| Page Views: 172 Last Visit to Graz: March, 2008 | Graz - Ancient and Modern...at the same time by pure1942 - last update: Apr 13, 2008 |
I was pleasantly surprised by Graz. I was using Graz mainly as a stop over on my way to Vienna but found that the city had much more to offer than I had expected.
The city has a beautiful little hill right in the middle of the old town known as the Schlossberg on whihc a huge fortress once stood before Napoleon's forces destroyed it. The famous clock tower remains and has become the symbol of the town. |
|  | Old Mixed With New The thing that struck me most about Graz was how its recent modernity has into been incorporated into the town's historic old town. Not sure if I like some of the more recent architectural additions but I they do add a uniqueness and interest to the old twon.
Graz was European Capital of Culture in 2003 and some unique architectural pieces were commisioned for the event. The most notable of these additions are The Kunsthaus and Mur Island. The Kunsthaus is an exhibition centre and gallery and the greenish blue glass building sticks out on the Graz skyline. The Mur Island was meant to be a temporary construction but has been kept. The performance amphitheatre, cafe and meeting place is built in the middle of the river Mur and is linke to both river banks by foot-bridges.
Overlooking these new architectural pieces is the ancient Schlossberg and a few minutes walk to the north-west is the old twon centre. The comb ination of Old and New is as striking in Graz as anywhere else that I have visited. |
| Graz's famous Clock Tower |
| | History and Geography Graz probably got its name from the Salvic word 'Gradec' which means 'little castle' due to the presence of a fortress on top of the Schlossberg Hill in the centre of the town.
Graz is surrounded by mountains and sits on the River Mur whihc runs right down through the old town. It is Austrias second biggest city after Vienna and has a population of just of 250,000 people but can seem much larger due to the thousands of students who attend the city's six universities. |
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pure1942's Graz Travel Tips
| Overview | Things to Do
Tips: 15 - Photos: 60 | | | | Restaurants | Hotels & Accommodations | | | | Nightlife | Off The Beaten Path | | | | Tourist Traps | Warnings Or Dangers | | | | Transportation | Local Customs | | | | Packing Lists | Shopping | | | | Sports Travel | General Tips |
 pure1942's Graz Travelogues | | | | Title [Click to view] | Travel Year | Pictures | | Austria | March, 2008 |  2 |
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 Comments for pure1942 about Graz | | | | |
globetrott Wed Apr 16, 2008 20:26 UTC
excellent photography ! |
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