Old City Graz, Austria

Extravelganzer, how are you right now?. Hope that you still in very good condition to travel today. As I told you before, this blog is about traveling, trip, journey, visiting new place and looking for many experience. So if you going to find a pets overhere, you are in wrong place. Because this place is all about travelling.

So where we are going right now??.. Hmmmm, I am a little bit curious with  one of beautifull city in the world – beside the Ve-Nice of course -. If I say like that so no more question and no more clue I have to give, right to the points. I already pepared all of the things to be brought. Camera, Check. Paspor, Check, Visa, Check. Hotel, Check, Ticket, Check. Lets travel to the Old Graz City In Austria.

 The history of Graz begun when (A.E.I.O.U., or Austria Est Imperare Orbu Universo) left behind by Friedrich III, King of Germany and holy Roman Emperor, who resided here. The city boasts the empires’s(and Europe’s) largest armory: More than 30,000 pieces of every imaginable kind of armor and equipment used for war and jousting fill four floors of the 17^th-century. Landeszeughaus Armory. The town’s draw may be its magnificient architecture from middle ages and the renaissance, but the tone of Graz today is young and upbeat, thanks to three prominent universities (one offering the only facilities of jazz in all europe), the oldest founded in the 16^th century, from spring untill fall, a number of prestigious fars and music festivals enliven the flagstone streets and squares, while students keep the atmospheric beer cellars, bars and publike beisls buzzing. As capital of the agriculturally rich region of Styria, one of Graz’s most enticing day trips is a meander out along any of eight “wine roads” south of the city.

          Graz laid on the southeastern seat of the Hapsburg as early as 1379, features one of Central Europe’s best-preserved Alstadte (Old Town). Just look around Graz and you will see the ubiqutious motto “Austria Rules The World”.

Graz is the second-largest city in Austria after Vienna and the capital of the federal state of Styria (Steiermark). On 1 April 2010 it had a population of 291,890 (of which 258,605 had principal residence status). Graz is situated on the Mur River in the southeast of Austria. It is about 200 km (120 mi) southwest of Vienna. The nearest larger urban center is Maribor in Slovenia which is about 50 km (31 mi) away. Graz is the capital and largest city in Styria, a green and heavily forested area.

You know what makes Graz especially exciting, amazing, gorgeous, wonderfull and astonishing  is the combination of these historic treasures with truly stunning modern architecture like the Kunsthaus Graz, which beautifully reflects the Old Town in its façade. Graz has a long tradition as a student city: its six universities have more than 44,000 students. Its "Old Town" is one of the best-preserved city centres in Central Europe. Students from the city’s four universities enjoy the many street cafes, which lend the city an almost Mediterranean flair. Art galleries, great shopping, innovative- as well as excellent traditional restaurants, and a busy event calendar ensure that the city stays young at heart.

 Graz has come quite a long way since first being officially settled in the Middle Ages, and its rich mix of architectural styles surely gives testament to its comprehensive history. During the rule of the Roman Empire, Graz was the site of a small fort, which graced the Schlossberg Graz hill in the middle of the city. When Slavic peoples moved into Graz later on, they erected a larger fortress on the same hill. This castle would eventually be the influence for the city's name. Gradec in Slovene means castle, and the same word translated to German is Graz. The name Graz was first applied by the German Babenberg Dynasty in the year 1128. The Babenbergs ruled Austria between 976 and 1248, eventually ceding power to the Habsburg Dynasty. The Habsburgs would erect their own, larger castle on the hill, though only part of it remains to this day. The Schlossberg Graz castle was ordered to be destroyed in 1809 by Napoleon after he defeated Austria in the Battle of Wagram. All that survived was the Uhrturm (Clock Tower) and the bell tower. The surviving Clock Tower is today the symbol of Graz. It was saved by the city's citizens, who paid a hefty sum to France to spare their beloved symbol.

