Maranatha Museum in Luttach

The Maranatha has also been continuously expanded and supplemented, so that today it houses one of the most beautiful collections of cribs and carved masks on a good 1,300 m² of exhibition space.

By the way, "Maranatha" comes from Aramaic, as it was fondly spoken by the early Christians, and means as much as "Our Lord has come" – a wonderfully fitting name for a nativity museum.

The first part of the exhibition is dedicated to the history of carving, which has a long and great tradition in the Taufer Ahrntal. Mask carving is also a topic in a separate room; from the raw block of wood to the finished, expressive mask, one can follow the development of such an object. Several precious masks, as used in Perchten runs or in the St. Nicholas play, are to be admired.

In the actual nativity museum, artworks from various countries can be seen, ranging from the miniature crib to the life-size representation. Among the greatest treasures of the crib collection are, among others, an old oriental crib, a Neapolitan crib, a crib from Russia, and a Christmas pyramid from the Ore Mountains. Burg Taufers is also recreated here as a knight's crib. The treasures of this museum are up to 300 years old. Of course, the walk-in crib set up on 70 m² with its life-size figures is also particularly popular.

In the outdoor area, in the Sculptor's Garden, there is a 500-year-old Swiss pine trunk, next to a fountain as well as several art objects. Since 2003, an artist's studio has also belonged to the Maranatha Museum. Here works sculptor Lukas Troi from St. Johann, one of the best artists of the valley. You can watch the artist at work, carving, but also restoring reliefs or figures. Creative carving courses can also be booked.

Visiting the Maranatha nativity museum during Advent is the perfect way to get into the mood for the traditional South Tyrolean mountain Christmas!