*** Welcome to piglix ***

Retz

Retz
Retz is located in Austria
Retz
Retz
Location within Austria
Coordinates: 48°45′N 15°57′E / 48.750°N 15.950°E / 48.750; 15.950Coordinates: 48°45′N 15°57′E / 48.750°N 15.950°E / 48.750; 15.950
Country Austria
State Lower Austria
District Hollabrunn
Government
 • Mayor Karl Heilinger (ÖVP)
Area
 • Total 45.01 km2 (17.38 sq mi)
Elevation 252 m (827 ft)
Population (1 January 2016)
 • Total 4,275
 • Density 95/km2 (250/sq mi)
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
 • Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code 2070
Area code 02942
Vehicle registration HL
Website www.retz.at

Retz is a town with a population of 4,168 in the Hollabrunn District in Lower Austria, Austria.

Retz is located in the north western Weinviertel in Lower Austria. The municipality's area covers 45,01 km². 11.83 percent of this area is forested. Cadastral municipalities are Hofern, Kleinhöflein, Kleinriedenthal, Obernalb, Retz and Unternalb.

In the area around the present-day Anger (Meadow) of Retz a village was formed, which was first mentioned in 1180 as „Rezze“ (Slavic; meaning small creek).

Rudolf von Habsburg awarded Count Berthold of Rabenswalde (1278–1312) shire and sovereignty of Hardegg as a fiefdom. The count did not stay for long in Hardegg, and moved to Retz, where he founded the monastery of the Dominican Order (called Dominikanerkloster). The monastery was finished in 1295. Finally he founded the city of Retz around 1300.

Around 1343 the preacher Franz von Retz was born. He reformed the Dominican Order, taught at the University of Vienna, was their Dean for five times, and also represented the university at the Council of Pisa. He died on September 8, 1427, in Vienna.

In 1425, the Hussites conquered Retz (November 25), and only a few days later, Schrattenthal and Pulkau. The city was destroyed and many people were killed. A chronicle from Klosterneuburg reported of 6000 captives, among them Count Heinrich of Maidburg (Hardegg), who were led to Prague. Nearly 8000 men were said to be slain and over 30 Catholic churches destroyed. In 1431 the Hussites came to raid Retz for a second time.

In 1467 the Burgerspitalkapelle ("Citizens' Hospital Chapel"), located between the Verderberhaus and the Znaimer Tor,was consecrated. It was secularized in 1783. Today it serves as a museum for the South Moravian gallery.


...
Wikipedia

...