Castles and Palaces In Graz
The monuments that attract the highest number of visitors are situated outside the old town. One of the area’s most remarkable attractions is the Eggenberg Castle or Palace (Schloss Eggenberg), which is situated to the west of the city. This place attracts over a million visitors annually. The palace is built in the Baroque style and is widely recognized as the most significant palace in Styria. The castle was built in the 17th century according to the designs of Giovanni Pietro de Pomis. When designing the castle, he found inspiration in the Monastery of El Escorial. The ownership of it belonged to the Eggenberg family. In the latter half of the 18th century, the Counts of Herberstein took on the task of converting the old theater into a church, which was designed in the Baroque style. The interior of the space is beautifully decorated with paintings crafted by the talented artist Hans Adam Weissenkircher. The walls display the signs of the zodiac. The building is adorned with 365 windows, each representing a day of the year.
The Gösting castle ruins are located in close proximity. The castle was located in the picturesque valley of the river Mur, situated to the north of Graz. In 1723, a lightning strike destroyed the castle, and it was never reconstructed. The Counts of Attems chose to build Neugösting Castle at the foot of the mountain, where it would serve as their family’s residence.Numerous churches are located in rural areas. One notable structure among them is the Church of the Sacred Heart. The church in Graz is the largest in the city. There are two other noteworthy churches that deserve mention: the Church of St. Leonardo and the Church of Marigrün.The Mariatrost Basilica, located in the district of the same name to the northeast of the city, is considered one of the most significant pilgrimage sites in Styria.
Graz Castle
After Graz was chosen as the seat of Inner Austria in 1564, the Archdukes of Inner Austria officially resided in Graz Castle, which was constructed in 1438 by Duke Frederick V.
Over the years, the castle had several structural additions and restorations, including the removal of certain structures from 1853 to 1854 and the reconstruction of a part that was in disrepair in 1822.
The building was used by the provincial governor of Styria since 1922.
The castle sustained significant damage during World War II and was rebuilt in 1947. The structures that make up The New Castle were constructed between 1950 and 1952.
The castle is available to the public and houses a number of Styrian provincial government agencies.
Eggenberg Castle
Schloss Eggenberg, located in the city of Graz, is the largest and most significant complex of baroque houses in all of Steiermark.Because of its original, well-preserved furnishings, expansive landscape garden, and artifacts from the Universalmuseum Joanneum, the palace is regarded as one of Austria’s most significant cultural assets.
The construction and furnishing of the Eggenberg aristocratic family’s ancestral residence reveals the evolution of this once-most powerful family in Styria as well as their mutual support.The palace was included in the 2010 UNESCO World Heritage City of Graz – Historical Center extension.
Situated at the base of the Plabutsch mountain, the castle is located in the western region of Graz, the provincial capital.
Episcopal Palace
The Graz Inner City is home to the Bishop’s Palace. It is also referred to as the Prince-Bishop’s Palace or the Bishop’s Court. First constructed in 1254 as a gift for Bishop Ulrich von Seckau, Ottokar von Graz bequeathed his home.
The house was, until 1265 or 1267, outside the old city wall. To enlarge it, extensive construction was done between 1481 and 1502. Bishop Martin Brenner expanded the structure with a library between 1481 and 1502.
The prince-bishop’s residence in Graz served as Styria’s guest house. The bishopric has been located in Graz since 1786. During Prince Bishop Joseph Adam von Arco’s reign in the early 1800s, the present structures were assembled.
Grazer Landhaus
The Graz country house, located in Herrengasse, is the first Renaissance building in Graz and is considered one of the most significant buildings in Central Europe. Built between 1527 and 1531, it features ornate arched windows, airy arcades, and a three-storey arcade courtyard. The baroque parlor has been transformed into the meeting room of the Styrian Parliament and hosts various events.
In 1494, the Styrian estates acquired a townhouse at the intersection of Herrengasse and Landhausgasse, which was known as “Bürgergasse” at that time. They established their chancellery and built a chapel dedicated to the Virgin Mary within their house. The building required expansion as early as the 16th century due to competition with the Catholic sovereigns.
