MuseumPasseier

About the museum

Andreas Hofer's widow, Anna, already displayed her husband's clothes and possessions in the inn of the Sandhof. In 1975 a small memorial room was set up in the cowshed of the farm; at the same time, from 1981, a local museum with objects of rural and craft life existed in San Martino. In the 1990s the municipalities of the valley, the Tiroler Matrikelstiftung (owner of the Sandhof) and the local museum association decided to merge the two into a single museum, founding in 1995 the association “Andreas Hofer Talmuseum – Sandhof”.

In 1998 a farmhouse, a hayloft, a mill and a granary that had been saved from demolition were rebuilt at the Sandhof: this is where the open-air area originated. The former farm building was converted to a design by the studio Nussbaumer & Nussbaumer, and the MuseoPassiria opened in 2001 (official inauguration on 18 May 2002). In 2003 the external site of Castel Giovo was added; in 2009 an underground extension of 500 m² housed the new route “Eroi & Hofer”, in 2013 the exhibition “Eroi & Noi” followed, and in 2015 the section on customs and traditions became the permanent exhibition “Mier Psairer”, with a storage area open to visitors in the open-air area.

The Sandhof, the place of Hofer's birth and life (1767–1810), was in the Middle Ages a stopping point for carts coming from Merano and, from the 19th century, a destination for visitors; the memorial chapel next to the open-air area was inaugurated in 1899. Since 1982 the complex has been a protected monument.

Highlights

• The route “Eroi & Hofer” on Andreas Hofer and the Tyrolean uprising of 1809
• The exhibition “Eroi & Noi” on the concept of heroism
• Open-air area with rebuilt farmhouse, mill, granary and oven
• The exhibition “Mier Psairer” on life in the Passeier Valley
• Sandhof, birthplace of Andreas Hofer, with memorial chapel

Permanent exhibitions

• Eroi & Hofer – Underground route of 500 m² on Andreas Hofer, his era and the Tyrolean uprising of 1809 against the Napoleonic troops.
• Eroi & Noi – Exhibition on the upper floor on the concept of the hero: which values heroes and stars embody, and how images of heroism come about.
• Area all'aperto e "Mier Psairer" – Rebuilt farmhouse, mill, granary and oven, plus an exhibition on the customs and traditions of the Passeier Valley with a storage area open to visitors.

Founded

2001

Operated by

Fondazione MuseumPasseier (Passeier)

Admission & discounts

Free admission also with the Südtirol GuestPass Passeiertal Premium, the ICOM membership card and the membership card of the Association of Museums of South Tyrol. Castel Giovo: admission by voluntary donation.

Accessibility

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

The entrance and the ground-floor route are completely barrier-free; a lift (135 × 90 cm) leads to the upper floor and, via a short ramp, to the open-air area. The latter, with uneven lawn, gravel paths and wooden buildings with thresholds and steps, is accessible only in part or with assistance. Reserved parking space, barrier-free toilet and changing table on the ground floor, numerous seats. Castel Giovo is not accessible by wheelchair or pushchair.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Stroller-friendly
• Baby changing facilities

Free admission up to age 18. The museum offers school programmes, a quiz on Andreas Hofer with a podium for children, and a sticker album produced together with other South Tyrolean museums.

Getting there & parking

The museum is on the SS 44 in San Leonardo in Passiria, about 20 km north of Merano, along the Passeier Valley cycle path (about 18 km from Merano).

Amenities & dining

• Restaurant
• Coat check
• Lockers

Lockable lockers on the ground floor. Next to the museum is the Sandwirt inn (separately run).

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit