For as long as anyone can remember – and perhaps forever – the Parkhotel Mondschein and its bar have been an essential part of Bolzano. As the city’s very first guesthouse, the oldest part of the building dates back to 1320. Over the centuries, the Manschein, Munschein, Mondschein, or Luna has been a tavern, inn, manor, and hotel. The name is said to derive from the shape of crescent pastries – “Gipfele” – resembling a half moon.

Noble owners

In 1635, Emperor Ferdinand II elevated the house to noble status in recognition of the services of its owner Josef Schgraffer, who also gave the property its name.

Over time, the house changed hands frequently – from the noble Schgraffer family to the Mayr and Amonn families, and later to respected citizens of Bolzano. By the 18th century, it had become a beloved inn and post station, where coachmen and travelers would stop to rest.

Around 1809, the Tyrolean folk hero Andreas Hofer stayed here, hosted by his confidant Sebastian Mayr, who owned the house at the time. Sitting in the tavern with a glass of wine, Hofer was secretly portrayed by the painter Placidus Altmutter – a small yet vivid moment that forever tied the house to Tyrol’s history.

The Bürgerstube

Later, the Mondschein became a social meeting place for the citizens of Bolzano. In a newspaper of 1913, the “Bürgerstube” was described as a cozy room with a traditional Tyrolean tiled stove, where merchants and dignitaries would gather in the evenings to share wine and conversation.

In the 1920s, artist Albert Stolz painted a mural that still captures the spirit of that era. The house has also been immortalized in literature: in Reimichl’s 1920s novel “Die Tochter des Landschelms,” the Mondschein appears as a natural part of Bolzano’s social life. Over the centuries, the Mondschein has been a refuge, a stage, and a meeting place – a home for travelers, artists, and thinkers alike.

A place that breathes history

Taken over and renovated by the Dissertori brothers in 2021, the Parkhotel Mondschein reopened in 2022. It now combines modern design elements with original terrazzo floors, stuccoed ceilings, and elegant Art Nouveau balconies. Awarded the German Design Award and featured in numerous international publications, the hotel has become a meeting point for design-conscious travelers from all over the world.

Once a stop for nobles, artists, farmers, freedom fighters, and travelers from near and far, today the Parkhotel Mondschein preserves their stories - through its name, its architecture, and its atmosphere. A place that truly breathes history.