A Weekend in Graz (Austria)
Graz city is located 2.5 hours from Vienna. There are two modern facilities that have become Graz’s architectural landmarks along with the old architecture in the historic center.
At the entrance to Graz, you won’t believe that there may be something interesting. Inconspicuous areas, some ugly streets closer to the downtown, sometimes it seems that it’s some poor city in Romania.
However, once in the territory of the historic center, you change your opinion about Graz, you wish to explore it and manage to see so many interesting places.
A parking lot in the downtown is the same as in Vienna. Approximately 1.8-2.6 euros/hour. However, if you park your car a little further, the price will be 1.6 euro/hour.
After a few hundred meters, you get to the most controversial project – the Museum of Modern Art Kunsthaus – a giant glass organ.
A stylish coffee shop and a shop with interesting books and things are located on the ground floor. You can also go upstairs to the exhibition halls for 9 euros/person.
Right next to the large organ there’s another art object – Murinsel by New York architect – iron and glass island, which looks like a shell, wherefrom two pedestrian bridges are joining with the banks of the Peace River.
This facility seemed for us to be more impressive in the photographs than alive. Although the river flow is very strong, Murinsel withstands this power of water. There are an amphitheater and a restaurant inside the shell.
We wish the Peace River was as crystal clear as in Mostar, then it would emphasize the beauty of the shell)
Overview of modern architecture ends on this because the historic part of Graz begins right next to it.
The clock tower Grazer Uhrturm stands above the old center – 28 meters high and an observation deck behind – rather a large area with the Burggarten Park.
You can climb on that hill on four sides, the nearest one – up the stairs. A staircase with an observation deck are built on the vertical rock, since it also opens a beautiful view of the city and, of course, the museum in the form of the organ is also clearly visible, especially its deep blue color stands out among the red tiles of the roofs.
In fact, there are numerous paths in the Burggarten Park that show to panoramic views over Graz from all sides.
Panorama of Graz will probably be not too much impressive, since the Austrians somehow managed to build quite ugly new buildings with boring facades among beautiful old houses with crimson tiles, which disagree with the general picture. However, it’s quite interesting to be high above the city and see everything spread out before you.
There is a large fountain and a luxurious City Hall in the main square of Graz.
In the middle of the square, you come across a mini-festival or a market, where several market stalls are selling favorite Austrian sausages. They enjoy eating fatty sausages with a bun worth 3.5-4 euros for a small portion. It’s worth trying it at least once!
An Invisible House. All of glass from top to bottom. Looks cool on the background of the old architecture – like a mirror.
Karmeliterplatz square with a beautiful lake and space.
Some streets and squares in Graz can remind of the Italian Rome due to color shades and shutters on the facades.
To have quality coffee, you need to go a little further along the main street behind the City Hall to Buna Kaffeeladen. Prices are normal for Austria but cheaper than in the center of Vienna. Cappuccino costs 3.5 euros for fresh and quality roasting. There are alternative types of coffee and several desserts as well.
Moreover, there’s one more interesting and unusual to be found in Graz – a small tower with a beautiful stone double-spiral staircase.
If you walk through the arch to the courtyard, you should follow the signs on the Doppelwendeltreppe wall and look for magic stairs.
The double-spiral staircase is incredibly beautiful. You can see it for free and with almost no tourists.
Graz discourages you a bit with its architecture outside the old center, but it offers much to see in the historic center, much to admire. This city is different from all others thanks to creations of contemporary art in the form of strange, but yet interesting buildings. Therefore, it’s worth coming here for a weekend. Then you can go to the Bled Lake in the neighboring Slovenia, which is 200 km from Graz.
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