Girlan, the wine village

Situated at 435 m above sea level, Girlan in South Tyrol is a sunny spot. The village is characterised by historic residences and farms, and the narrow alleys give it its special charm.
Winegrowing has been the dominant economic factor here since pre-Christian times. Of the almost 1000 hectares of vineyards in the municipality of Eppan, about half are in Girlan. Girlan wines stand for quality, for devoted care of the vineyards and for the unceasing effort to bottle even more noble drops year after year.
But of course, time has also left its mark on the wine village of Girlan. Even if you don't recognise it at first glance - the village and its farmsteads have undergone significant changes in the second half of the 20th century.
On the one hand, there is the mechanisation of agriculture. Draft animals were replaced by machines, and arable farming, which was an important basis for livestock, was largely displaced by fruit and wine growing. On the other hand, the cooperative processing and marketing of wine and fruit made many cellars and farm buildings superfluous. Barns and stables, cellars and farm rooms have had their day and now are often empty. 
Another historical event worth mentioning is the “Girlaner Martinimarkt”, which takes place every year on 11 November and is known far beyond the region's borders. Its origins go back to 11 November 1838, when the Girlan church was consecrated to St. Martin. Since then, Kirchtag and Martinimarkt have been inseparably interwoven.
At the beginning of the 20th century, the “Martinimarkt” was still primarily a large livestock market, a meeting place for farmers from the surrounding area and further afield. Animals are hardly to be found today, but the attraction of the “Girlaner Martinimarkt” remains unbroken also at the beginning of the 21st century.