Discovering the Wooden Toys of Val Gardena

A New Thematic Tour at the Museum Gherdëina

Children from the Austrian Empire, France, England, and even the USA shared one thing in common during the 19th and early 20th centuries: wooden toys from Val Gardena. Through a special thematic tour, the Museum Gherdëina showcases how these toys were crafted, the technical expertise behind them, their evolution, and how they sustained an entire valley.


When: every Friday, 4:00 PM
Duration: about 1 hour
Language: Italian and/or German
Dates: December 6, 2024 – April 4, 2025
Price: 15 € adults (10 € with Val Gardena Active membership)
Where: Museum Gherdëina, Ortisei

Registration: Tel. +39 0471 797554 | info@museumgherdeina.it | Val Gardena Tourist Offices

Playing Through Time

Drummers, jesters, jointed puppets, Pinocchios, and animals from all over the world—Val Gardena’s wooden toy makers offered an astonishing variety of creations. These toys, originating in the valley, found their way into children’s rooms across Europe and America.
The thematic tour takes you on a journey through the Museum Gherdëina’s wooden toy collection, and in doing so, a journey through time—from the craft’s beginnings in the 18th century up to the 1920s.
Gain insights into the traditional craftsmanship that kept entire families in farmhouses busy. And how did these toys reach every corner of the globe? A glimpse into the intricate distribution network answers this question as well.
Naturally, children are not left out of the experience. They can do exactly what these toys were made for: play.


I-39046 Urtijëi | Ortisei | St. Ulrich, Str. Rezia 83, www.museumgherdeina.it