Scharfrichterhaus, Historical executioner residence in Salzburg, Austria.
The Scharfrichterhaus is a residential building in Salzburg-Gneis situated at Neukommgasse 26. It stands near the Totenweg path and the Almkanal, which run through the surrounding area of this former family home.
Built in 1599 under Archbishop Wolf Dietrich von Raitenau, the residence served its original purpose until 1817. After that date, it transitioned to use as a farmhouse and changed hands several times over the following centuries.
The house was home for generations to the family responsible for carrying out executions in the city. Despite this difficult role, the family was deeply embedded in local life, as shown by connections to notable figures like Josef Mohr.
The building remained lived-in as a farmhouse until 2000 but has since fallen into disrepair. Visitors can reach the location on foot by following the Totenweg path through the neighborhood.
Old documents from 1779 refer to the property as part of the Hochfürstliches Freymanngut, meaning it had special legal status as an exempted estate. This designation reveals how the residence held a unique standing within the city's feudal structure.
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