This palace of eccentricity and bright colours is a hotel designed by Viennese painter Ernst Fuchs. The small town of St. Veit in Carinthia is home to one of the most peculiar examples of postmodernism and fantastic realism. However, this madness hides a reference to the long history of the town, and the hotel is built on the skeleton of a former labour chamber.
It catches the eye
According to legend, the history of St. Veit an der Glan dates back to the 9th century, although official records point more to the 12th century. However, the most important information for the story of the Kunsthotel Fuchspalast is that about 200 years ago, a city gate with a moat stood on the site of the current hotel. After the gate was demolished, an inn was built, then a hotel, and then in the 1950s, the authorities built a labour office.
It was on the walls of this last building that a leading painter of the fantastic realism school applied his unusual design. An extensive sgraffito depicting working people has also been preserved from that period. There is also a moat on the premises, reminiscent of the historical one.
The most striking feature of the hotel is its fanciful façade. The colourful rows of columns resemble those found in Egyptian temples, and the whole is topped with a conical roof. It is worth noting that between the columns there is coloured Tiffany glass, arranged in columnar patterns.
The fantasy of postmodernism
The interior also reflects Fuchs’s fantastic style, but in a slightly more subdued version. The hotel was built in 1998, at the height of colourful postmodernism, which is why part of the decor deviates from the painter’s typical psychedelic aesthetic. Plain grey carpets compete with colourful tiles, and right next to the fantastic stained glass windows, there is a ceiling characteristic of its era. You can read more about Fuchs’ surreal buildings HERE, HERE and HERE.
The building has 60 rooms, which are a little more conventional in appearance, although even they feature references to Fuchs, such as sketches and a large photo wallpaper with the painter’s face. Although not all elements of the postmodernist decor have aged well, Fuchs’ art retains its timeless and mysterious beauty.
The stained glass windows in the piano room and the large ballroom are particularly noteworthy. The latter is decorated with gilded coffers and a huge painting depicting a fairy-tale scene. The dreamlike painting shows mythical and real creatures, with Ernst Fuchs himself sitting on top of a carriage. Interestingly, the motif of grotesque faces recurs throughout the hotel, which should come as no surprise in the case of this painter.
However, most of the hotel’s art is concentrated in the dining room. The room with a mosaic floor is hung with Fuchs’ sketches and drawings. Among the works, you can admire mainly portraits and apocalyptic scenes in the style of fantastic realism, typical of the painter. The intense psychedelic colours follow guests every step of the way.
Difficult beauty
The Kunsthotel Fuchspalast evokes mixed emotions. On the one hand, it is the work of an outstanding painter who has repeatedly pushed the boundaries of human imagination. On the other hand, its postmodern style is not ageing gracefully, which is unfortunately common for this style. Outdated shapes and materials spoil the decor, not to mention the “bold” colours of some parts of the building.
One may also have reservations about the splendour of colours and forms, but it is precisely their intensity and multitude that is key to Fuchs’ art. However, regardless of the assessment, it must be admitted that this building in inconspicuous St. Veit is one of the most unique hotels in Europe. Finally, it is worth mentioning that the hotel has been looking for a new buyer since 2025. Perhaps the new owner will save the painter’s unusual work?
Source: KunsthotelFuchspalast
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