Schlossberg pedestrian Rise from Schlossbergplatz (Graz) |
In 1379 Graz became the residence of the Habsburgs to be named capital of the internal Austria (German Innerösterreich), a territory that included Styria, Carinthia, Carniola and some possessions in Italy. The residence of the imperial family continued until 1619.
On April 10, 1797, French troops made their entry in Graz for the first time. Two days later, Napoleon arrived in Graz, where he remained until his departure a few days Goss, near Leoben. On November 14, 1805, the French army, under General Marmont, invaded the city a second time. The occupation ended on January 11, 1806 with the withdrawal of troops galas. On May 30, 1809 was the third raid of the French Legion, this time under orders from MacDonald. On January 4, 1810 the French finally abandoned Graz.
During World War II 16% of the buildings were destroyed and 1,788 people lost life as a result of the offensive. The old town was not affected by the attacks, except for the Tummelplatz. The central station and industrial plants in the south and west of the city were the targets of the bombings.
In the years after the proclamation of independence in 1955, there were many changes that shaped the current image of the city [ Source: Wikipedia to ]. In this second installment
completed the old town of Graz, on the eastern side of the Mur, focusing on the Schlossberg hill and its streets and squares around them, and the western side of Mur.
Uhrturm in Schlossberg (Graz |
" Schlossberg: On the banks of the river Mur is a hill called Schlossberg, which has a height of 473 meters above sea level. A small castle was here 1,000 years ago is what gave the city its name (derived from the Slovenian word 'Gradec' which means 'little castle'). Since 1125 the hill housed an impressive fortress. From 1544 he expanded to become a Renaissance fortress according to plans by Domenico dell'Allio. In 1809 Napoleon ordered to destroy it, but could not conquer. Surrendered only after the seize of Vienna in 1809 and threatened to destroy the capital if not striking down the fort. Now only the bell tower and the tower Glockenturm Uhrturm clock because the inhabitants of Graz paid a ransom to prevent their destruction.
As amounts are being found on the sides, the Uhrturm , landmark of the city. This ancient medieval defense tower got its present form around 1560, like its leading wooden corridor. The clock tower of 28 meters, has three bells and three shields that adorn its walls, from 1712 hours given time. The
Turkenbrunnen , a pit dug 94 meters from 1554 to 1558 that reaches the ground water of the river Mur. It was to supply enough water to the fortress in case of fire. It received its name until the nineteenth century it had also alleged Turkish prisoners digging the hole. The Starkes
Häuschen is a former powder magazine, built in 1575 by Dionisio Tadei stronghold at the foot of Stallbastei and destroy the French in 1809. On its ruins was built a house and planted vines in the terraces below. She was baptized with the name of chateau actor Gustav Starke, who lived in the house.
Kasemattenbühne and Glockenturm in Schlossberg (Graz) |
The top platform is also the Hacker-Löwe \u200b\u200b , a monument of a lion that resembles the last defender of the castle, the commander Franz Xavier Freiherr von Hacker and had to surrender in 1809. As there is no picture commander took a lion to honor him. Nearby is the Stallbastei , a bastion which was used as a prison, a platform for tank guns and supplies. Since 1725 the alarm was from here in case of fire, using four guns, called "Four Evangelists."
foot of the Schlossberg is traversed by a branching tunnel system made between 1943 and 1945 used to protect civilians in the bombing, but was never completed. Today it is still used in part as a passage to Schlossbergplatz Kameliterplatz to access the lift hill 'Gläserne Lift', the 'Dom in Berg' o por el 'Märchengrottenbahn', el tren infantil de la gruta de las fábulas que utiliza parte del antiguo sistema de galerías. A la cima de la colina también se puede ascender por el inclinado funicular Schlossbergbahn que se coge en la calle Kaiser-Franz-Joseph-Strasse. La escalera Schlossberrgstiege es una de las cuatro vías de acceso a la colina; fue construida por prisioneros de guerra tras la I Guerra Mundial picándola directamente en la roca.
Palais Attems visto desde Schlossbergplatz (Graz) |
Deutschritterordenhaus in Sporgasse 22 (Graz) |
Karmeliterplatz and Schlossberg (Graz) |
»Buildings and places of interest on the west side of Graz:
Since 2003, Graz was chosen Cultural Capital of Europe on this side of Mur are installed in modern buildings, arranged between old homes, in a harmonious contrast.
"Murinsel : This island, built in 2003, is an unusual monument on the water. Following a concept of the New York artist Vito Acconci, came here a floating shell attached to both sides of the river Mur by two footbridges. It houses an amphitheater and a café.
view Kunsthaus Graz with the right |
"Südtirolerplatz : This long plaza, which stretches across the Erzherzog-Johann-Brücke (Old Hauptbrücke) is the characteristic center of a neighborhood that preserves palaces and churches of the eighteenth century and is crossed by the Marihilferstrasse and Annenstraße, extending the route of the square, and whose start is the Barmherzigenkirche (Church of Mercy), built by Johann Georg Stengg between 1735 and 1740, with a Baroque facade that extends in a tower and "The Coronation of the Virgin '(C. Giaquinto, 1753) on altar. Following Grieskai, on the southern bank of the Mur, the number 8 is the Alba Weisler hotel with a façade work of M. Secession Kammerer (1908), and the Grand Café with a mosaic style also made by Leopold Forstner Secession in 1902. In Dominikanergasse is the Heilig-Geist-Kirche , a Gothic church of 1498 belonging to an old hospital with a size of 'Mercy' on the outside made in 1720 by Schoye JL.
Minoritenkloster and Mariahilferkirche (Graz) |
"Schloss Eggenberg (Eggenberger Allee 90) [official website ] : Built to Johann Ulrich Eggenberg between 1625 and 1635 on the site of a medieval castle, the uniqueness of this building is its allegorical inspired design with an English garden. Cosntruido between the years 1625 and 1655 as a project of the Flemish L. sype go and amended by the Italian Pietro Valnegro. It has 24 state rooms on the second floor, highlighting especially the Planetensaal , great hall covered with stucco A. Serenio 1670 and paintings by HA Weissenkirchner 1685. It currently houses a branch of the Landesmuseum Joanneum, with collections of prehistoric, coins and hunting museum [Learn more ].
» Bibliography: " 'Monuments and tourist attractions of Graz' (cultural and tourist brochure from the Tourist Office of Graz) »Austria (Total Guide Anaya Touring Club)
» Links: " Stadt Graz (Official Website) " Graz Tourism (Official) ' Graz (Wikitravel) " Graz (Wikipedia ) " Graz (Yahoo Travel) " Graz