Old Town of Merano
The well-preserved historical town centre of Merano is surrounded by three town gates. Originally, there have been 4 town gates, but unfortunately one gate is no longer preserved today.
At the Passeier gate (Passeier Tor), you can still see remnants of the old city wall, and the road through this gate leads to Dorf Tirol and the Passeier Valley.
The Vinschgauer gate is the western boundary of the city walls.
Through the third gate, the Bozner gate, you get to the spa district of Merano. With its steep roof and the relief coats of arms of Austria, Tyrol and Merano it is without doubt the most beautiful gate of the 3 town gates of Merano.
Beside other sights, the Old Town center of Merano is dominated by the long Laubengasse and the parish church of St. Nicholas. The Laubengasse connects the Pfarrplatz (the square in front of the church) with the Kornplatz, which was the marketplace of Merano in earlier times.
- Left: The upper arcades of the Laubengasse in Merano with their characteristic round arches.
- Center: Oriel of a house in the Old Town of Merano.
- Right: The Old Town of Merano and the Bozner Gate seen from the parish church of St. Nicholas.
The parish church of St. Nicholas in Merano
The parish church of St. Nicholas is a late gothic building with three naves and was built in the 14th and 15th century. Its 80 metres tall tower with the octagonal superstructure and the characteristic dome is a popular motive for postcards.
At the southern wall of the nave you will find a stone sculpture of St. Nicholas, and inside the church, on the side-altar, there are paintings of Martin Knoller. Next to the choir there is the two-storied chapel of St. Barbara, an octagonal central building, which used to be a cemetery chapel, but nowadays holds a magnificent gothic winged altar.
