The Kurhaus of

Meran Merano (, , ) or Meran () is a city and ''comune'' in South Tyrol, northern Italy. Generally best known for its spa resorts, it is located within a basin, surrounded by mountains standing up to above sea level, at the entrance to the Passeier ...

South Tyrol it, Provincia Autonoma di Bolzano – Alto Adige lld, Provinzia Autonoma de Balsan/Bulsan – Südtirol , settlement_type = Autonomous province , image_skyline = , image_alt ...

is a famous building in the town and a symbol of it. The ornate structure was constructed at a time when Meran became a popular

spa A spa is a location where mineral-rich spring water (and sometimes seawater) is used to give medicinal baths. Spa towns or spa resorts (including hot springs resorts) typically offer various health treatments, which are also known as balneoth ...

resort due to the frequent visits of

Empress Elisabeth of Austria Duchess Elisabeth Amalie Eugenie in Bavaria (24 December 1837 – 10 September 1898) was Empress of Austria and Queen of Hungary from her marriage to Emperor Franz Joseph I on 24 April 1854 until her assassination in 1898. Elisabeth was ...

and the aristocracy. The building's original structure, which is today's west wing, was constructed in 1874 while the newer wing was added in 1912 and 1914 by the

Viennese Viennese may refer to: * Vienna, the capital of Austria * Viennese people, List of people from Vienna * Viennese German, the German dialect spoken in Vienna * Music of Vienna, musical styles in the city * Viennese Waltz, genre of ballroom dance * V ...

Jugendstil ''Jugendstil'' ("Youth Style") was an artistic movement, particularly in the decorative arts, that was influential primarily in Germany and elsewhere in Europe to a lesser extent from about 1895 until about 1910. It was the German counterpart of ...

'' architect

Friedrich Ohmann Friedrich Ohmann (21 December 1858, Lemberg - 6 April 1927, Vienna) was an Austrian architect in the Historicist style. Life and work His father was a building official. In 1877, he began his studies in architecture at the Technical Universit ...

. The exterior features a large portico with columns and is decorated with allegorical statues. The rotunda is visible from far. The interior is decorated with paintings by

Rudolf Jettmar Rudolf Jettmar (10 September 1869, Tarnów — 21 April 1939, Vienna) was an Austrian painter and printmaker. The largest collection of the work of Rudolf Jettmar in the United States is held by the Jack Daulton Collection in Los Altos Hills, ...

, Orazio Gaigher and Alexander Rothaug and has various conference and exhibitions rooms that are used for events and concerts. The grand ''Kursaal'' is the most spectacular hall in the building. The spa area has various recreational rooms, salons, reading room and originally also a smoker's lounge. Gambling was also organised in the Kursaal by a gentleman's society until it became official after World War II.

External links

Homepage of the Kurhaus

Burggrafenamt Südtirol , Kurhaus
Merano Art Nouveau architecture in Italy Buildings and structures completed in 1874 Buildings and structures completed in 1914

Buildings and structures in South Tyrol Art Nouveau theatres {{Italy-struct-stub