Museum Retz mit Südmährischer Galerie

About the museum

The Museum Retz is considered one of the oldest local history museums in Lower Austria. In 1833 the council clerk Johann Baptist Geißler, commissioned by the mayor, reorganized the city armoury, catalogued the existing holdings and laid the foundation for the city's "Antikenkammer" (antiquities chamber). In the 19th and early 20th centuries the collection grew with everyday objects of the middle class, prehistoric finds, a folklore department and a large collection on World War I. Several changes of location followed, including the town hall and the post office building.

In 1948 the collections found their present home in the Bürgerspital, a building whose origins go back before 1279 and which over time also served as a theatre, a school, a municipal office and a savings bank hall. After renovation of the building, the permanent exhibition was redesigned in 2004; since then the Museum Retz – Förderverein (friends' association) has run the museum on a voluntary basis. In 2020 the museum received the Austrian Museum Quality Seal.

Today the city collection in the former hospital church presents testimonies of 19th-century Retz middle-class life, including gold headdresses (Goldhauben), clocks, weapons and musical instruments, as well as the piano of Liszt's pupil Antonia Raab. A chronological display tells the story of the town from prehistoric times onward. On the upper floor, the South Moravian Gallery presents the collection of donor Hellmut Bornemann, with paintings, prints, maps and sculptures by South Moravian artists up to the first half of the 20th century.

Highlights

• Liszt piano of Retz pianist Antonia Raab
• Historical collection of weapons, musical instruments and gold headdresses
• Prehistory of the area around the Retzer See
• South Moravian Gallery with works by Anton Bruder, Hugo Lederer, Alexander Pock and others
• Oldest vines of the Weinviertel in the museum courtyard (planted 1856)

Permanent exhibitions

• Stadtsammlung – In the former hospital church, the collection shows clocks, gold headdresses, weapons and musical instruments, including the Liszt piano; a chronological room tells the story of the town from prehistoric times onward.
• Südmährische Galerie – On the second floor, oil paintings, watercolors, prints, maps and sculptures by South Moravian artists up to the first half of the 20th century are on display.

Founded

1833

Operated by

Museum Retz – Förderverein (Sammlungen der Stadtgemeinde Retz)

Admission & discounts

Free admission with the Niederösterreich-CARD, and for members of the friends' association and holders of the MÖ-Card (Museumsbund Österreich).

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: not available
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

According to the museum, the rooms are not barrier-free; there are several steps between the rooms.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

Museum shop with publications on Retz history during opening hours.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit