Built in 1576, Retz’s Sgraffito House tells stories without opening its doors. Its Renaissance façade layers biblical scenes, mythological figures, and symbolic life stages. Once hidden beneath paint, the rediscovered artwork now reveals the wealth, taste, and ambitions of a prosperous wine town.
Sgraffito House in Retz
The Sgraffito House (Sgraffitohaus) on Retz’s Hauptplatz was built in 1576 for the ironmonger and later town judge Augustin Resch; his initials still appear above the entrance.
Within a few years, its façade was adorned with elaborate sgraffito decorations, a Renaissance technique imported from Italy, depicting scenes from the Old Testament, Greek mythology and the “ages of life.”
Damaged in the Thirty Years’ War and later obscured by overpainting, the artwork was rediscovered and restored in the 20th century, preserving one of Austria’s finest Renaissance sgraffito ensembles.
Today, the building houses the sgrafit Hotel. Located in the central square of Retz, it provides a fine base for exploring the city’s attractions and the surrounding wine region.