Museum Zeitreise Mensch in Kurtatsch (Human Time Travel Museum)

Around 12,000 years of human history - from the Stone Age to the present day - are covered in the Museum Zeitreise Mensch. With over 5000 exhibits, visitors can trace the developments from tribal communities to modern consumer and information societies.

It is quite natural that such extensive attention is devoted to human history in Kurtatsch, as we are in one of the oldest settlement areas in South Tyrol. Archaeological finds prove that the area was already inhabited in the Mesolithic era, and settlement continuity has been maintained through all historical epochs and upheavals. The present-day location is first mentioned in a document from 1191 and is famous for the Romanesque pilgrimage church of St. Vigilius with the baptismal font from 1033, among other things.

The Museum Zeitreise Mensch is located in the Ansitz am Orth, the oldest farm in Kurtatsch, which has been in existence since 1976. In 2003, the museum was redesigned and expanded with multimedia offerings. The museum focuses on four main themes: firstly, the human as a hunter and gatherer, which represents the first traces of humans in South Tyrol. There are numerous archaeological finds, especially tools, arrowheads, and spearheads.

Extensive renovations were carried out in 2012, followed by an expansion in 2019. Most recently, it underwent comprehensive modernization and expansion in 2024.

Subsequently, the exhibition covers the sedentary lifestyle of humans, the development of agriculture and animal husbandry, as well as complex techniques such as metalworking. The museum then showcases humans as self-sufficient, a way of life that was widespread and necessary in the alpine region up to the present day. The last major chapter of the museum is dedicated to the emergence and development of professions. The exhibition spans from the first professions, through the specialization of crafts and industrialization, to the division of labor in modern consumer society. Finally, the exhibition "Gods - Witches - Saints" deals with popular beliefs over time.

Archaeological finds, a variety of art and cultural-historical exhibits, and several curiosities make the journey through the past a direct and tangible experience. The Museum Zeitreise Mensch can only be visited with a guided tour, which helps to process the wealth of information provided. A museum that is astonishing in the face of the incredible development that humanity has undergone.

Between Easter and All Saints' Day, a guided tour is offered every Friday at 10:00 am, no registration is required. With (telephone) registration, a visit including a guided tour is possible all year round from Monday to Saturday between 8:00 am and 8:00 pm. Information is available at +39 0471 88 02 67 or +39 338 2032429 or by email.

Ansitz am Orth
Botengasse 2
39040 Kurtatsch
www.museumzeitreisemensch.it