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200km (124 miles) SW of Vienna; 138km (86 miles) NE of Klagenfurt; 285km
(177 miles) SE of Salzburg
Graz, Styria's capital, blends modern life and historical architecture.
The city's legacy dates from prehistoric times, when its location at a
ford across the Mur River was a major factor in its development. Romans,
Slavs, and Bavarians all had a hand in shaping the town.
Graz is a great place to stay because it's easy to make day trips into
the countryside from here, and there's plenty to see and do. Visit the
Schlossberg (castle), go hiking or hot-air ballooning, or visit one of
the museums. If you're here in the fall, you might want to attend the
Steierischer Herbst (Styrian Autumn) festival, which features
contemporary art, music, and literature. The arts festival has a
reputation for being avant-garde, presenting everything from jazz to
mime.
Fearing floods, early settlers established fortifications on the steep
dolomite hill overlooking the river's ford. The city's name is derived
from the Slavic word gradec, meaning "little fortress." A small castle
was built on the hill, which is now the Schlossberg. The town is first
mentioned in documents from the early 12th century. Graz has been ruled
by many governments, including those of Germany, Bohemia, Hungary, the
Babenbergs, and the Hapsburgs.
The medieval town developed at the foot of the Schlossberg and some of
the late-Gothic period structures remain. These buildings were
constructed when Emperor Frederick III used Graz as a capital after the
Hungarians forced him out of Vienna. The castle and the cathedral, along
with the city's narrow-gable roofs and arcaded courtyards, all
contribute to its charm.
Life wasn't always kind to the people of Graz. In 1480, the little town
was afflicted by the "Plagues of God" -- locusts, the Black Death, the
Turks, and a threat from the Hungarians.
When the Hapsburg inheritance was divided into Austrian and Spanish
branches in 1564, Graz became the prosperous capital of "Inner Austria"
and the residence of Archduke Carl, who ruled Styria, Carinthia, and
Italian Hapsburg lands. Carl had the town's fortifications strengthened
in the Italian style, with bastions and moats.
A Jesuit college and Lutheran school were both active by the end of the
16th century. The astronomer Johannes Kepler (1571-1630) began his
teaching career at the Lutheran school. Fine arts and commerce
flourished in Graz, bringing honor and riches to the city, and that
prosperity is reflected in palaces and mansions built during that
period. Italian Renaissance architects were making their impact here
around the time Emperor Ferdinand II moved his court to Vienna in 1619.
The city walls were demolished in 1784, and the slopes they'd stood on
were planted with trees. Napoleon's armies made three appearances here,
and Austria's defeat by his forces at the Battle of Wagram (1809)
resulted in a treaty that forced Graz to level the Schlossberg's
battlements. Only the Uhrturm (Clock Tower) and the bell tower were
saved, rescued by payment of a high ransom by the citizens of Graz. The
Schlossberg became the beautiful park you see today.
During World War II, the city saw much bombing and devastation. However,
in 1945, Graz was allotted to the British, and reconstruction began.
Today Graz has some 250,000 inhabitants, and it supports thriving
breweries, machine factories, trading companies, and service industries.
The Graz Fair is an important commercial and industrial event in
southeastern Europe. Graz's three universities, opera house, theater,
museums, concert halls, and art galleries comprise Styria's cultural
center. |
