Graz

Graz is a big city in Austria.

It sits by the Mur river. The city is in a green area with many trees.

It is near many tall mountains and hills.

Many students live in Graz. They go to schools to learn. This makes the city a busy place.

The old part of the city is very pretty. It has many old buildings. One famous spot is the Schlossberg hill. It has a special clock tower. The tower is a symbol for the city. Graz is a wonderful place to see.

Graz is a large city in Austria.

It sits in the state of Styria. The city is on both sides of the Mur river. It is near the Alps, a large mountain range.

The city sits in a basin. This means hills and mountains are all around it.

Graz is a place for learning. It has four universities and four colleges. More than 63,000 students live and study there.

The city is also known for art and design. It has a famous museum called the Kunsthaus Graz.

The old center of the city is very special. It is one of the best-kept old centers in Europe. A big hill called the Schlossberg sits in the city. It has a famous clock tower. This tower is a symbol for Graz. The city also has the Eggenberg Palace.

This palace is on the western edge of the city. Graz is a bright and busy place to visit.

Graz is the capital of the Austrian state of Styria. It is the second-largest city in Austria, following Vienna.

The city sits in a basin with mountains and hills nearby. To the north, east, and west, the land rises up. The river Mur flows through the city on both sides.

Graz is a very green place because it is near the Alps. It is a lively city with many people living there. As of early 2025, the population was 306,068 people.

The weather in Graz is quite pleasant for its location. It sits southeast of the Alps, which helps block cold winds. This makes the city warmer than you might expect. It gets more sunshine each year than Vienna or Salzburg. The city also has less wind and rain than those places. Because it is in a basin, the warm air stays near the ground. This creates a nice climate for plants that usually grow further south.

Graz has a very long and busy history. The name likely comes from a word meaning "small castle."

Early settlers known as Alpine Slavs may have built a small castle there. Later, Bavarian settlers arrived and founded the city we know today. In the 14th century, the city became a home for the Habsburg family. They ruled from the Schlossberg castle. The city was also a strong military spot to defend against invaders.

Today, Graz is a famous center for learning and art. It has four universities and four colleges for students. More than 63,000 students live and study in the city.

The historic center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This means it is a very important place to protect. You can also visit the Eggenberg Palace on the western edge.

The city is even known as a "Design City" by UNESCO.

Many famous people have spent time in Graz. The astronomer Johannes Kepler lived there for a short time.

Even the scientist Nikola Tesla studied there in 1875. The city is also known for its delicious food. In 2008, it was named a City of Culinary Delights. You can see the mix of old and new in the streets.

Modern buildings like the Kunsthaus sit near very old landmarks. It is a place where history and new ideas meet.

Graz is the capital city of the Austrian state of Styria. It holds the title of the second-largest city in Austria, surpassed only by Vienna.

Geographically, the city is situated in the Graz Basin. This basin is surrounded by various mountains and hills to the north, east, and west. The river Mur flows through the city, dividing it into two sides. To the south, the city is more open, which influences its local weather patterns. The nearest large urban center is Maribor, located in Slovenia to the south.

The climate of Graz is classified as oceanic, though it borders on a humid continental climate. This classification is due to the 0 °C isotherm, which is a line on a map showing where temperatures average freezing. Because Graz sits southeast of the Alps, the mountains act as a shield. They block the prevailing westerly winds that usually bring weather fronts from the North Atlantic. This protection allows Mediterranean influences to reach the city. Consequently, Graz receives more annual sunshine than Vienna or Salzburg. It also experiences less wind and rain than those cities. The basin shape helps trap warmer air near the ground. This environment allows plants that usually grow further south to thrive here.

The name "Graz" likely comes from the Slavic word for "small castle."

Archaeological evidence suggests Alpine Slavic people built a small castle in this region. These people settled there after the Romans and Celts were driven out. Later, Bavarian settlers arrived and founded the city. To distinguish themselves, they originally called their settlement "Bayrischgraz," or Bavarian Graz. This was to separate it from the older "Windischgraz," or Slovenian Graz. Eventually, the name Graz was used to refer to the German settlement. The first official written record of the name appears in the year 1128.

History shows that Graz was a vital strategic and administrative center. During the Late Middle Ages, it became a major commercial hub. From the 14th century, it served as the residence for the Inner Austrian branch of the Habsburg dynasty. The royal family lived in the Schlossberg castle to rule over Styria, Carinthia, and parts of modern-day Slovenia and Italy.

The city also served as a military stronghold against the Ottoman Empire. The fortifications on the Schlossberg were so strong they never fell to the Ottoman Turks. In the 19th century, the city faced the Napoleonic wars. In 1809, a small force of 900 men defended the Schlossberg against 3,000 French soldiers. After the war, the Peace of Schönbrunn required the demolition of many fortifications. However, citizens paid a ransom to save the Uhrturm and the Glockenturm.

Today, Graz is a major center for higher education and culture. The city hosts four universities and four colleges. This academic environment supports more than 63,000 students.

The University of Graz is the oldest, founded by Archduke Karl II in 1585. The city's historic center, or Altstadt, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This designation was granted in 1999 to protect its well-preserved architecture. In 2010, the protection was expanded to include Eggenberg Palace on the western edge.

Graz also holds titles such as a UNESCO "Design City" and a "City of Culinary Delights."

Many influential figures have lived or studied in Graz. The famous astronomer Johannes Kepler lived there starting in 1594. The inventor Nikola Tesla studied electrical engineering at the local Polytechnic in 1875. The physicist Ludwig Boltzmann taught mathematical physics there from 1869 to 1890. Other notable people include Nobel laureate Otto Loewi and the writer Ivo Andrić. Even the scientist Erwin Schrödinger served as the chancellor of the University of Graz in 1936. These connections show how the city has contributed to global science and literature.

The modern city is a mix of historical depth and contemporary design. You can see this in the contrast between old buildings and new landmarks. The Kunsthaus Graz is a famous example of modern architecture.

It sits near the river Mur and provides a striking visual contrast to the historic skyline. The city is also divided into 17 municipal districts.

This organized structure helps manage a population of 306,068 residents. Graz continues to be a vital part of the Austrian landscape, blending its medieval roots with a modern, academic identity.