It was a speculator from Vienna who bought all the real estates around the central square. No interesting people who wanted to buy his houses show up, and so the houses stay empty and decay from year to year. An unworthy image for a tourist place like Bad Gastein.

The government of Bad Gastein wants to change that now. Franz Duval, which is the name of the speculator from Vienna, should sell his real estates. If not he will be brought to court, and his houses taken away.

One month ago Duval was totally unwilling to talk with the government about that case, but it seems he is also interested in a prompt decision now.