Museum Gherdëina - Val Gardena Museum

The Museum Gherdëina - Val Gardena Museum (Museum Gröden) in Ortisei has documented the history of the Ladin-speaking Val Gardena since 1960. After expansions, it now houses several themed areas: wooden toys, wood carvings, paintings, unique artefacts, archaeology, the Dolomites, and Luis Trenker. A highlight is the collection of Val Gardena wooden toys from before 1940. Old rocking horses and dolls evoke memories of bygone childhood days.

Further areas are dedicated to Val Gardena's art of painting in the 19th and 20th centuries, unique items like the Lenten cloth of St. Jacob's Church (1620/30) and rare red chalk drawings by Bierjun from 1490, as well as archaeological finds from the valley. The wood carvings present four centuries of Val Gardena carving artistry. You can admire secular carvings from the 17th to the 19th century, nativity scenes, and sacred sculptures.

During the long winter months, the people of the Val Gardena cultivated their carving tradition, achieving worldwide recognition. Your museum visit is rounded off by sections on the Dolomites and the mountaineer, actor, and director Luis Trenker (1892-1990). Another project will go online at the end of March 2025: the Geoportal for the Cultural Assets of the Val Gardena area.

How do get to there: It is located in the Cësa di Ladins in the centre of Ortisei. Renovation and expansion work on the building and the museum are planned from 2025 onwards. A large part of the work will be financed by the Provincial Department Ladin Education and Culture, the Office for Museums and Museal Research, and the Autonomous Region of Trentino-South Tyrol. Parking is available in the surrounding area, and the bus stops at the nearby Piazza Sant'Antonio square.