Karmeliterplatz

Karmeliterplatz is a plaza in Graz’s first district, Inner City, named after a former Carmelite convent.

Between Sporgasse, Hettigasse, and Paulustorgasse is the plaza.The peacock garden is located to the east.Archduke Karl II designed Karmeliterplatz in 1578 as the focal point of a municipal development.It is a big rectangular compound with a 17th century closed construction on the north and south sides.Until Emperor Ferdinand II founded the Carmelite convent in 1629, Karmeliterplatz was known as Platz gegen die Burg.It was called Rudolf-Erlbacher-Platz from 1938 until 1945.

The Trinity Column is located on the square’s outskirts, near to the almost square fountain.This used to be on the major plaza at the entrance of Sackstraße, but it had to be relocated owing to the growth of the transportation network.In addition to the Karmeliterplatz and the Trinity Column, the old Palais Galler, which now houses the headquarters of the Styrian People’s Party, is worth noticing.The Pfauengarten, which is located opposite to Karmeliterplatz, is presently used as an event venue with an underground parking garage.The region is constrained by the ruins of the city wall.In Sauraugasse, a corner tower may be seen at the entrance to the subterranean parking park.

• Styrian Provincial Archives –The old Carmelite convent is currently home to the Styrian Provincial Archive. Domenico Torres designed the monastery for Archduke Ferdinand and it was completed between 1628 and 1631. During the Josephine reforms, the monastery was profaned, and the Church of St. Joseph’s tower was dismantled. Following the closure of the monastery, the structure was utilized as a garrison hospital until 1918, then as a state gendarmerie headquarters, and ultimately as a state archive.
  
• Party headquarters of the Styrian People’s Party –The Styrian People’s Party’s offices are located on the south side of Karmeliterplatz in the old Palais Galler. The Counts Galler commissioned the mansion in 1690. The courtyard has arcades, and the entryway to the staircase has a stucco roof. Until the 18th century, the Palais Galler’s history remained unknown. Count Wilhelm von Galler did not appear as the owner until 1728. The city palace was renamed “Breunerisches Haus” in 1748. Countess Elisabeth von Galler held it from 1785 until 1803. Following then, the owners changed often. The Palais was the seat of the NSDAP Gauleitung from 1938 to 1945.
  
• Trinity Column –Originally, the Trinity Column on Karmeliterplatz stood at the intersection of the main plaza and Sackstrasse.Due to dilapidation and the traffic situation, the column, which was presented by Emperor Leopold I after the epidemic ended in 1680, had to be moved from its previous place and constructed on Karmeliterplatz.Andreas Marx sculpted the Holy Trinity group in bronze.Medardus Reig’s spiral pillar supports her.The two sandstone statues at the base depict Saints Rochus and Sebastian.Both were most likely created by the sculptor Johann Jacob Schoy.