The art of sgraffito comes from Italy. With grey, black and white plaster, works are created that impress with their artistic attention to detail. Since the founding of the town of Retz around 1300, a town house has stood at the current address. The sgraffito house on the main square in Retz was built as a new building in 1576 by Augustin Resch, an ironmonger and later a town judge. His initials can still be found in the archway. In 1580 the facade was completely covered with sgraffito decorations. In the course of time it was painted over twice, which ultimately ensured that the sgraffito works were so well preserved and, after a thorough restoration in 1928, are now unique in Austria.

 

It shows ancient legends, biblical figures. The 10 decades of life of a man and a woman are shown between the second and third floors. There are also sayings from mythology, such as the vices of Narcissus, the fall of Icarus or events from the Odyssey, as well as excerpts from the Bible on the side of the building. After extensive exposure of the images a journalist wrote texts in 1932 from the “speaking house” in Retz.

Among other things, the fine lines and the delicate frames are praised.

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The remarkable house, which survived wars and natural disasters almost unscathed, was renovated in 2021 and 2022 with great attention to detail and meticulous attention to the historical substance and today shines as a jewel on the striking Retz main square. In the course of its history, it has fulfilled many a function, most recently as a department store. Now it has matured into a hotel, predestined by its location and spacious design.