Museum Gherdëina: A journey through history, art, and nature in Val Gardena

In the heart of Ortisei, inside the evocative “Cësa di Ladins” — the house of the Ladin language and culture — lies the Museum of Val Gardena. Here, past and present meet to tell the story, culture, and natural heritage of this fascinating valley. Opened in 1960, the museum offers a unique immersion into local heritage through its rich and captivating exhibitions.

An extraordinary exhibition

As soon as you step inside, you’ll be enchanted by the variety of exhibits. The museum preserves true masterpieces of woodcarving — a craft that made Val Gardena famous over the centuries. Among the rarest pieces is an extraordinary collection of wooden toys, assembled between 1750 and 1940, which, together with various sculptures, showcases the outstanding skill of Val Gardena’s artisans.

These toys represent a genuine historical phenomenon: between the 18th and 19th centuries, Val Gardena was one of Europe’s main centers for wooden toy production, exporting its creations across the continent.

The wooden sculptures signed by the artists Trebinger and Vinazer illustrate the evolution of this art form, which still defines the valley’s international reputation through the production of sacred sculptures and nativity scenes.

Beyond sculpture, a painting section celebrates the talent of Josef Moroder-Lusenberg, the renowned painter from Val Gardena, while an entire room is dedicated to the legendary Luis Trenker — director, actor, and mountaineer. Here you can admire personal memorabilia, such as film awards, posters, and photographs retracing his career.

From geology to nature

The journey through time continues with a section dedicated to the geology of the Dolomites: fossils, rocks, and minerals over 200 million years old tell the incredible story of these UNESCO World Heritage mountains. The museum also showcases the local flora and fauna, with an impressive herbarium and taxidermy specimens that reveal the richness of Alpine biodiversity.

Finally, a collection of archaeological finds bears witness to the earliest settlements in Val Gardena, offering a complete overview of life in this land since ancient times.

The Museum of Val Gardena is open three times a week, almost year-round. An unmissable opportunity to discover the magic of this valley through its history, art, and nature.

For more information, visit the official website of the Museum Gherdëina.