Färberplatz

Färberplatz is a square located in Graz.The location of the place is in the Inner City district, which is also the historical center of the city.However, the square was not created until the early 20th century when a former aristocratic palace, known as dyer’s barracks, was demolished.

The Färberplatz can be found in the northeastern part of Graz’s medieval city center. The buildings in its vicinity that have survived to this day typically originate from the 16th and 17th centuries.In the past, there was no available open space in this area.The oldest building in the area of today’s square is a palace that was constructed in 1728 by the counts of Wagensberg and Trauttmansdorff.The building was repurposed as an orphanage in 1776 and later transformed into a “workhouse” in 1795.From 1802 to 1807, during the reconstruction of the Graz town hall, the magistrate’s authorities temporarily occupied the building. Additionally, the Graz city archives, previously housed in the town hall, were stored in the basement of the building during this time.The documents were reportedly kept there until approximately 1820 when they were completely destroyed by moisture. As a result, the entire archive was ultimately disposed of in the Mur. Since 1827, the palace has been used as a barracks. Over time, it has been referred to as the “orphanage barracks,” “town hall barracks,” and eventually the “dyer’s barracks.”The latter refers to the location that was derived from the Färbergasse, which is situated to the north-east.It is unclear whether this name originated from textile dyers who potentially resided in this area, although this has not been confirmed, or for other reasons, such as being named after a Graz bourgeois family with the same name.

In 1862, the municipal council established a commission to develop future city policy goals. This commission acknowledged the importance of acquiring the dyer’s barracks as a long-term objective. They understood that while it may not be immediately achievable, it should be initiated and consistently prioritized.The building did not belong to the city; instead, it was associated with the military era.In 1874, an application was made to the municipal council to petition the Imperial and Royal War Ministry, but it had no effect.In 1902, the ministry finally issued an order for the demolition of the severely deteriorated palace.Two impressive sandstone figures, Samson and Hercules, which originally stood in the vestibule of the building, have been preserved and are now prominently displayed on the castle bastion overlooking Graz city park.The city acquired the area for 63,000 crowns after the demolition of the dyer’s barracks.A decision was made to relocate the food market that used to be held in the area of the Stainzer Hof, which was demolished in 1969 and is now the main building of the Steiermärkische Sparkasse, to the newly constructed square. The idea of constructing a market hall was also taken into consideration, but it was ultimately rejected due to the limited space available.

The demolition of the dyer’s barracks resulted in the formation of an L-shaped square.The Prokopigasse in the west and the Färbergasse in the north, which are named after each other, extend along the square where the barracks were situated. These streets still exist today, but they are visually distinguished by the different types of paving used.The square is located to the south and east of the rear of the hook-shaped Palais Inzaghi.The buildings in the surrounding area were not constructed in an open square, but rather in the narrow streets mentioned. As a result, they lack the representative facades that would typically be expected.The modern exception refers to a commercial building known as “M1” that is located next to the Palais Inzaghi. This building was constructed by the entrepreneur Helmut Marko in 1989/90.After a brief pause, the food market resumed on the square in 1949. It was later joined by an arts and crafts market, which continues to be held during the Advent season to this day.The permanent wooden market huts were demolished in 1989, and the square was redesigned in 1993 by the Graz architect couple Jörg and Ingrid Mayr.The area has gained the reputation of being Graz’s “Bermuda Triangle” due to its abundance of bars and restaurants. It is a vibrant part of the old town known for its culinary delights and lively nightlife.

• Färbergasse 12 – The Palais Inzaghi is a detached, L-shaped building that stands between the dyer’s square and the flour square. It can be traced back to the 16th century. Johann Georg Stengg designed the baroque-style main facade, which faces the Mehlplatz. The south facade of Färberplatz still retains numerous Renaissance elements, such as a bay window, which were further enhanced during the Baroque period.
• Dyer’s place 1 – This contemporary building is located to the west of the Palais Inzaghi. The office building was constructed in 1989/90 by entrepreneur Helmut Marko, following a design by Richard Ellmer.
• Prokopigasse 2 – A three-storey corner house with a mansard roof, crested gable, and bay window was constructed towards the end of the 16th century. During the early 18th century, the facade exhibited a baroque style. The building underwent significant renovations from 1838 to 1841, including a redesign of the facade. During the renovation in 1994, various Renaissance elements such as window reveals were uncovered once more. The construction may have originated from a granary belonging to the Archdiocese of Salzburg.
• Färbergasse 11 – The long side of Färberplatz is dominated by this spacious, listed building. The building features two inner courtyards and dates back to 1602 when three houses were combined by Archduke Ferdinand to establish a Jesuit college for underprivileged secular students. The complex was rebuilt in 1775 after the dissolution of the Jesuit order, and it was transformed into the “kk Haupt- und Normalschule”. The building was closed in 1857 because it was in a state of disrepair. However, it underwent renovations and was reopened in 1870 as a “state citizen school.” A third floor was added in 1875. The façade structure we see today was constructed in 1966.