Southern lifestyle in the north of Lower Austria

The wine city Retz is embedded in the gently rolling hills of the western Weinviertel region, on the foothills of the Manhartsberg mountain, and easily accessible from Mailberg in about an hour by car. During the warm time of the year the city in northern Lower Austria creates a southern ambiance – especially at the main square in Retz, one of the most beautiful and biggest market places of Austria. Houses in the Venetian Renaissance, the Baroque and the Biedermeier style, the mighty guildhall and the busy market – like on a Mediterranean Piazza.

Biggest wine cellar of Central Europe

A special experience is the ‘adventure cellar’ in the underground of Retz - the biggest wine cellar of Central Europe. It is 21 km long and 30 m deep and thus the biggest cohesive cellar, where the wine of the whole area was stored 500 years ago. 

Wind mill in Retz

One of the windmills still operated today is situated along the old road from Retz to Hofern, on a hill between Retz and the Manhartsberg mountain. The protected Kalvarienberg mountain is situated near the wind mill.

Wine of Retz

The most popular and well-known wine from Retz is the zippy and fruity Grüner Veltliner, followed by the Weißburgunder, Riesling and Traminer. Red wines, such as the Blauer Portugieser, Zweigelt and Blauburgunder have also become quite popular in the area of Retz.

The vinotheque “Weinquartier” offers wine from 50 regional winemakers and is open daily from 10:00 am until 06:00 pm (closed on Tuesdays).