Jakominiplatz

The Jakominiplatz (colloquially known as “Jako” for short) is one of the major squares in Graz, the city of Styria.It is situated to the south of the city’s first district, the Inner City.The Jakominiplatz and Europaplatz, located near the main train station in Graz’s west end, are the two key transportation hubs for the Graz Linien and the city of Graz.There are stations and transfer sites for all tram routes and 10 bus lines here.There are various regional bus lines as well as night bus routes (Grazer Nightline).

Kaspar Andreas Ritter von Jacomini-Holzapfel-Waasen (1726-1805) was the postmaster of Cilli in Lower Styria (now Celje in Slovenia) for 20 years and the owner of substantial holdings in front of the southern Graz Bastion.This gave rise to Jakominiplatz and the current Jakomini district to the south.

The first horse-drawn tram in Graz operated from the main station to Jakominiplatz (commonly known as Jako or Jackie for short) in 1878.The plaza became the city’s most significant local transit center once the lines to Fröhlichgasse and Schillerplatz were built in 1880 and 1895, respectively.

In 1964, an urban planning competition for Jakominiplatz was organized to give options for the implementation of a general traffic plan developed in Graz after 1945. For the redevelopment of the plaza, several great high-rise building designs and the subterranean laying of the tram were envisaged.

From 1995 to 1996, the plaza was fully renovated and remodelled, resulting in its current form and function as a pedestrian zone, the majority of which is restricted to public transportation.

The Austrian police have been videotaping Jakominiplatz for security reasons since September 2005.

Herrengasse connects Jakominiplatz to Graz’s main plaza.From the plaza, the streets Joanneumring and Gleisdorfergasse run west, Opernring and Gleisdorfergasse run east, Reitschulgasse runs southeast to Dietrichsteinplatz, Klosterwiesgasse, Jakoministraße, and Schönaugasse go south, and Radetzkystraße runs west.

Jakominiplatz is Graz’s second largest plaza with transfer options, behind the main train station.The lines are as follows:

• tram lines 1, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 as well as line 23 in the evening and at weekends (Jakominiplatz to Krenngasse)
• the bus lines 30, 31, 31E, 32, 33, 34, 34E, 35, 39, 40, 60 and 67E
• many regional bus lines
• the night bus lines N1 to N8

Shops, banks, and restaurants surround Jakominiplatz.The Dorotheum is also nearby.Market booths may be found on the northern side of the area.