Graz Clock Tower (Uhrturm)

The Graz Clock Tower stands at a height of 28 meters. The landmark of Graz is located on the Schloßberg and features dials that are over 5 meters in diameter, with hands that are gold-plated.

Located near the exit of the rose garden, at the base of the clock tower, there is a remarkable viewpoint that offers a breathtaking view of Graz. Adjacent to this area, there is a wall adorned with a small memorial plaque dedicated to Gerold Walzel (1901-1988), a renowned author from Villach, Austria. Gerold Walzel is best known for composing the Graz student song, which begins with the lyrics “Dreaming saw down from the Schloßberg, …”. This plaque holds significant historical value and is listed as a protected monument.

Beneath the clock tower, a Stone Dog stands guard on a ledge of the wall. Legend has it that in 1481, a barking dog came to the rescue of Kunigunde, the daughter of Emperor Frederick III. She was about to be kidnapped by mercenaries serving the Hungarian king Matthias Corvinus. It is said that King Matthias had previously proposed to marry the princess, but his request had been rejected. As a gesture of gratitude, Emperor Frederick chose to immortalize the dog by commissioning a statue in its honor.

History

The Graz Clock Tower stands at a height of 28 meters. The landmark of Graz is located on the Schloßberg and features dials that are over 5 meters in diameter, with hands that are gold-plated.

21st century

In 2003, during Graz’s tenure as the “European Capital of Culture,” a “shadow” was added to the clock tower. The artist Markus Wilfling created an accurate replica of the black twin tower using steel.The “Clock Tower Shadow,” which Wilfling intended to use as a reminder of Graz’s Nazi history, was sold to the Shoppingcity Seiersberg after the conclusion of the Capital of Culture year in 2003. The shopping center, located on the outskirts of Graz, has since utilized the sculpture as an attraction. Following the completion of the purchase, there was a significant outcry in the media, urging for the artefact to be permanently kept next to the Graz clock tower. However, the city of Graz declined both the repurchase and the local retention of the clock tower shadow due to anticipated maintenance expenses and concerns about liability for any potential damages.

The renovation of the clock tower commenced in late September 2008. The masonry had been severely affected by the high levels of soil moisture. The first phase of renovation, which involved renovating the wooden battlement, was successfully completed in the mid-500s. The total cost of this renovation amounted to approximately 000,2009 euros.The advertising space, which covered an area of 900 m², raised approximately 115,000 euros.Two additional phases were planned to be completed by 2011. The clock tower was last covered in November 2011 for the purpose of renovating the dials and clock hands.

How do you get to the Graz Clock Tower?

There are four different routes to reach the Schlossberg, which is home to the iconic clock tower in Graz.

You can reach the Schlossberg by foot using the 260 steps of the Felsensteig from Schlossbergplatz.
Alternatively, you can take paths from Karmeliterplatz or Wickenburggasse.
Another option is to use the Schlossbergbahn, which has a valley station located at Kaiser-Franz-Josef-Kai 38. The journey on the Schlossbergbahn takes less than 2 minutes.
If you prefer, you can also take the Schlossberg lift, which will get you to the Schlossberg in about 1 minute. The entrance to the lift is directly on Schlossbergplatz.