Demolition instead of protection

The historic executioner’s house is being demolished

Demolition work on the building in Salzburg-Gneis began on Monday.(Bild: zVg)

The house where Salzburg's last executioner lived is being demolished. Despite years of protest, the excavators rolled up in Salzburg-Gneis and began demolition work on the dilapidated executioner's house.

The excavators have rolled up at Neukommgasse 26 in Salzburg-Gneis. Demolition work has been underway since Monday at the site where the lives and deaths of criminals were decided until 1817: The so-called executioner's house will be razed to the ground in the coming days.

The building, which is steeped in history, is neither a listed building nor is it subject to a preservation order. The owners, a neighboring farmer, have wanted to demolish the historic agricultural building, which is in a state of severe disrepair, for years. Last year, he applied for a demolition order.

The house of Salzburg's last executioner will soon be history.(Bild: zVg)

Listing no longer possible
The Federal Monuments Office did not object to the demolition. The building was already in such a poor state of preservation that it could no longer be listed. A conservation requirement also repeatedly failed due to the fact that the former agricultural building is located in grassland. There is only an obligation to preserve buildings in building land.

The only protests came from local residents, committed citizens and the Green Citizens' List in the town. In vain, as can be seen from the demolition work that has now begun.