Retz: Underground Wine Cellars and Windmill
A Weinviertel wine town with a labyrinth beneath its main square
HighlightsNiederösterreich- Duration
- 2.0 hours
- Languages
- German, English
This private tour of Retz shows a town that is almost bigger underground than above. In the cellar labyrinth you walk through miles of tunnels, and above ground a Renaissance main square and the famous Retz windmill await.
Retz lies in the western Weinviertel near the Czech border and has lived from wine for centuries. Beneath the old town, wine cellars burrow several levels deep into the sandstone. The cellar labyrinth is more than 20 kilometers long, one of the largest historic cellar systems in Austria.
Above it lies one of the largest town squares in Lower Austria, with the town hall, the colorful Sgraffito House and the battlemented Verderberhaus. On a hill at the edge of town stands the Retz windmill, one of the last working windmills in Austria, surrounded by vineyards.
Your guide tells of the wine trade, of wartime when the cellars offered shelter, and of the art of Weinviertel Grüner Veltliner. A tasting is easy to add.
Highlights
- More than 20 kilometers of cellars under the town
- The spacious Retz main square
- The Sgraffito House and Verderberhaus
- The Retz windmill among the vineyards
- Grüner Veltliner from the Weinviertel
The route
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1Main square
Start at the town hall and townhouses.
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2Cellar labyrinth
Tunnels and vaults beneath the old town.
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3Sgraffito House
A Renaissance facade full of pictures.
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4Town wall
Remains of the fortifications and wine trade history.
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5Windmill
Finish with views over the Weinviertel.
Who this tour is for
For wine lovers and explorers who want to see the Weinviertel off the beaten track.
Frequently asked questions
Are entrance fees included?
No, entrance fees are never included in the tour price. When you book, we are happy to tell you which admissions apply to your group.
How is the price calculated?
This is a private tour for your group only. The price is per group, not per person, which makes it great value for families and friends traveling together.
How cold is it in the cellars?
The cellars stay cool all year, around ten degrees Celsius. A jacket and comfortable shoes are recommended.