Graz City Hall
Graz town hall, the official seat of the city government, was built in 1450 and expanded in 1869. The building was demolished in 1803 and replaced by a classicist structure in 1807. The town hall was expanded in 1869 and 1887, with plans to modernize the facade. In 1966, the residents of Graz decided to keep the familiar facade, with a significant majority of 83% voting in favor.
The main facade features a central risalit with a cupola and a small corner tower. In 1922, the decoration on the façade was partially simplified, but only two sandstone figures (lansquenets) and a sandstone bust survived. The building has undergone two reconstructions in the past 20 years and is inclusive of non-heterosexual partners since 2013.
Domherrenhof
The Domherrenhof is a city palace in Graz, Germany, located on Bürgergasse. It is a significant part of the Graz city crown and was established in 1576 by Archduke Charles II.
The Jesuit college managed the seminary, which was later expanded in 1762. The main portal, decorated by South Tyrolean artist Veit Königer, dates back to 1763. The baroque renovation of the canon’s court was credited to master builder Joseph Hueber.
Regens Schmelter wanted to establish a Theresianum for noble students, which served as venues for dance and fencing events.
In 1773, Empress Maria Theresa approved the school to be designated as “Kollegium Nobilium.”
Mühl-Schloessl
The Mühl-Schlössl is a charming castle located on the outskirts of the Grazer Volksgarten in the Lend district. The Evangelical Kreuzkirche is located nearby, and in 1910, the little castle was converted into its vicarage.
In 1560, Baron Christoph von Gabelhofen, a Protestant landscape doctor, commissioned the construction of a small baroque palace.
The building underwent a significant redesign in 1898, following a conversion that took place at the end of the 17th century.
The Mühl-Schlössl suffered significant damage during a bomb attack that took place on April 2, 1945, which coincided with Easter Monday. The restoration project was successfully completed in 1955.
St. Martin Castle
St. Martin Castle, located in Straßgang, Graz, is a Renaissance chateau that dates back to the early 11th century and was originally owned by the Aribonen. The castle and church were recorded as a provost of Admont Abbey since 1144, with some portions given to the monastery in 1072.
The castle was reconstructed in 1557 and underwent further renovations in 1638, led by Peter Fasoll. Joseph Stammel’s main work is the interior of the castle church, which was built separately between 1738 and 1740.
During the 19th century, a spacious park called Bei den Weihern (also known as ad Wiarn since 1185) was located near the source of the Bründlbaches, connected to the Eisbründl Cave. The park has served as a community education center since 1914.
Weisseneggerhof
The Weisseneggerhof, a historical noble farm in Graz, has a rich history dating back to the 15th century. Originally owned by sovereigns, it was acquired by Hans Strohmeyr in 1414, later sold to Hans Hofstetter zu Tobel, Paul Golder before 1480, and then Wolfgang von Weissenck in 1490.
The farm was passed down to Hans’ son, Hans, in 1529, and Johanna von Glojach brought the property with her. The building underwent reconstruction between 1593 and 1596, and additional conversion work occurred in 1624 and 1626.
The property was sold to Johann Ulrich von Eggenberg in 1635, who merged it with his existing Eggenberg estate. The von Eggenberger family owned the estate until 1785, when it was purchased by Richard Seebacher. The building underwent renovation in 1962 and is now privately owned.
The Weisseneggerhof has a late Gothic core and features multiple structures with facades with covered windows. The building has a combination of hipped and half-hipped styles, and features pointed arch lunette vaults on both the ground floor and upper floors of the eastern and southern wings.
Kroisbach Castle
The Kroisbach Castle, also referred to as Haignitzhof, is situated in the Mariatrost district of Graz, specifically within the eleventh district.
Kroisbach Castle is located on the picturesque western slope of the Grazer Platte, in the scenic Mariagrüntal.
The skilled masonry master Domenico Rossi constructed the building in the Baroque style between 1650 and 1655.
The commission for this project was given by Count Abundio Inzaghi. Under the rule of the Counts of Galler, two conversions took place.
The first conversion happened in 1694, while the second one occurred in the 19th century. The restoration of the west facade took place in 1965.
Reinthal Castle
Reinthal Castle is situated in the municipality of Hart bei Graz, in the Graz-Umwelt district of Styria.Johann Höllwart is the current owner of the castle.
