Join us for a visit to the fortress on the Schlossberg right in the centre of Graz and enjoy the fantastic view over the city.
The Schloßberg 'Castle Mountain’ is a fortress in the centre of Graz in Austria, in a public park on a hill 473 metres above sea level.
The fortification goes back to earlier than the 10th century but the current 400 metre fortress was built In mid-16th century. It was never conquered, but it was largely demolished by Napoleonic forces under the Treaty of Schönbrunn of 1809. The clock tower and bell tower were spared after the people of Graz paid a ransom for their preservation.
The remains of the castle were turned into a public park in 1839. There is a café next to the Clock tower offering wonderful views over the old town. There are also two smaller cafés on the western side. Next to the terminus of the funicular railway there is a hilltop restaurant.
Below the Schlossberg hill is an extensive system of tunnels, which were created during WWII to protect the civilian population of Graz from aerial bombing.
Start your visit with a short walk in the Garden of Wonders. You will see the mythical Graz creatures there: a panther, a dog, an elephant and a lions symbolising the fears and fantasies of their respective times: male claim to power, Hungarian supremacy, Ottoman threat and the defence of the Schlossberg.
The museum's exhibition tells everything about the eventful history of the Schlossberg. The multimedia model provides insights into the interior of the mountain with its several kilometres long system of tunnels. The Cannon Hall of the Stable or Cannon Bastion offers the most beautiful and widest panoramic view of Graz and its environs.
On the way up to the hill, you will see significant buildings and monuments of the Schlossberg that you experience in their historical context along the “Historical Trail” of the former Cannon House with views into the interior of the mountain with the Turkish Well and the tunnels. The Schlossberg funicular carries passengers from the western foot of the hill up to the restaurant near the top, and elevators lead up to another restaurant overlooking the clocktower.
All areas of the Graz Museum Schlossberg are barrier-free. There are accessible toilets as well as lockers accessible to all and flexible seating in the courtyard. There is a lift leading from the permanent exhibition to the underground casemate and a ramp makes the entire room accessible.
Graz Museum Schlossberg
Schlossberg 5, 8010 Graz
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