How many stops are on the History walking tour in Graz?

The History route in Graz includes 10 curated stops.

How long does the History tour in Graz take?

The History walking tour in Graz takes approximately 5 hours at a leisurely pace.

Is the History walking tour in Graz free?

Yes, Promenario's History tour in Graz is free to download and use, with full offline support.

🇦🇹 Graz, Austria

History in Graz

Historic districts, heritage sites, and origin stories. Explore 10 curated stops in Graz, including Schlossberg, Graz Cathedral, and Mausoleum of Emperor Ferdinand II. Highlights include Graz Cathedral, rated 4.6/5 by 1,022 visitors.

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10 places in this collection

History places

10 places in this collection

Image by Ralf Roletschek, CC BY-SA 3.0 AT

Schlossberg

The Schlossberg (English: Castle Hill) is a tree-clad hill, and the site of a fortress, in the centre of the city of Graz. The hill is now a public park and enjoys extensive views of the city. It is the site of several entertainment venues, cafés and restaurants, and is managed by Holding Graz, the city owned utility company. The fortification of the Schlossberg goes back to at least the 10th century. In the mid-16th century, a 400 m (1,300 ft) long fortress was constructed by architects from the north of Italy. There are records of a cable-hauled lift being in use between 1528 and 1595 to move construction materials for the fortifications. The castle was never conquered, but it was largely demolished by Napoleonic forces under the Treaty of Schönbrunn of 1809. The clock tower (the Uhrturm) and bell tower (the Glockenturm) were spared after the people of Graz paid a ransom for their preservation. The remains of the castle were turned into a public park by Ludwig von Welden in 1839. The park contains the Uhrturm, the Glockenturm, a cistern (the Türkenbrunnen) and two bastions from the old castle. The Uhrturm is a recognisable icon for the city, and is unusual in that the clock's hands have opposite roles to the common notion, with the larger one marking hours while the smaller is for minutes. The Glockenturm contains Liesl, the heaviest bell in Graz. Near the Uhrturm there is a café with views over the old town. Additionally, on the western side of the Schlossberg, there are two small cafés, one with table service and the other one with self-service. Next to the terminus of the funicular railway there is a hilltop restaurant with views of western Graz. In what was once the cellar of one of the ruined bastions is the Kasemattenbühne, an open-air stage for concerts and performances. Below the Schlossberg hill is an extensive system of tunnels, which were created during the second world war to protect the civilian population of Graz from aerial bombing. Some of these tunnels are still accessible, including a passage from Schlossbergplatz to Karmeliterplatz, and Fairytale Express Graz, a grotto railway for children. Also in the tunnel complex is the Dom im Berg, which was expanded in 2000 to provide a venue space for up to 600 people. The summit of the hill is linked to the city centre by various steep paths and staircases, and by the Schlossbergbahn, a funicular railway. Additionally the recent Schlossberg lift links the summit to the tunnel system and, via that, to Schlossbergplatz. Each year the Elevate Festival, a festival for contemporary music, art and political discourse, is held in various venues in and around the Schlossberg.

Image by Taxiarchos228, CC BY 3.0

Graz Cathedral

The cathedral of Graz, the cathedral, episcopal church and parish church of St. Egydius, is the cathedral church of the Diocese of Graz-Seckau. Attached is the parish Graz-Dom in the deanery Graz-Mitte of the city church Graz. The cathedral is considered one of the most significant art and cultural historical buildings of the Austrian city Graz and the whole state of Styria. The late Gothic style building was built in the 15th century, under Frederick III. Court Church of the Roman-German Emperor and in 1786, when Graz was bishopric, raised to the rank of a cathedral. The sacred building, originally intended as a church fortress outside the medieval city walls, stands on elevated ground between Bürgergasse and Burggasse. The dome forms together with the neighboring imperial mausoleum, the castle and the Schauspielhaus the ensemble of the Graz city crown.

