When the snow falls among the vineyards
Lower Austrian Retz is a town among vineyards. It is located about 12 km from Znojmo. The city offers a number of historical monuments, an attractive underground with a connection to winemaking and, if you climb a little above the city, wonderful views of the surrounding countryside.
Hauptplatz
We start at the main square. We will find the town hall with an observation tower, an information center, wine shops stocked with excellent local wine, cafes and small shops. On Saturdays, there is also a small market with products from local farmers.
Historic centre
We continue from the main square in a northerly direction: we pass through a wide gate along a marked path towards the windmill.
Windmühlgasse
The name of the street leaves us in no doubt that we are going in the right direction. Only the snow is a little more by local standards.
Wine cellar
There are indeed many winemakers and wine cellars in Retz. Only now, in January, many of them plunged into hibernation.
Retz
The road climbs to the vineyards and beyond the last houses a view of the whole city appears.
Stations of the Cross
Near the windmill is the first statue of the Way of the Cross.
Zollamt
I don't know if this is what the customs office at the state border looked like, but the sign is quite authentic.
Windmill
Currently, there are only two fully functional windmills in Austria. One at Lake Nezider, the other right here in Retz. The local one dates from the 18th century.
Vineyard
This town and its surroundings really live by viticulture. Retz is surrounded by vineyards. Only the view of the snowy landscape is a bit unusual here.
Stations of the Cross
Behind the windmill we come to the fifth statue of the Way of the Cross.
Calvary
The Way of the Cross ends at a large sculpture with three crosses. The Crucified Christ has crosses with thugs on his sides. In the lower part there is a statue of the Virgin Mary and Mary Magdalene. Calvary in the Baroque style was completed in 1726 and offers a nice view of the city and its surroundings.
Soldatenfriedhof Retz
We continue further NW along the marked path. Just about 5 minutes behind the windmill is the military cemetery.
Parapluieberg
The next destination is the observation peak Parapluieberg (367 masl).
Gollitsch
We return southwards to the next Gollitsch observation peak (325 masl), from where there is a view of the town of Retz and the surrounding villages.
Dominican monastery
Around the snow-covered vineyards, we return to the city, which kindly welcomes us with its culinary offer.