Our weekend in

GRAZ

March 16th - 18th, 2007

 Capital of the province of Styria, Graz lies some 200 km or so southwest of Vienna, on the Mur River. It has a population of about 300, 000 souls and is known primarily for its contributions to modern art at its art gallery. It was the first stop on our tour of Austrian provincial capitals. Click on the pictures to see a bigger image, and click on the little x in the corner to make it go away.

The train trip from Vienna to Graz was a great way to start the trip. Beautiful Alpine scenery. Left and right are two scenes along the way, but as they were taken out of the window of a speeding train, they really don't do the countryside justice.

First thing we did was to register at the Gasthof that Lenka had found for us. This was our view from the window looking up at the ruins of Göstling castle.	Our first stop in the city is the Graz art gallery. A funky amoeba/airship shape covered with darkened glass panels. God knows what the architects were smoking when they came up with this.	On our way into the old town, we crossed the Mur River, where we saw the Island in the Mur, a snail-like artificial island with a café and really small amphitheatre.

In the old town on the other side of the river, there is more traditional architecture to be found, such as the tower of the Fransican monastery.	Schlossberg, the Castle Hill, with its medieval fortifications and clock tower, dominates the old town.	Further on we come to the town hall, with a very active market on the square before it.

Then we come to the Carmelite Square, with its fountain and Holy Trinity devotional column. In the upper left, you can make out the roof of the clock tower.	From the square we take this street leading up to the castle hill. On the right is the upper entrance to a tunnel, which slopes down through the hill and comes out at the bottom on the other side.	Continuing up towards the castle hill.

The clock tower at the top of the castle hill. It began life in the 13th century as a peel tower, and later the clock was added. An interesting point is that the hour and minute hand are reversed.	The city of Graz as seen from the clock tower.	Another view of the city with the funky amoeba.

March 17th, and spring is well underway here. (Three days later Central Europe was blanketed with snow and some 40 000 people in southern Austria were without electricity).	Traditional baroque architecture as seen from the hill. On the left is the Attems Palace, on the right, the Church of the Holy Trinity.	There's also a cablecar running up to the top of the hill.

The bell tower in the grounds of the Schlossberg garden.	A pretty view of the clock tower.

Another method of reaching the top is climbing these 260 steps.	At the bottom of the steps are 2 entrances. On the right is the lower entrance to the tunnel I mentioned above; on the left is the entrance to an elevator that also runs up to the top.	In the tunnel. Built in 1942 to serve as a bombshelter, there are a number of entrances along the sides leading in to chambers. In one section, several chambers were recently excavated into one big chamber which is now a theatre with seating for up to 375 people.

Halfway through the tunnel, there is this corridor running off to a large chamber which is a stop for the elevator to the top of the hill.	From the elevator platform at the end of the corridor, looking up to the top of the hill.	From the elevator platform looking down to the bottom of the hill. Good God it was a freaky thing. I felt like I was in some kind of James Bond movie.

The elevator entrance at the top of the hill.	Carmelite Square, with its fountain, Holy Trinity Column, and the clock tower in the background.	The amoeboid airship art gallery at night.The lights behind the glass panels make patterns that move around.

The amoeba airship from ground level.	The imperial mausoleum, built as the final resting place of the Holy Roman Emperor Ferdinand II (16191637).	The snail-like island.

The clock tower.

Gösting castle, perched high above the city. Built in the early 12th century, it protected the village of Gösting and the road running through it. Today it is partially restored and houses a café and museum.	From the tower looking into the keep.	Graz from the tower.

Some pretty flowers on the path to the castle.	Some more pretty flowers on the path.	Some more pretty flowers on the path. To find out the names, I'll have to wait for Lenka.

Eggenberg chateau. Commissioned by Prince Eggenberg, chief minister to the emperor, in the late 17th century. Unfortunately we didn't have time to go inside.	The main entrance, leading into the courtyard.	The main tower at the back of the chateau.

An interesting little grotto in the back wall of the courtyard, with a fountain in the centre. The stars around the fountain are made from sea shells.	One of the numerous peafowl wandering aimless around the gardens.	A pavillion near the entrance to the garden.