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Graz

Graz
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The City of Graz - Historic Centre and Schloss Eggenberg is recognized due to the harmonious co-existence of typical buildings from different epochs and in different architectural styles. Being situated in a cultural borderland between Central Europe, Italy and the Balkan States, Graz absorbed various influences from the neighbouring regions and thus received its exceptional townscape. Today the old town consists of over 1000 buildings, their age ranging from Gothic to Contemporary.

The baroque Eggenberg Castle and its gardens, at the western edge of the city, were added to the included area in 2010.

Year Decision Comments
2010ExtendedTo include Schloss Eggenberg
2010Name change".. and Schloss Eggenberg" added, after Extension
1999 Inscribed Reasons for inscription

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Reviews

Ian Cade (England):
After three or four hours in Graz I was left feeling pretty underwhelmed, however by the time I left 24 hours later I viewed it as a city I would happily pack my bags and move to permanently. It was quite a transformation, and made me feel really happy that I decided to end my little trans-European jaunt with a night in Austria’s second city, rather than just visit for a few hours as a trip from Vienna.

My initial reservations stemmed mostly from the grubby walk from the station to the city centre and the fact that as it was Sunday pretty much every shop was closed. It seemed like a pleasant enough city but nothing to get too excited about.

However as I climbed up the hill things really started to get better. The wonderful double spiral staircase tucked away in the Burg really lifted my spirits. The higher up the hill I got the happier I became, it was a mix of putting in a little bit of physical effort with some nice sites and increasingly impressive modern architecture. I really enjoyed having a beer in the modernist bar atop the Schloßberg and watching the sunset over the Alpine foothills in the distance.

My evening meal provided further reasons to be merry, Styrian cuisine proved to be exceptionally tasty perhaps thanks to the healthy glugs of pumpkin seed oil that are used in it, and the locals wines were very much to my liking (a personal recommendation is der Steirer, although Mangolds opposite also looked like it served up some tasty vegetarian options). My post dinner stroll enabled me to see some of Graz’s latest additions magnificently lit up at night. The Kunsthaus was flickering with LEDs, the quirky Murinsel glowed fluorescent blue, but perhaps the most impressive was the post-industrial haze surrounding the lift shaft inside the heart Schloßberg. By this stage Graz had really won me over.

The next day the sun was shining and the shops were open bringing much more life to the city. I seemed to wander from highlight to highlight, having a great trip on the funicular train before nipping out to Schloß Eggenburg and seeing the new de-constructivist swimming centre. One of my favourite parts came as a real surprise to me; I popped into the K&O department store and found that it had recently been refurbished. The highlight was the great extension on the top floor that provided another wonderful café and a great roof top terrace offering delightful views of the city centre.

So after my initial misgivings Graz ended up being a bit of a revelation, providing a great historic centre, magnificent contemporary architecture, excellent cuisine and even an easily reachable airport serviced by budget airlines. Graz is top of the list of European cities I would happily move to.

[Site 7: Experience 8]
Date posted: April 2012
john booth (New Zealand):
Because there is so much to see in this city I set out early heading first for the Schlossberg for an overview. I too the lift to the Uhrturm an excellent viewpoint. I then walked up to the bell tower before decending by funicular.
From there I walked to the Hauptplatz to see the decorated buildings along the Herrengasse. I particularly liked the courtyard of the Landzeughaus, but was disturbed to find portraits of Hitler and Mussolini in stained glass in the parish church.
I found the trams of Graz very easy to navigate, and travelled by tram #1 to Schloss Eggenburg on the edge of the city. The palace was interesting, but the peacocks strutting around outside I found more entertaining.
Back in the city centre again I enjoyed visiting the cathedral, Burg, and Mariahilferplatz as well as the food stalls in Jacominplatz.
Date posted: September 2011
Pavel Matejicek (Czech Republic):
Graz is a nice historical town full of buildings from late gothic, renaissance and baroque period, that is typical for central European region. I enjoyed small restaurants located within courtyards of old houses close to main street. Nice view over the old town is from hill with the clock-tower. As Graz is located in south-east Austria, I felt an influence of "disordered" eastern Europe, but it should not be taken as disadvantage.
Date posted: December 2010
Choyax (Philippines):
I've been to thic city last world choir games in Graz, Austria... the place was so unforgettable and very nice.. The transportation was perfect and the community is very peaceful.
Date posted: August 2009
Nina (Austria):
Graz is a really nice city. You can walk through the inner city and see many nice buildings, many have interesting paintings on their walls (and I don't mean graffiti!). I like to visit Graz!
Date posted: April 2006
Klaus Freisinger (Austria):
Austria's second-largest city has a beautiful centre with lots of interesting sites (the Zeughaus has the world's largest medieval armoury), but without the hordes of tourists that crowd Vienna or Salzburg. There are buildings from several epochs, which can be seen from above from the Uhrturm (clock tower), the city´s landmark. The site was recently expanded to include Eggenberg Palace, a very pretty late-Renaissance building a short tram ride from the centre. It has a large garden with an interesting archaeology museum, and is certainly a worthy addition to the site.
 


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