Graz Travel Guide

Graz Airport is located approximately 12 Km from the city of Graz. There is a rail network from the airport; the journey takes around 10 minutes and costs €1.70. There is also a bus service from outside the departure terminal; it takes 20 minutes to get to the city costing €1.70. There is also a taxi service from outside the terminal taking about 20 minutes to get to the city and costing between €15.00 and €20.00.

The historic city centre

Graz is a unique city. A walk through the Old Town, a UNESCO world cultural heritage site exuding southern charm, is a transition to past centuries. In recent years, the harmonious blend of the city's multifaceted cultural heritage and its striking modern architecture has created an unrivalled ambiance. The year 2003, in which Graz was the Cultural Capital of Europe brought changes and left a lasting impression on the face of the city. Expressions of art and culture are omnipresent through Graz's historic centre and the city's new architectural landmarks, Kunsthaus and Island in the Mur, have generated a thoroughly new cultural and urban awareness.

The Armoury

The Armory of Styria dates from the early 16th century, when it was established by the nobles of the region for the defence of their territories. Its function was the procurement and storage of weapons ready for use by the Styrian yeomanry. The necessary storage space was created with the construction of the five-storey building on the Herrengasse in 1642. Almost alone among European arsenals, the arsenal in Graz was spared from dispersal and closure; only the artillery pieces were lost, at the time of the Napoleonic wars. The fact that the arsenal's contents are still stored just as they were during its active period means that it is now an unrivalled piece of preserved history.

The Kunsthaus

On the banks of the river Mur, Graz has a new architectural landmark: the Kunsthaus Graz. The designers of this project, the London architects Peter Cook and Colin Fournier, created an impressive synthesis which unites their innovative design language with the historic setting of this urban district along the Mur. The spectacular play between the new biomorphic structure on the bank of the Mur and the old clock tower on Graz's famous Schlossberg is sure to become the trade-mark of a city aiming to create a productive tension between tradition and avant-garde.

Eggenberg Castle

The magnificent château Schloss Eggenberg, foremost of all the castles and residences in Styria, is situated on the western outskirts of Graz. It was commissioned by Prince Hans Ulrich von Eggenberg (1538-1634), chief minister of Emperor Ferdinand II. The layout and decorations of the building are patterned on an intricate mathematical and allegorical scheme, strongly influenced by the visions of cosmic harmonies propounded by natural philosophers of the time such as Johannes Kepler and Giordano Bruno.

The Schlossberg

Steady on its perch above the city, the clock tower has been spooling out the hours and minutes since 1712. The original clock mechanism is still working, and the bell is one of the oldest in the country, dating from 1382. The tower with its turreted wooden gallery is wound around with ivy, but also with love stories - because this is the traditional spot for locals to have their first kiss.

• Graz Airport


• Styria