The castle was constructed in 1545 by Bartholomäus Rues, who was the Schrannenadvocate. He utilized his coat of arms at that location, which has also served as the foundation for the municipality of Hart bei Graz’s coat of arms since 1996.
During the Middle Ages, the castle had the function of serving as a farm for the Rein monastery.It was operated as a noble seat since the 16th century.
The property has changed owners multiple times, including Pranckh, Teuffenbach, Lengheimb, and Ludwig von Benedek. Since 1967, it has been owned by the Municipality of Graz.
Lustbuhel Castle
Lustbühel Palace, situated in Graz’s ninth district, is a magnificent early Baroque palace built in the 17th century. It was later elevated to a noble residence and underwent renovations in the 18th, 19th, and 1907, incorporating historicist elements.
The castle exhibits a late historicist architectural style, primarily neo-Gothic forms, with notable features like stepped gables, latticework portals, and towers. Window grilles made of wrought-iron from 1907 are also notable. The castle features a vestibule with two aisles and neo-Romanesque marble round pillars.
The sandstone warrior busts on the gate pillars are believed to have originated in the early 18th century. Since 1947, the castle has been used as a convalescent home for young children aged 3 to 6, and now houses a kindergarten.
Metahof-Schlössl
The Metahof-Schlössl is a charming castle in Graz, built in the 16th century on a property owned by the Eggenberg family. It was later acquired by the Counts of Saurau and underwent renovations led by Joseph Hueber in 1744.
The castle is known for its well-preserved noble residences and was a popular gathering spot for Graz’s cultural scene. In 1805, Count Kottulinsky acquired the castle and created the largest private garden in Graz. The Reininghaus family owned the property from 1889 to 1945.
The castle was destroyed in bombing raids near the Graz main train station, and in 1963, the garden pavilion and connecting wing were removed. The city of Graz took over the palace in 1979, and it was converted into an office space and is now leased to various companies.
Hallerschloss
The Hallerschloss, also known as Sparbersbach Castle, is a 17th-century castle in Graz’s Waltendorf district. Its history dates back to the 13th century, with the castle likely built by a knight named von Breuner. The castle was owned by the Giebinger family until 1713, when it was sold to Mathias Aman and later to Hans Georg von Kaltenhausen. The castle included various components, including a Meierhof, stables, barns, and a vineyard. In 1713, Sigmund Müller became the owner and passed it down to his son-in-law, Dr. Friedrich Karl Haller.
The castle underwent renovations in 1923, following plans by Julius Kubik. During the 1809 siege of Graz, Field Marshal Count Gyulai of Austria established his headquarters. In 1827, composer Franz Schubert visited the castle. In 1900, it came under the ownership of Johann Weitzer, founder of the Grazer Waggonfabrik. In 1945, negotiations between the Red Army and the British Army took place at the castle premises. The castle features a U-shaped floor plan, a chapel dedicated to St. Catherine, and stucco work in the gristle style.
Meerscheinschlössl
The Meerscheinschlössl is a baroque palace in Graz, Austria, built in the late Renaissance style. It was originally a summer residence and later expanded into a pleasure palace. The castle was owned by various owners, including Balthasar Graf Wagensberg, Leopold von Stubenberg, Adam Breuner, and Thomas Gundaker Wurmbrand-Stuppach. The current name, Johann Meerschein, was given in 1801 and operated as a tourist restaurant until the war with France.
In 1843, Josef Schlosser acquired the castle and divided the gardens into individual plots. Adolf Ignaz Mautner became the owner in 1864, and in 1899, Leopold Schreiner took over ownership. The palace has been owned by the Imperial and Royal Ministry of Education since 1914 and has housed multiple university institutes. The original floor plan was a H shape with a courtyard, but the street frontage has evolved over time. The building has undergone extensive renovations between 1977 and 1982, and it has been used for university purposes and cultural events.
Mariahilferhaus
The Palais Wertl von Wertlsberg, also known as Mariahilferhaus, is a historic city palace in Graz, Austria. Built in the second quarter of the 17th century, it was transformed by the Wertl family into a four-winged structure with a viewing side facing west and south and three corner towers. The palace was acquired and modified in 1696 by Count Josef Wilhelm Kronegg, who demolished a neighboring house to expand the palace.