Image by Felix König, CC BY 3.0

Mausoleum of Emperor Ferdinand II

The mausoleum of Emperor Ferdinand II next to the Graz Cathedral is a monumental sacral and representative building from the 17th century, which was connected by two different buildings. The 1614 begun and completed after decades Bauunterbrechungen 1714 system consists of St. Catherine and the subsequent grave Chapel for Kaiser Ferdinand II. And his family. Together they form one of the most significant architectural monuments of Austria from Mannerism, the transitional period from the Renaissance to the Baroque. For the complex, two different sacral buildings have been combined in plan and spatial concept: a church dedicated to St. Catherine of Alexandria and an oval central building adjoining it in the south as a funerary chapel for Emperor Ferdinand II and his family. To the east around the apse was an enclosing formwork around the sacristy and the Mesnerwohnung, which is crowned by a slender tower. The conception of the plant shows the ecclesiastical and dynastic representational intentions of the builder Ferdinand II: The cross-shaped ground plan of St. Catherine's Church points to the Christian belief that the oval shape of the funerary chapel is a symbol of resurrection. The crowning of the domes of St. Catherine's Church and funerary chapel in the form of scepter and imperial eagle with imperial sword and orb symbolize the Habsburg dynasty and its claim to power in the empire. In St. Catherine's Church, the patronal feast of St. Catherine of Alexandria not only refers to a medieval predecessor, but is also in context with the University of Graz, founded in 1585 by Archduke Karl II (the father of Ferdinand II) and led by the Jesuit order the patron saint of St. Catherine of Alexandria (patroness of the sciences). The sandstone figures on the west facade - representing St. Catherine, flanked by two angels and two persons converted to Christianity by her - and the painted copper plaques in the niches depicting the lives of the saints, not only make up the patron saint of the church and University-related program, but show in the converted to the Christian faith Porphyrius and Faustina also a counter-Reformation aspect. Built under the direction of Giovanni Pietro de Pomis, the building shows strong Italian influences on the building. Thus, the oval floor plan with an oval dome of the funerary chapel is the first of its kind outside of Italy.

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Image by gugganij, CC BY-SA 3.0

Graz Castle

The Graz Castle is located in the east of the old town of Graz, near the Graz Cathedral, and was built in 1438 by Duke Frederick V, the later Roman-German Emperor Frederick III. Due to the low defense value, the castle was connected by a hidden corridor with the fortress on the castle hill. From 1564 Graz was the capital of Inner Austria and the castle became the seat of the Austrian archdukes. Because of this position, it was rebuilt and enlarged. After Archduke Ferdinand II was crowned emperor in 1619 and moved to Vienna, the castle lost its function as seat of the sovereign and was neglected. In the following centuries, there were several renovations, but only included parts of the building fabric. In 1822, part of the castle was considered dilapidated and between 1853 and 1854 part of the building was demolished. At the beginning of the 20th century, there were again structural extensions and since 1922, the castle of Graz is the seat of the Styrian governor. In the Second World War, the building fabric was partially badly damaged and rebuilt from 1947. Between 1950 and 1952 new buildings were built, which are known as New Castle. Today, there are in addition to the office of the Governor also some departments of the Office of the Styrian Provincial Government. The castle is only partially open to the public. So only the courtyards and the double spiral staircase can be freely visited.

Image by Palickap, CC BY-SA 4.0

Landeszeughaus

The Landeszeughaus in Graz was built in the years 1642 to 1647 and was once the central arms depot of Styria. The weapons and accessories stored in it were used to equip the Styrian provincial detachment and supply the military border established in the sixteenth century to defend the Ottoman Empire in today's states of Croatia and Hungary. With its 32,000 exhibits of all kinds, the Landeszeughaus is the largest armory in the world, largely preserved in its original state. The house is today part of the Universalmuseum Joanneum and annually attracts thousands of tourists and lovers of historical weapons from all over the world. Today, the arsenal in Graz with about 32,000 exhibits houses the world's largest historically grown collection of protective weapons (about 3,840 armor, helmets, ring armor and shields ), edged weapons (2,414 pieces), polearms (5,395 pieces), guns (3,867 units), guns (4,259 units) and firearm components of all kinds (alone 3,449 powder and Zündkrautflaschen and cartridges quiver), With this stock it would still be possible to equip around 5,000 men. The focus is armor pieces and weapons for the simple foot and horse soldiers from the 16th and 17th centuries. But also officer weapons can be found in the collection, which - often richly decorated - come from workshops in Innsbruck, Augsburg or Nuremberg.

