Frauenmuseum Meran

About the museum

The Frauenmuseum in Merano is one of the oldest museums dedicated to women in Europe. It was founded by Evelyn Ortner (1944–1997), a passionate collector who realised that clothing could explain the role of women in different eras. After opening the first second-hand clothing shop in South Tyrol in Merano, she exhibited her private collection in 1988 as a “small museum of clothing and trinkets” at number 68 on the Portici. In 1993 she founded the association “Frauenmuseum – Die Frau im Wandel der Zeit”.

After her death, the museum was carried on by a network of women, partly on a voluntary basis, and became known beyond the provincial borders and internationally connected. In 2008 an international congress of women's museums took place in Merano, from which the global network emerged; it was formalised in 2012 as the International Association of Women's Museums, whose administrative seat has always remained in Merano. Since 2010 the museum has been housed in the former Poor Clares convent on Piazza del Grano.

The collection comprises around 8,000 items, including clothing, everyday objects, accessories, documents, printed matter, photographs and books, and makes it possible to trace the role of women from the French Revolution to today, with attention to regional, national and Central European history. The permanent route begins with women's participation in the Revolution of 1789 and with Olympe de Gouges, and touches on themes such as emancipation, stereotypes, standards of beauty, gender, care work and domestic work.

Highlights

• Collection of around 8,000 items including clothing, accessories and everyday objects
• Permanent route on the history of women from the French Revolution to today
• Former Poor Clares convent on Piazza del Grano
• Tactile tours for people with disabilities
• Specialised library and shop with handicrafts
• 360-degree virtual tour

Founded

1988

Operated by

Verein Frauenmuseum – Die Frau im Wandel der Zeit

Visitors per year

approx. 12,495

Admission & discounts

Free admission also for journalists. Guided tours must be booked in advance and, on request, are also possible outside opening hours.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The museum is barrier-free; there is a lift on the ground floor. On request, specific guided tours for people with disabilities can be arranged, including a tactile tour with objects from the collection.

Kids & families

• Family tours & workshops

Reduced admission for children aged 8 to 14 and free admission under 8; educational programmes for schools of all levels.

Getting there & parking

From the stops, the museum is reached in 1–5 minutes on foot.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

The museum shop sells books, jewellery, handicrafts and postcards, supplied by organisations working with socially disadvantaged people and by collectives of local artists.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit