Autumn Festival for Spa Guests at Zenoburg Castle in Meran

Austrian Monarchy.

Tyrol.

Meran. Anyone who has spent a blessed autumn along the Rhine, on the Neckar, in Austria, or in Styria, etc., knows what joyous celebrations accompany an abundant grape harvest. The generally blessed year and the number of visitors staying in and around Meran, which had doubled this year compared to 1843, prompted the citizenry of Meran, led by Mayor Haller, untiring in his care for the comfort of visitors, to attempt to provide their guests with an enjoyable evening in a similar manner at the mouth of the Passer. For this purpose, 30 September was appointed, and the grounds of the ancient, dilapidated Zenoburg were chosen for the assembly of guests. The owner, Herr von Breitenberg of Botzen, readily opened the rooms of the castle for this undertaking. The ruins of this former seat of territorial princes, the towers defying ruin, and the half-dilapidated walls overgrown with ivy recalled the venerable dignity of past times, just as the delightful view from that vantage point over castle-dotted Obermais and the right bank of the Adige, the gigantic Mendel mountains, into the valleys toward Botzen, Ulten, the Vintschgau, and Passeier, and the splendid vineyards and meadows offered each present guest the most beautiful vista and, at the same time, the conviction of what years of peace, the contentment of the inhabitants, climate, and industry have been able to achieve since. The castle courtyard was prepared for 200 guests with tables and covers, laden with the finest southern fruits and various kinds of refreshments; white and green banners fluttered from the ancient towers, mortar salutes and their echoes enhanced the pastoral nature of the festivities, and Janissary music alternated with singing. A general cheerfulness, as unrestrained as it was decorous, prevailed among the guests of the celebration, which was attended by members of the high nobility of princely, comital, and baronial rank, senior military officers, civil servants, merchants, artists, etc., from Petersburg, Reval in Estonia, Berlin, Hanover, Prague, Munich, Milan, Bregenz, Stuttgart, Meiningen, Vienna, Constance, Augsburg, Salzburg, Kiel in Denmark, and from various towns in Tyrol. The entertainment began at 3 o'clock in the afternoon and drew to a close at 8 o'clock in the evening. Appreciation for the attentiveness displayed by the citizens of Meran accompanied the distinguished guests on their departure, and a feeling of gratitude for the honour of their presence accompanied the citizens of Meran on their way home.