Since its founding in 1889 in Merano, the foundation has played a significant role in education and social affairs.
The Sophie Ploner Foundation looks back on a long tradition closely linked to the history of Merano and the surrounding region. From its beginnings as a spa destination to the turbulent times of the 20th century, the foundation has always served the needs of the community.
Our central purpose is to provide support and assistance to people in need, particularly female teachers and other women requiring help. We are committed to fostering educational opportunities, alleviating social hardship, and creating a supportive environment for those who need our assistance.
The Sophie Ploner Foundation is shaped by the values of solidarity, justice, and humanity. We believe in the dignity and potential of every person and advocate for equal opportunities and inclusion.
The foundation strives to be innovative and to face future challenges by initiating new projects and remaining open to emerging needs within the community.
Our mission reflects our ongoing commitment to understand and respond appropriately to the needs and challenges of today. We aim to be innovative in order to meet the evolving needs of our community.
Sophie Ploner, born on 14 October 1829 in Prague, was the daughter of a senior civil servant and grew up in Brno. She received a comprehensive education and prepared for a teaching and educational career, which she pursued in several countries. Owing to health problems caused by intense intellectual exertion, she had to interrupt her work for a time and undertook extensive travels. Inspired by her experiences—and despite health setbacks—she devoted herself to studying nursing and social assistance. She pursued utopian plans to establish convalescent homes for destitute women but abandoned these ideas and focused on founding a charitable foundation, for which she sacrificed her entire fortune.
Sophie Ploner’s close connection to Merano is evidenced by her deep affection for the city and her testamentary wish to build a refuge there. She spent her final months in the city to remain near friends and trusted physicians, ultimately choosing Merano as the permanent site for the foundation house she envisioned, the “Golden Cross”. Her belief in the healing properties of Merano’s climate also guided this decision.
Sophie Ploner passed away on 3 June 1889 in Bad Aussee. Her vision and legacy live on in the foundation house built according to her plans. The dedication and foresight of Sophie Ploner have left a lasting impact on the Merano community, enriching the city’s social and cultural heritage.
Commissioned for the 135th anniversary of the benefactress Sophie Ploner’s death, our chronicle offers a fascinating insight into Merano’s history from before World War I to the present day. In this detailed account the chronicle traces the city’s development from the capital of the County of Tyrol to a world-famous spa resort and reflects the splendour of the Belle Époque.
The chronicle tells the story of the benefactress Sophie Ploner, the daughter of a civil servant from Brno, and sheds light on her eventful life in Merano. Her legacy and will laid the foundations for the creation of the Sophie Ploner Foundation. The chronicle explores the social issues of the time, exposes the darker side of the famous spa resort and discusses the need for charities to support citizens of limited means.
Distinguished foundation councillors, among them renowned figures such as Dr Josef Schreiber, Dr Gustav Pröll and Oskar von Redwitz, helped set the charity in motion. The chronicle describes the intensive efforts to raise funds for the asylum house and records the remarkable support received from across the globe.
The chronicle can be purchased for € 29.90 + shipping costs through our website or ordered at any leading bookstore.
Proceeds from direct sales via our site fund the foundation’s projects and initiatives. By purchasing the chronicle you help preserve the rich history of Merano and our institution while actively supporting our social mission.
The construction of the Sophie Ploner Foundation villa by Musch & Lun, its middle-class layout and its short life as a women’s boarding house are discussed, as are the challenges faced after the end of an era and the arduous new beginning. The chronicle examines the impact of political upheavals—particularly during the dictatorships—on the foundation and its role during World War II.
The transfer to the city of Merano and the post-war rebirth of the Ploner Foundation are covered, together with the continuation of its social mandate focused on education and support for former auxiliary teachers. The chronicle ends with a look at the present-day renovation of the foundation house and the current activities of the Sophie Ploner Foundation, which remains true to its founder’s legacy.
