Herzogshof, i.e. princely mansion, is a beautiful medieval building situated in the center of Graz,the second largest city in Austria. The building is known widely as the "Painted House" (German: Gemaltes Haus) because the whole facade is covered with multicolored frescoes depicting scenes from the Greek and Roman mythologies. The first mention of the house dates from the fourteenth century, when it served as the residence of the prince. However, over time the prince's castle was built outside the city, whereas the house became the property of wealthy burghers. It was first painted in 1600, but the frescoes depicting the ancient gods, which we can see today, were created in 1742 by a Baroque painter Johann Mayer.
