Visitor Information – EuroBean on the Road Bolzano 2027

At Whitsun 2027, EuroBean is going on a trip: from 15 to 17 May 2027, the EuroBean Chocolate Festival takes place outside Germany for the first time – in the historic Maretsch Castle in Bolzano (South Tyrol). A deliberately compact, curated edition with around 12 international chocolate makers, plenty of time for conversation and enjoyment. On this page you will find everything you need to know for your first visit.

The Essentials at a Glance

When: Saturday 15 May to Monday 17 May 2027 (Whitsun weekend)
Where: Maretsch Castle (Castel Mareccio), Via Claudia de' Medici 12, 39100 Bolzano
What: A chocolate fair for bean-to-bar chocolate with around 12 international chocolate makers, plus tastings, talks and workshops
Who it's for: Chocolate lovers, the curious, families and visitors to Bolzano – no prior knowledge needed
Tickets: Information on ticket sales will follow here and in our newsletter
Organiser: EuroBean UG (haftungsbeschränkt) with local partner Karuna Chocolate

What is the EuroBean Chocolate Festival?

Since 2016, the EuroBean Chocolate Festival has brought together people who make chocolate with passion – and everyone who tastes it with curiosity. The main festival takes place in the Chemnitz area. With EuroBean on the Road, the festival now travels to another place in Europe for the first time: Bolzano.

At the heart of the festival is bean-to-bar chocolate. This means the makers process the cocoa bean themselves – from roasting and grinding to the finished bar – and know exactly where their cocoa comes from. The result is chocolate with its own character, often made with just a few ingredients. At the festival, you get to meet the people behind it.

The festival's guiding ideas are Meet the Maker, Bean to Bar, Fairness and Organic – personal encounters, craftsmanship, fair supply chains and sustainable cocoa farming.

Venue: Maretsch Castle

Maretsch Castle (Castel Mareccio)
Via Claudia de' Medici 12, 39100 Bolzano, South Tyrol, Italy

Maretsch Castle stands in the middle of the city, a few minutes' walk from the old town and surrounded by vineyards. First mentioned in the 13th century, it was extended into a Renaissance residence by the Römer family and today hosts exhibitions, fairs and concerts. Highlights include the Römersaal (Roman Hall) with Renaissance frescoes and a painted wooden ceiling, the Thunsaal, a gallery of philosophers, the loggia with its fresco of Pyramus and Thisbe and the glass-roofed inner courtyard. Outside, the garden and outer courtyard invite you to linger among the vines. A fitting setting for a festival that celebrates craft and tradition.\n\nFind out more about the castle at www.maretsch.info.

Maretsch Castle in Bolzano

Festival Days

Saturday, 15 May 2027 – Opening
Sunday, 16 May 2027 – Whit Sunday, main day
Monday, 17 May 2027 – Whit Monday, shortened festival day

We will announce the exact opening hours and the daily programme here in good time.

What to Expect

Bean-to-bar chocolate from around 12 international chocolate makers – straight from the people who make it. You can taste, compare and of course buy.
Meet the Maker: Personal conversations about cocoa farming, transparent supply chains and craftsmanship
Tastings, talks and workshops on flavour, origin and the craft of chocolate
Food and drinks that match the bean-to-bar philosophy
Activities for children and a selected supporting programme

Meet the Maker: tasting right at the stand

Your First Visit: How It Works

Stroll first, decide later. Take a first walk around to get an overview before you buy anything.
Talk to the makers. Ask about the origin of the beans, fermentation, roasting and what sets the bars apart – the makers love to tell their story.
Taste your way through. Many stands offer small samples. Compare deliberately – for example two bars of the same origin from different makers.
Plan your programme. Tastings, talks and workshops run in fixed time slots. Check the programme in advance and register early.
Take your time. For a relaxed visit with one or two programme items, plan several hours.

Tastings, Talks and Workshops

The programme takes place in two rooms. As places are limited, tastings, talks and workshops are offered in fixed time slots that you register for in advance. Possible topics include cocoa farming and climate change, transparent supply chains, the journey from bean to bar, flavour profiles and sensory skills, and fair prices in the cocoa trade. In the tastings you try different chocolates together with experts and learn to recognise aromas.

Once the programme is set, you will find it here and in the ticket area.

Tasting: chocolate and wine

With Children and Families

Chocolate is for everyone: activities for children are planned that show in a playful way where chocolate comes from and how it is made. We will announce the family activities together with the programme. The festival atmosphere is relaxed and curious – a lovely outing for young and old.

How to Taste Chocolate Like a Pro

Look: Good chocolate has an even shine and a beautiful colour.
Snap: Listen for the sound – a clean snap points to good craftsmanship.
Smell: Hold the piece briefly under your nose. Fruity, nutty, floral, roasty?
Let it melt: Don't chew! Let the piece melt slowly on your tongue and notice how the flavour develops.
Savour the finish: Which flavour lingers? A sip of water between samples helps.

A talk at the EuroBean Chocolate Festival

Tickets

We will publish information on ticket sales on this website and in our newsletter well before the festival. Tastings, talks and workshops will be offered in time slots with a limited number of places.

Getting There

On Foot and by Bike

Maretsch Castle is close to the city centre on the Talfer promenade and easily reached on foot or via the cycle path along the Talfer. We recommend arriving without a car.

By Train and Bus

Bolzano is well connected by rail on the Brenner line. Timetables for trains and buses in South Tyrol are available from Südtirol Mobil:
👉 www.suedtirolmobil.info

By Car

There is a paid public car park right next to the castle. Given the central location and the expected number of visitors at Whitsun, spaces may be scarce – please allow extra time to find parking. We recommend arriving without a car.

Discover Bolzano

Combine your festival visit with a trip into the city: in Bolzano, Alpine and Mediterranean lifestyles meet. Popular things to do include a walk along the Talfer promenade, a stroll through the old town with its arcades, a visit to the South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology (home of “Ötzi”, the Iceman) or a cable car ride up to the Ritten plateau. And of course an espresso or a glass of South Tyrolean wine goes with it.

Accommodation

Bolzano and the surrounding area offer hotels, guesthouses and holiday apartments. Whitsun is a popular travel period, so we recommend booking early.

👉 Bolzano Tourism
👉 Booking.com

Good to Know

Languages: German and Italian are both at home in Bolzano; the festival is international in outlook.
Buying: You can buy the chocolate directly from the chocolate makers.
Updates: We will publish the programme, opening hours and ticket information here – check back before your visit.
Accessibility: According to the operator, the castle is only partly accessible for people with reduced mobility. If you have questions, please get in touch with us in advance.
Pets: Under the castle's rules, animals are not allowed.