Since 1708, the palace has been rented to nobles by the Regimental Council of Pureib, and in 1743, the Minorite Order acquired the palace, favoring artists and craftsmen. The palace was sold to B. Sorger in 1781. The palace has a castle-like quality, accentuated by polygonal corner towers. It is composed of four stories and features a small, nearly square inner courtyard. The baroque facade design, featuring blind balustrades, has been well-preserved, but the ground floor facade has been replaced to accommodate business establishments.
Palais Kottulinsky
Palais Kottulinsky, located in Geidorf’s third district, was built in 1853 by architect Georg Hauberisser the Elder and reconstructed in 1892 by August Gunolt and Georg Hönel.
The late Gründerzeit building underwent a Neo-Baroque façade transformation at the end of the 19th century. The palace’s rear garden is now a parking lot. The former stable building was demolished to make way for a modern residential building.
The nightclub Kottulinsky is in the basement, while the University of Graz occupies the ground and first floors. The two-story structure features three facades, with a central avant-corps at the front and pilasters on the upper floor.
The main entrance is on the courtyard side, with a neo-baroque entrance gate facing Beethovenstraße. The palace interiors are adorned with representative furnishings.
Palais Thinnfeld
Palais Thinnfeld, also known as Thienfeld or Thinfeld, is a historical city palace in Graz, Germany. It was once owned by two houses, which were renowned for high taxes. In 1701, Johann Adam Thien, an ironmonger, commissioned the construction of two wings on the Mur side. The palace underwent renovations and was completed in 1742. In 1820, ownership was transferred to Master Purgleitner, a leather manufacturer.
In 1838, Johann Stieger, an ophthalmologist from Graz, and other bourgeois owners took over. The Iron House was built between 1848 and 1850, and the Lechner company acquired the palace in 1910. In 2007, the city of Graz acquired Palais Thinnfeld and renovated it, using the rooms as office and exhibition space. The building is constructed in the late baroque style and features two floors, a hipped mansard roof, seven roof huts, a basket-arch stone portal, and two elegant stone vases.
Meran Palace
The Palais Meran, located in St. Leonhard, was built between 1841 and 1843 by master builder Georg Hauberrisser senior as a residential palace for Archduke Johann. The palace, which was designed by Felix von Stregen, was built in a spacious park that was once a farmstead. The Archduke was released from servitude in 1834 and passed away in 1859 at the Palais Meran. The name was given in honor of his son, Count Franz von Meran.
The palace underwent expansions in 1939 and 1963, with the addition of the north wing in 1880. The University of Music and Performing Arts Graz has been located on its current premises since 1963. The late classicism architectural style of the palace features an elongated show side, original wrought-iron door grilles, a gable with Archduke Johann’s coat of arms, a vestibule with three aisles, a Platzl vault, and a stuccolustro wall structure in the first-floor ballroom.
Palais Kees
The Palais Kees is situated at the intersection of Elisabethstrasse and Glacisstrasse in the Inner City district.
The palace was constructed as an apartment building between 1843 and 1845 by the architect Georg Hauberrisser the Elder for Johann Christoph Kees. The building is considered to be the most significant example of late classicism in Graz.
The kuk corps command was located in the premises starting from 1884. The former Palais Kees has been transformed into a student residence after undergoing extensive renovations and large-scale restoration starting in 2009.
The front of the central avant-corps features a grand colonnade with balustrades, creating a monumental appearance. The construction period stone portals are adorned with pilasters and a continuous frieze, and they also feature curbstones.
Gösting Castle
Gösting Castle, a magnificent baroque palace in Graz, Styria, was destroyed by lightning in 1723, causing a fire that destroyed the castle’s powder store. Count Ignaz Maria von Attems, the owner, decided not to rebuild the castle, and architect Johann Georg Stengg was hired to construct a summer palace. The castle’s interior was completed in 1728, but the exterior was not until 1735.
The French gardens underwent a transformation in 1844/45, and in 1891, Karl Lacher presented plans for a partial remodeling. The Attems family owned the castle until 1955, when it was sold to Hans and Grete Totz for repairs. The interior was negatively affected due to the practice of renting out multiple rooms as living quarters for guest workers. The exterior was renovated in 1960, and the roof was renewed in 1967. Gösting Castle remains under private ownership.
The palace features a lengthy main front with a central risalit, side wings, and pillared arcades.
