The Kunsthotel Fuchspalast stands as a living testament to the imagination of Professor Ernst Fuchs, Austrian painter, sculptor, philosopher, and visionary. He was one of the founding figures of the Vienna School of Fantastic Realism, an artistic movement that emerged in the 1950s with close ties to Surrealism. This style is known for its technical precision inspired by the Old Masters, combined with imaginative and otherworldly imagery that often carries apocalyptic or unsettling themes.

Brilliant colours, bold shapes and intricate Tiffany glasswork on the exterior make the Fuchspalast a prime example of fantastic architecture. The present-day hotel, which was officially opened in 1998, occupies a building that once housed the Chamber of Labour and the former Hotel “Der Stern”. On the southern facade, six fragments of the original frescoes can still be seen.

Two centuries ago, a city gate stood opposite the site of the current hotel, marking the entrance to the old town. A moat once circled the city’s edge, now replaced by peaceful gardens. The design of the Fuchspalast reflects this historical setting: the hotel is encircled by a small watercourse, and its entrance evokes the appearance of the former city gate.