Realschule (Secondary School), Linz

The peach-color hotel building at 6 Steingasse in Linz is the former Realschule (secondary school). Unassuming as such, other than for a pretty lobby behind the glass entrance, this ex-educational institution would hardly earn a place in history if it hadn't been for one of its students.

In September 1900 Hitler's father Alois, ignoring his son's desire to attend a classical high school and become an artist, sent Adolf here to continue his studies. The young boy had spent an hour every day walking 5 km to the new school before his family finally moved to the city. Hitler rebelled against his father's decision, and later, in his book Mein Kampf stated that he had intentionally done badly at the technical school, hoping that once his father saw whatever little progress he was making, he would let him devote himself to his passion – painting.

Adolf made no effort to adapt and paid decreasingly little attention to studies, resulting in low grades and multiple order marks. Despite this, he enjoyed reading and made good use of the school's big library. Within a period of 1902-1903, Adolf Hitler was the only pupil in the class exempted from tuition fees due to his family's dire financial situation.

Most teachers at the Realschule supported German nationalist ideas, much as the vast majority of German-speaking students. In 1904, a year after his father's death, young Adolf, whose performance by then had further deteriorated, finally left the school.