Hofanlage Milz, Cultural heritage estate in Retterschen, Kressbronn am Bodensee, Germany

Hofanlage Milz is an estate in Retterschen with four separate buildings from different periods: main house, carriage house, barn, and bakery. Together they show how a rural family once lived and worked the land.

The Abbey of Saint Gall acquired land in Retterschen, first documented in 799. From 1491 to 1809 the estate was held by the Lords of Sirgenstein from the Allgäu, who leased it to local farmers. The Wasserburg Huster family bought it in 1680; Theresia Milz, its last member, lived here until 1992, and the municipality of Kressbronn acquired the property in 2001.

The barn of 1717 preserves a granary, threshing floor and wine cellar from the years when grain and vines were grown at Retterschen. The farm later turned to cattle and grassland, and a hop-drying floor was fitted in the carriage house in 1912. A traditional cottage garden laid out in 2008 and an orchard of 30 historic apple and pear varieties stand between bakery and carriage house.

The buildings can be visited on guided tours organized by the Society for the Preservation of Hofanlage Milz. Visitors should prepare for an exploration focused on the architecture and gardens.

The main residence built in 1855 kept its original interior furnishings, revealing the simple daily life of rural inhabitants. The preserved furniture and objects offer a direct window into how people actually lived back then.