansdorff Castle received the coveted International Garden of the Year Award for 2013 at the Garden Tourism Conference in Toronto, Canada. The component that really singled Trauttmansdorff out, though, was the speed and vigor of its growth – a phenomenon that is particularly extraordinary given the fact that it is publicly owned. Case in point: only one year after opening its doors in 2001, Trauttmansdorff was already covering operating costs and a portion of its new investments. Today the garden records more than 400,000 visitors during its season, which runs for 7.5 months. It is South Tyrol’s most popular tourist attraction, and now provides significant economic stimulus to the region. Trauttmansdorff has achieved global significance, earning the coveted International Garden of the Year award for 2013.
In 2013, the Gardens of Trauttmansdorff Castle were awarded the title of "International Garden of the Year." Shortly thereafter, another award was received for the "Trauttmansdorff Garden Guide." The publication about the gardens was honored at the German Garden Book Awards and is now counted among the top three garden travel guides. Over 100 publications from 29 European publishers were submitted for the 7th edition of the German Garden Book Awards. The "Trauttmansdorff Garden Guide" was completely revised and published in June 2011 by Tappeiner Verlag in three languages: German, Italian, and English. The author of the work is the botanist Karin Ortler. She has been working in the Gardens of Trauttmansdorff Castle since 1999 and is currently responsible for visitor management. Organized around thematic focuses, the garden guide provides a wealth of information about exotic and native miniature landscapes, diverse themed gardens, interactive experience stations, and, last but not least, flowering highlights throughout the changing seasons. Garden enthusiasts and professionals alike are addressed, as well as families seeking relaxation, art enthusiasts, and fans of Empress Elisabeth ("Sissi"). The circular and panoramic paths marked on the grounds are presented in the garden guide, and an overview map in the back cover makes orientation easier. With the "Garden Guide," visitors can inform themselves in advance about the specific aspects of the gardens they would like to explore since one day is rarely sufficient to visit the 12-hectare site along with the Touriseum, the South Tyrol Museum of Tourism in Trauttmansdorff Castle.
Twenty gardens in Germany, France, Italy, Sweden and the UK were evaluated as part of the Briggs & Stratton’s Best Parks contest. The comparatively young Gardens of Trauttmansdorff Castle, which followed a path that was forward thinking and innovative, was awarded sixth place among Europe’s most beautiful gardens. This award represents a singular case, thus far, in that Trauttmansdorff competed against historical botanical facilities with centuries-old garden architecture.
A victorious interplay of nature and art: the Italy’s Most Beautiful Garden contest takes place under the auspices of the international company Briggs & Stratton and was conducted in collaboration with the Grandi Giardini Italiani Association. As part of the third occurrence of the contest, a five-member jury of experts selected the Gardens of Trauttmansdorff Castle from amongst 64 gardens throughout Italy as Italy’s Most Beautiful Garden 2005. In its explanatory statement the jury underlined Trauttmansdorff’s harmonious combination of contemporary art and variety of plant species from different climatic regions, exhibited in an attractive and well-maintained landscape architectural structure.