Graz a Splendid Gem in the South East Austria

Graz is a delightfully relaxed city situated in south-eastern Austria. It is set around the banks of the Mur River and the old town centre with its red roofs is dominated by the Schlossberg, the hill that rises above it. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is a picturesque place, full of cultural interest and wonderful architecture from Baroque palaces to innovative modern constructions such as the Kunsthaus, a British-designed art gallery on the river bank. The city is compact and most important sights are within walking distance of the market square of the Hauptplatz. The Landesmuseum Johanneum, a large complex of museums, is one of the world’s oldest, and includes the Alte Galerie with its superb Gothic paintings. The Neue Galerie in the Herbenstrein Palace displays 19th- and 20th-century paintings, including some works by Schiele and Klimt. The Cathedral, the Mausoleum of Emperor Ferdinand II (begun in 1614), the Leech Church, the pedestrian zone of the old quarter, the Schlossberg (Castle Hill) with its Uhrtrum (clock tower) and Glockenturm (bell tower) should also be seen. Some distance west of the city is Schloss Eggenberg, the 16th-century palace noted for its state rooms and museums. More than any other provincial center Graz preserves the old Kaffeehaus culture where visitors can sit all day enjoying a leisurely coffee, watching the life of the city.
A splendid clock tower, Graz’s emblem, keeps watch from the tree-clothed Schlossberg hill that’s crowned by 16th-century ramparts. In the valley below, the River Mur fast-flows along its stony bed. Between the two lies an Old Town of immense charm. Church towers punctuate red roofs, narrow streets, winding alleys, grand squares and hidden courtyards. The architecture is a pleasing mix of prettily painted buildings in marzipan colours, fancy gables, ornate palaces, Gothic windows and Baroque façades.
The architecture is the main attraction for visitors. Among the highlights is the Landhaus's fabulous Italian Renaissance courtyard, with triple-tiered arcades. The Schloss Eggenberg, a Baroque palace built in the seventeenth century, has an extraordinary interior dedicated to astronomical and mythological themes, as in the memorable Planet Hall. There is fine cathedral, the Domkirche, with an unusual exterior fresco during back to the 1480s, next to which stands the Baroque mausoleum of Ferdinand II.
If you are planning a visit to this great city and want to know more about accommodation in Graz feel free to visit our site.

Hauptplatz

Schlossberg  Castle Hill

Schloss Eggenberg

Baroque mausoleum

The Landesmuseum Johanneum

the Kunsthaus Graz

Read more: http://www.articlesbase.com/destinations-articles/graz-a-splendid-gem-in-the-southeast-austria-1516382.html#ixzz1X6VyUYTY
Under Creative Commons License: Attribution No Derivatives