Reinerhof
The Reinerhof, also known as Reiner Hof, is the oldest documented building in Graz, dating back to 1164 when Margrave Ottokar III donated a farm to the Cistercian monastery in Rein. The property was situated between Schloßbergplatz and the former Palais Khuenburg, which now serves as the Graz City Museum. The name “Stift Rein” originates from its first owner, Count Dismas von Dietrichstein. In 1837, Albrecht von Austria-Teschen became the second colonel of the 13th Infantry Regiment stationed in Graz and decided to live on the first floor of the Rainerhof, which was owned by Maximilian von Wimpffen. The property was later owned by the KK Privileged Inner-Austrian Mutual Fire Insurance Company.
The Reinerhof underwent a comprehensive renovation from 1992 to 1994, which involved archaeological investigations. The floor plan of the building is shaped like a hook, with the core dating back to the 15th century. The building’s structure has undergone various modifications during the 16th to 18th centuries, with façades designed by Georg Hauberisser the Elder.
Palais Khuenburg
The Palais Khuenburg is a historical city palace in Graz, located between the Reinerhof and the former Palais Herberstein. The palace was built in 1564 by Maximilian von Schrattenbach, who served as the chamberlain of Archduke Karl and the governor of Styria.
The property was later acquired by Count Otto Ehrenreich Trauttmansdorff and war purser Johann Sebastian Schäzl, who later sold it to Sigmund Ludwig Khuenburg in 1676. The palace was rented by Archduke Karl Ludwig of Austria and his wife Maria Annunziata from 1863 to 1866. The palace served as the headquarters for the city administration during World War II and was later used by the British occupying forces.
The palace underwent a complete renovation from 1969 to 1972 and has since served as the GrazMuseum, previously known as the Graz City Museum.
Palais Herberstein
The Palais Herberstein, a former city palace in Graz, is located on Sackstrasse and is home to the Museum of History. The palace was originally a townhouse, but was later converted into a city palace for the Eggenberg family. The Herberstein family inherited the property in 1742 and commissioned Josef Hueber, a Styrian baroque master builder, to convert it in the late baroque style.
The palace was home to Duchess Maria Karolina of Naples-Sicily, who established her art and painting collection there. The palace has been a venue for various events since 1834, and since 1939, the Municipality of Graz has owned it. The Palais Herberstein complex consists of three wings, two inner courtyards, and stables for horses.
The central wing features a stunning staircase, complemented by sandstone putti and ceiling frescoes. The Beletage, also known as “Nobletage,” is situated on the second floor, with intricately carved frames on its doors. The hall of mirrors and Yellow and Red Salons have two stoves from Heinrich Formentini’s collection.
Palais Attems
The Palais Attems is a significant noble palace in Styria, Austria, located at the intersection of Sackstrasse and Schloßbergplatz. It is connected to the main building and features a four-story baroque facade with intricate stucco work by Domenico Boscho. The facade is influenced by northern Italian palace architecture and features a U-shaped structure with a square inner courtyard.
The lower mezzanines merge to create a foundation area, while the upper floors feature brown arches and vases decorated with stucco. The upper levels are distinguished by ionic and composite pilasters separated by a cornice. The “Sackstrasse” side of the palace features a grand rustic round-arched stone portal, surrounded by pillars and a sandstone alliance crest representing the Attems and Wurmbrand families.
The carved gate leaves and fittings date back to the mid-18th century, and the wrought-iron skylight grille secures the gate.
Palais Kellersberg
The Palais Kellersberg, also known as Kellersberg’sches Stadthaus, is a historic building in Graz’s Inner City district. Constructed in 1728, it combines two town houses on Sackstrasse and has a core dating back to the 15th and 16th centuries.
The Reform dining house was once part of the Good Templars organization. The long facade features overhanging arches supported by corbels, with foliage and bandelwerk ornament dating back to 1740/45. The eastern courtyard wing features three-storey columned arcades, with the Pawlatschen dating back to the second quarter of the 18th century.
Access to the first floor is via a 15th-century staircase. Notable features include 18th-century carved overdoors, late Gothic ridge vaults, an Empire tiled stove, stucco plafonds, ribbon and foliage decorations, and a rocaille skylight grille from the third quarter of the 18th century.
