The Kurhaus in the spa town of Merano

“A reading room with literature from all over the world, a smoking salon where thick clouds of fine cigar smoke hang and equally fine gentlemen sit engrossed in their newspapers. Next door the ladies chatter about this and that, while games of chance provide a welcome gift to numerous visitors” – such was the newspaper description in 1874, when the Meran Kurhaus opened its doors. Visitors to the city wishing to experience its culture should not miss the events staged at the Kurhaus. The timeless elegance that made Meran a spa town in days gone by manifests itself in stucco, gold and art nouveau decoration, which today provides a charming setting for major regional events as one of Europe’s “historic event centres”. Concerts, the Meran Music Festival, the Meran Prize for Literature, classical balls in Viennese style, the Miss South Tyrol beauty pageant and more: since its opening the Kurhaus has without doubt survived the years in fine style – old but definitely gold.