Ladin Cultural Institute “Micurà de Rü”

The language scientist Micurà de Rü, alias Nikolaus Bacher, was born on the 4th of December 1789 in the hamlet of Rü near San Cassiano in the Val Badia valley. In 1814, after his theological studies, he was ordained as a priest in Salzburg. Beside his work as a priest, he was particularly interested in his mother language and the Ladin culture.

With his work entitled "Versuch einer deütsch-ladinischen Sprachlehre - Erstmalige Planung einer gesamtdolomitenladinischen Schriftsprache", he established the basics for a Ladin grammar. In remembrance of Micurà de Rü, the Ladin Cultural Institute in San Martino di Badia (St. Martin in Thurn) was named after him. Founded in 1976, it promotes initiatives that are aimed at preserving and promoting the Ladin language and culture in general.

For this reason it also supports cultural entities and associations, which have the same aims and objectives. The main seat of the "Micurà de Rü" is located in San Martino in Badia, an outpost can be found in Selva Gardena in the Val Gardena valley, the second Ladin-speaking valley in South Tyrol. Since 1993, the Ladin Cultural Institute has been directed by Dr. Leander Moroder.