"Graz. Capital of the Province of Styria,... " a Graz Travel Page by dabidc

A City of a quarter of a million people, yet a green city and one easy to get around.

A city full of old red roofed buildings and one that also embraces modern ideas and buldings. A busy thriving community located in the South East of Austria at a cross roads with cultures from all directions.

A city that seems to be away from the main flow of tourists and travellers as they move mostly from Innsbruck to Salzburg to Vienna.

The mountains are nearby, the vineyards of Styria are on the doorstep and the road and rail links are in all directions. Access to Hungary, Slovenia and Italy is close.

My plan was to visit Graz for two days and walk around the city and maybe visit Eggenberg Schloss, as it turned out the plan was changed.

Still come with me as I wander along Annenstrasse from my hotel to the city centre. There is an excellent tram service to the center but I chose to walk, to explore the street scene and look for god pics and interesting views.

The first major building is the new (2003) Kunsthaus, House of Art. Located just north of Annenstrasse as the road crosses the Mur river.

It is very different from its neighbours, but it is there and one views it as a visitor and maybe thinks inwardly about its modern design.

It is striking and like the Museum of Modern Art in Niteroi, Brazil does command your attention.

A view of Graz from the ruined castle grounds shows the many red roofed buildings, the occasional church tower or steeple, a conventional view that is changing with the times.