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Graz was originally the site of a Roman fort. Later a small castle was built here by the Slovenians, which in time became a heavily defended fortification. 'Gradec' literally means "small castle" in Slovenian. The German name 'Graz' was first used in 1128, and during this time dukes under Babenberg rule made the town into an important commercial center. Later Graz came under the rule of the Habsburgs, and in 1281 gained special privileges from King Ruldoph I.
In the Domenico dell'Allio, and was used by the local rulers as a governmental headquarters.
Karl-Franzens Universität, also referred to as the University of Graz, is the city's oldest university, founded in 1585 by Archduke Charles II. For most of its existence it was controlled by the Catholic church, and was closed in 1782 by Joseph II in an attempt to gain state control over educational institutions. Joseph II transformed it into a lyceum where civil servants and medical personnel were trained. In 1827 it was re-instituted as a university by Emperor Franz I, thus gaining the name 'Karl-Franzens Universität,' meaning 'Charles-Francis University.' Over 30,000 students currently study at this university.
Nikola Tesla studied electrical engineering at the Polytechnic in Graz in 1875. Nobel Laureate Otto Loewi taught at the University of Graz from 1909 until 1938. Johannes Kepler was a professor of mathematics at the University of Graz. Erwin Schrödinger was briefly chancellor of the University of Graz in 1936.
Austria was anexed by Nazi Germany. The thriving Jewish community was destroyed by the Nazis and their grand synagoge was burnt. A small group of Graz Jews returned despite everything after the war. In 2000 on the anniversary of the Reichskristallnacht Graz city council presented the Jewish community with a new synagogue as a gesture of reconciliation. Hitler promised the people of Graz 1,000 years of prosperity and an end to mass unemployment: only 7 years later the Graz resistance surrendered the city to Soviet troops sparing Graz any further destruction. By then about 16% of buildings had been destroyed by Allied bombing - luckily the Old Town was not seriously hit.
Graz lies in Styria, or Steiermark in German. Mark is an old German word indicating a large area of land used as a defensive border, in which the peasantry are taught how to organize and fight in the case of an invasion. With a strategic location at the head of the open and fertile Mur valley, Graz was often assaulted (unsuccessfully), e.g. by the Hungarians under Matthias Corvinus in 1481, and by the Ottoman Turks in 1529 and 1532. The Schloßberg was the only fortification in the region that never fell to the Ottoman Turks. Graz is home to the region's provincial armory, which is the world's largest historical collection of weaponry. It has been preserved since 1551, and displays over 30,000 items.
From the earlier part of the Austria by Napoleonic forces at the Battle of Wagram in 1809, the fortifications were demolished using explosives, as stipulated in the Peace of Schönbrunn of the same year. The belltower and the civic clock tower, often used as the symbol of Graz, were allowed to survive this fate after the people of Graz paid a ransom for their preservation.
Archduke Rome. Archduke Franz Ferdinand was born in Graz, in what is now the Stadtmuseum (city museum).
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An extensive public transportation network makes Graz an easy city to navigate without a car. The city features a tram network consisting of 8 lines, 2 of which run from the train station to the city center before branching out. 1 hour or 24 hour tickets can be bought on trams for €1.70 and €3.50 respectively (as of December 2005), but longer-term tickets must be bought at the train station or on Jakominiplatz. The city also has a comprehensive bus network that uses the same integrated ticketing as the tram system. (These tickets are also valid on the Schlossberg funicular railway and lift.) Furthermore there are 7 nightbus routes which run only on weekends and on evenings preceeding public holidays.
From the train station, one can take regional trains to most of Styria. Direct trains also run to most major nearby cities including Hungary. Trains for Vienna leave every hour.
Graz airport is about 10km from the city centre to the south and has a railway station within walking distance. The main international destinations from Graz are: Stuttgart and Düsseldorf.
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Arnold Schwarzenegger, former bodybuilding champion, actor and currently governor of California. Born and raised in farming village called Thal, 2km from Graz. In 2005, the Graz football stadium named after Schwarzenegger was renamed Stadion Graz-Liebenau after a controversy over the use of the death penalty in California.
Olga Neuwirth, one of the most important contemporary Austrian composers.
Nicolaus Harnoncourt, conductor known throughout the world for his performances of classical works on period instruments , was raised in Graz having been born in Berlin.
Jochen Rind, first Austrian Formula 1 champion was raised in Graz by his grandmother.
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Hotels in Austria - Graz >>
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