Image by Isiwal, CC BY-SA 4.0

Kunsthaus

The Kunsthaus Graz, Grazer Kunsthaus, or Graz Art Museum was built as part of the European Capital of Culture celebrations in 2003 and has since become an architectural landmark in Graz. Its exhibition program specializes in contemporary art from the 1960s onwards. According to The Bartlett School of Architecture at University College London, the Kunsthaus' design sought to be deliberately provocative, innovate museum design by offering a less 'institutional' approach to organising exhibition spaces and employs new materials and manufacturing techniques. The building is an example of blob architecture, and has a skin made of iridescent blue acrylic panels that also double as photovoltaic panels. Owing to its shape contrasting with its surroundings, it is known in local vernacular as the 'Friendly Alien'. Architecture, design, new media, internet art, film, and photography are united under one roof. Kunsthaus Graz was developed as an institution to stage international exhibitions of multidisciplinary, modern and contemporary art from the 1960s to the present day. It does not collect art, maintains no permanent exhibitions and does not have its own depot. Rather, its exclusive purpose is to present and procure contemporary art productions.

Image by Wladyslaw, CC BY 3.0

Franciscan Church

The Franciscan Church (German: Franziskanerkirche) and Franciscan Monastery (German: Franziskanerkloster) are a church and associated monastery in the centre of the city of Graz. The monastery was founded by the Franciscan order, who still own it, and is first mentioned in 1239. In the church, a high but narrow 14th-century chancel contrasts with the comparatively low and wide nave. The chancel was gutted by a bomb in World War II, and subsequently rebuilt with a new contemporary interior. The stained glass windows bathe the church in light, whilst the chancel is dominated by a grey cast iron crucifix that seems to hover. The organ was installed by the Potsdam based Schuke company in 2004. The original Gothic cloisters of the monastery enclose a monastery garden, and are open to the public. The walls of the cloister are lined with the names, professions and life data of the distinguished burghers and noblemen who were buried in this place between the 15th and the 18th centuries. On the first floor of the monastery, with windows looking into the chancel of the church, is the oratory, where the friars meet for their holy offices. The high tower, one of the more prominent Graz landmarks, is unusual for a Franciscan establishment. It owes its existence to the church's strategic location next to the city walls, and was built as a fortified tower by the city authorities in the 17th century.

Image by IKAl, CC BY 3.0

Stiegenkirche

The Stiegenkirche is a Roman Catholic church in the first district of Graz Innere Stadt. It is to enter through a characteristic staircase from the Sporgasse, as it stands behind the row of houses. It forms the 'Rectorate at the Stiegenkirche in Graz' of the Graz Dompfarre in the deanery Graz-Mitte of the city church Graz. The Stiegenkirche is the oldest parish church in Graz. It is located in the oldest part of Graz, where once the 'Paulzburg' was located, and is first mentioned in 1343 in an Ablassverleihung documentary. From 1886 to 1957, the staircase church was the church of the Jesuits. During the Second World War, the church was damaged in 1945 by a bombing and rebuilt from 1950 to 1953 according to the plans of the architect Franz Klammer. Since 1957 a separate church rectorate has been established.

Image by Isiwal, CC BY-SA 4.0

Ducal Court

The Herzogshof (also called 'Painted House') is a building in Grazer Herrengasse, whose front is completely painted. He is first mentioned in documents in 1360. Here the dukes of Styria forgave the fiefs to their subjects. When the castle was completed in 1450, it was no longer needed for this purpose. Around the year 1600, the façade was painted for the first time, by the court painter Emperor Ferdinand II and later architect of his mausoleum, Giovanni Pietro de Pomis. The house changed hands more often until it came into the possession of the changer Franz von Lathurner. He had the house frescoed by the Vorauer painter Johann Mayer, a pupil of Johann Cyriak Hackhofer, around 1742. The painting covers 220 m² the whole facade and shows Greek and Roman gods.In the ducal court a delegation from Trieste was received in 1382. They placed their land under the protection of the Habsburgs in order not to be conquered by Venice. Trieste remained part of Austria until the end of the First World War.

Image by Taxiarchos228, CC BY 3.0

Graz Town Hall

The town hall of Graz houses the official residence of the mayor of Graz, the local council and parts of the city administration. Today's picture of the late-historic- German town hall largely corresponds to that of the last stage; The south wing of the building dates from 1889, the main wing dates from 1893. The display side has a dome-crowned center risalit, a building section projecting at full height to the outline of the facade, and corner turrets. Only the classical façade decoration was partially simplified in 1922. Most niche figures were lost; only two sandstone figures (Landsknechte) and a sandstone bust were preserved on the western front. The niche figures depict important Austrians (such as the Habsburg emperors) and the four great allegories 'Art', 'Science', 'Trade' and 'Trade'. These were replicated from 2001 and placed in their original place.

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