Vacations & Trips

Graz – The light capital of Styria, part 2

Graz really has plenty to offer to visiting tourists, all the way from historical attractions to the modern sports stadiums. Unsurprisingly it does feel like (a lot) smaller Wien. Among historical attractions, the Uhrturm has become particularly iconic and known for its clock, which features unusual hands, while Renaissance architecture left a signature at the Landhaushof. Football fans in Graz may be lucky enough to catch a game at the UPC Arena. On a sunny day, you may wish to wander down to the Copacabana, a lively, lake side party beach.

The Old Town contains such important historical locations that this it has now earned Graz the title of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Many landmarks pepper the district and include Graz Cathedral itself, (the Domkirche)which oriugins date inthe 15th century. Other prominent buildings can also be found around the Franziskanerplatz, the Sparbersbachgasse and the Hauptplatz, which is overlooked by the City Hall (Rathaus). On the west side of the city, the Eggenberg Castlerepresents another landmark that is hard to miss and regularly plays host to classical music concerts during the summer months.

In recent years, Graz has been awarded the title of European City of Culture and has continued to live up to its reputation. Museums of high quality (for example the Stadtmuseum) offer plenty of information about Austria’s Styria region. The Landeszeughaus Armoury is worth a look and offers an enormous collection of weaponry and artefacts. You may also like to pay a visit to the MuWa or the Neue Galerie, which is part of the Johanneum Regional Museum and has a collection of more than two thousand art works. More information about Graz Museums and Art Galleries.

If you wish to head outside of Graz and experience the wider Styria region, then jump on the Semmering Railway and enjoy the beautiful scenery as you travel past the surrounding mountains. Some tourists prefer to travel further afield and visit some of Austria’s other big cities, and both Salzburg and Vienna are just about close enough to manage a day trip or short break. Across the border, in Slovenia, a visit to Maribor(Marburg) may well be of interest, if you wish to experience a different country for the day.