Leech Forest is one of Graz's favorite spots to leave the loud city behind. You will find plenty of save trails for walking , some are tarmac but most require walking shoes. For nature lovers, there is a trail with signs giving information on the trees, plantlife, insects and birds that call Graz their home. For more information about this beautifull forest you can contact the Steiermärkische Natur und Bergwacht, Gaswerkstrasse.
This hotel combines modern convenience with traditional style. Located in the foothills of the Schloßberg. Most rooms feature a view of the Innenhof, and all have antique furniture and amazing artwork. The rooftop pool is unique to Graz and offers a great view over the city. Guests from all over the world appreciate its fusion of comfort, elegance and tradition. Open all year round except Christmas and New Year.
The Sporgasse, named after the numerous weapon-smiths who used to have their shops here, must have been an attractive spot for beer drinkers; once there were 22 local breweries with pubs in this street. Today, the alley offers a variety of shopping opportunities and the buildings fachades will bring a fest to your eyes!
To the south of Graz Cathedral is the Mausoleum of Emperor Ferdinand II who started building it from 1614 within his residence. The Mausoleum is one of the most important buildings in Graz. It's a monument to the successful Counter-Reformation and is composed of two parts - to the north, there is St Catherine's Church; while its southern part shelters the graves of Kaiser Ferdinand, his wife Maria Anna, his mother Maria, and one of his sons. A section called 'Herzgrüftl' holds the hearts of some members of the Habsburg family, creepy but interesenting and the architecture it's quite impressive.
In the 17th century, today's "Johanneum" was known as "Lambrechter Hof," after its first owner. In 1811, Habsburg Archduke Johann took control of the building and donated his scientific collection as the basis of the museum's exhibitions. Soon after, the collection was made available to the public and was expanded. Presently, the main building of the Johanneum in No.10 Raubergasse houses the geology, zoology, mineralogy and botany departments as permanent exhibits. The Alte Galerie also shows visiting exhibits. A nice cultural place to spend a few hours in.
The Uhrturm is not only pleasent to the eyes, but it is home to one of the oldest bells in the country. And, it doesn't just stop at that. It serves a practical function. The hands of the clock work the other way round; the small hand shows the minutes and the big one the hours, making it much easier to read. The Uhrturm was constructed in 1560 and the bell rung to announce impending executions; later it indicated the closing hour for pubs and cafes.
The exterior of the cathedral looks very sober today. In the Gothic period, however, the façades were covered with paintings. One fresco has been preserved - the so-called Gottesplagenbild ("God's Plagues"). It refers to a year of horrors Graz suffered in 1480. The town was struck by three plagues which were considered to be God's punishment - locusts, war and the Black Death. The painting has to be seen as a plea to God for forgiveness and reconciliation. The painter Thomas von Villach arranged the Holy Trinity, saints and the hierarchy of angels as well as the three plagues like an impressive drama demonstrating God's wrath and the plea for mercy, all underlined by medieval "balloons".
The interior of the cathedral hormoniously combines Gothic architecture with Baroque furnishing. The frescos in the church date from the times of Emperor Frederick III. Among them: a fragment showing St. Christopher, clearly recognizable as Frederick wearing the Styrian ducal crown.
The Jesuits, who owned the church for nearly 200 years, had it furnished in magnificent Baroque by the best local and foreign artists. The splendid high altar was designed by Georg Kraxner. But also the pulpit, the choir stalls and the pews are of impressive quality.
Among the most precious objects in the cathedral are the two reliquaries to the left and the right of the chancel entrance. Originally the chests belonged to Paola Gonzaga. In 1477 she married Leonhard of Gorizia and brought along her bridal chests from her native Mantua to Leonhard's castle Bruck near Lienz in East Tyrol. Inlays in bone and ivory represent a poem by Petrarca - "I Trionfi". The artist Andrea Mantegna is assumed to have made them. The couple died without having children. The Jesuits in Graz finally inherited the chests and used them as reliquaries for bones of Christian martyrs.
The organ of the cathedral was built in 1978. All the 5,354 pipes are played and the 73 stops are pulled out at services and organ concerts. It seems like a museum more than a cathedral but it's a must if you are in Graz.
The ruins of the Gösting Castle rise up where the Mur River Valley opens up into Graz. Built in this strategic position between the 11th and the 15th centuries, the castle could control all traffic into Graz. In 1925, the Castle Society was founded to attempt to prevent further destruction after years of neglect and fires during the 18th and 19th centuries. Rising 200 meters over the Mur River, Gösting Ruins offers great views over Graz.
A nice ride to make in your family vacations, the kids will love it if you make it a story.
The Murinsel is an artificial island, a floating platform in the middle of the Mur river and one of the landmarks in Graz. It started out a a project in 2003, but the people liked it and it stayed, with its stage for performances and the coffeehouse. It was constructed by New Yorker Vito Acconci, for the celebration of the 2003 European Capital of Culture.
The Kunsthaus Graz, Grazer Kunsthaus, or Graz Art Museum is an architectural landmark in Graz since 2003, when it was built as part of the European Capital of Culture celebrations, and its exhibition program is about contemporary art of the last four decades. The architectural style of this impressive building is known as blob architecture, and its funny nickname "Friendly Alien" was given by its creators, Peter Cook and Colin Fournier.
Nick : Miss Pig Tails
Name : Katrina wells
Born in: Philly
Age : 29
Hobbies: paint, cook, piano.