In 2003, Graz Austria was designated by the European Union as The European Capital of Culture. This gave Graz the chance to really show of its attractions. Among the main Graz attractions that visitors won't want to miss is the Schlossberg Graz hill, which is quite akin to Lykavittos Hill in Athens, Greece. There is a cable car (funicular) that takes visitors to the top of the hill, and if you're up for it, you can climb the winding stairs instead. A lovely park with southern plants was established here in the late 1800s, and there is also a restaurant at the top of the hill where you can enjoy a meal and some great views of the surrounding city. Between the months of May and October, guided tours of the hill are offered, and in the summer months, the hill is the site for a bunch of concerts. As for the southern plants found on the hill, Graz Austria enjoys a relatively Mediterranean climate due to its location in a "bowl" south of the Austrian Alps. There are plants all over the city and outlying region that are typically found south of Austria, which is a neat point of curiosity.

 Graz's Old Town is a definite must-visit when enjoying Graz travel, and thankfully, much of it was spared during the WWII Allied bombing campaigns. It's a great idea to take tours of Graz's Old Town whether it is guided or not. You can start in the main square (Hauptplatz), which is surrounded by old houses, the most notable of which is the seventeenth century House of Luegg. While exploring Old Town Graz, it's worth it to head over to Herrengasse Street, where the Landhaus is found. The Landhaus is an ornate Renaissance palace that once served as the seat of the regional government. It was designed by the Italian architect, Domenico dell'Allio, who began work on the gem in 1557. A stunning arcaded courtyard awaits visitors at the Landhaus, and the building overall is just something to behold whether you tour it or just gawk at it from the other side of the street.

Though it's not open to visitors, as it serves as the provincial government seat for Styria, the Burg is a notable structure that you will hardly miss when visiting Graz Austria. Originally a castle that dates back to 1499, it was built for Maximilian I, who was then Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire. Today, the Burg is home to government offices, and though it's not open to visitors to fully explore, the concierge often allows visitors in to admire the medieval winding staircase, which is truly impressive. Not all of the Graz attractions are historical ones, however, and attractions in general don't get much more modern than the Kunsthaus, which is the most recognizable Graz museum. Set on the banks of the River Mur, this blue blob of a structure is home to a great collection of modern art. Whether or not you appreciate the innovative design of the Kunsthaus is something else.

Because all of this amazing-nes,  In 1999, Graz was added to the UNESCO list of World Cultural Heritage Sites, and the site was extended in 2010 by Schloss Eggenberg. Graz was sole Cultural Capital of Europe for 2003 and got the title of a City of Culinary Delights in 2008. UNESCO experts were so impressed by the interplay of the countless sights and attractions that they declared the Old Town of Graz to be a World Cultural Heritage site, worthy for protection for the ages. Graz is old, to be sure. So that’s why is worth to visit this city. So many things to see, so many things to do and so many experience will fill up your life. Guarantee.

How To Get To The Old City Graz

So if you want to get in Old City Graz. You must already be there in Austria. There are a few different ways to get to Austria, but if you don't live in Europe or aren't already based somewhere on the continent, then flying is likely how you will arrive. Your Austria airfare will take a large chunk out of your travel budget, so it's always a good idea to look for cheap flights to Austria if you have the time. With the money that you save, you'll have more left over for things like shopping and tours.

If you got from European country, you can also use plane. Graz airport (IATA: GRZ), (Flughafen Graz - also known as Thalerhof), around 9 km south of the city centre. Scheduled flights operate to Graz from Berlin, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Munich, Stuttgart, Vienna, Linz, Innsbruck, Zurich, London, Hannover, Friedrichshafen. It is possible to fly from Britain from London Stansted with Ryanair, and within Europe low-cost airlines serving Graz-Thalerhof are Intersky and Lufthansa, amongst others.

From the airport you have several possibilities to reach the centre:

• by taxi: approximate fare to the center is between €20-25.
• by bus: the bus station is directly in front of the arrival zone. Bus lines 630 and 631 are going to Jakominiplatz (the central point of public transportation) from approx. 05:20 to 23:45, travel time is 20 minutes. Fare is €1,90 for a single ticket (February 2012).
• by train: to reach the train station you have to walk ~5 minutes (easy to find, just head straight out the airport and continue to the east). Line S5 connects to Graz Hauptbahnhof (main station) from 04:47 (Saturdays and Sundays 05:17) to 22:47 (Sundays: 21:47). Travel time is 15 minutes, fare is also €1,90 for a single ticket.

Posted in: Austria