!!!Graz
Graz, Styria, district of Graz, city with own statute, alt.
353 m, pop. 237,810 (1981: pop. 243,166), area
127.52 km%%sup 2/%, capital of the province of Styria, second
largest city in Austria, situated on the eastern margins of the Alps,
on both sides of the River Mur/Mura, downstream from its emergence
from the Steirisches Randgebirge (Styrian fringe mountains) and the
Graz Hill-Country, in the Graz Basin; administrative, industrial,
commercial centre, traffic and transport junction. - Seat of the
provincial government and Landtag, all district and provincial
authorities (provincial education authorities, provincial archives,
provincial library, provincial hunting authorities, provincial welfare
and disability offices, provincial forestry commission, provincial
police headquarters, etc.), Graz-Umgebung District Commission, Federal
Monuments Office, provincial high court and court of appeal,
provincial court prison, Federal Office of Security, Provincial Office
of Finance, job center, regional office of Post- und Telekom Austria
AG, Federal Armed Forces (Belgier, Gablenz, Hummel, Kirchner barracks,
domestic office, military training and performance centre, Nittner
military airfield at Thalerhof, ammunition dump), customs office,
professional associations and chambers, produce exchange, branch
office of the Austrian National Bank. Diocesan town (diocese
Graz-Seckau), Superintendency of the Lutheran Church, Jewish
Community, Islamic centre. Karl Franz University, University of
Technology, University of Music and Performing Arts, Fachhochschule, 3
Ludwig Boltzmann Institutes, research centre for eco-system and
environmental studies (Austrian Academy of Sciences). Various health
insurance offices, several newspapers, numerous advice centres,
6 hospitals, 9 sanatoria, homes for young people, 2
children´s villages; numerous honorary consulates; opera and
theatre, concert halls, open-air theatre, provincial broadcasting
centre of the ORF (Austrian broadcasting corporation); theatres Grazer
Komoedie Comedy, Volkstheater; museums: Joanneum Styrian Provincial
Museum (New and Old Gallery, Eggenberg Palace, Museum of Arts and
Crafts, Styrian Folklore Museum, Provincial Armoury), Museum of the
Diocese, Town Museum, Austrian Aviation Museum (at the airport),
Robert Stolz Museum, Castle Hill Museum, town archives, Forum
Stadtpark (of the "Kuenstlervereinigung"), Kuenstlerhaus; Provincial
Library and 3 other large libraries, Steinberg Observatory, convention
hall and convention centre, cultural centre, casino, "steirischer
herbst" (avant-garde festival of art, music and literature),
"styriarte" (classical music festival). Wienzoedl run-of-river power
station (built in 1982, 68,500 MWh), district-heating power
station (built in 1963), trade fairground of ca.
182,000 m%%sup 2/% (Graz spring and autumn trade fairs,
international trade fair "Technova International"), 3 golf courts,
flying school, A. Schwarzenegger stadium with ice rink at Liebenau.
Schools: Academic Gymnasium School, 8 Gymnasium and
Bundesrealgymnasium secondary schools as well as 2
Bundesoberstufenrealgymnasium schools, Gymnasium and
Bundesrealgymnasium evening school, federal secondary boarding school,
episcopal Gymnasium school, Gymnasium school of the Sacre Cœur
community, girls´ Gymnasium and Oberstufenrealgymnasium school
of the Ursulines, Oberstufenrealgymnasium and domestic science school
of the School Sisters, private school of the Modellschule Graz
society, 10 vocational schools, 2 commercial academies, Hoehere
Bundeslehranstalt fuer wirtschaftliche Berufe (commercial school),
Hoehere Technische Lehranstalt and Hoehere Technische
Bundeslehranstalt Graz-Goestling schools of technology and
engineering, federal school of fashion and dressmaking, school of
chemical engineering, private vocational school of business, social
academy, 3 conservatories, school of social welfare professions,
Caritas school of social workers, domestic science school for the
auditively challenged, vocational school for the visually challenged,
master-workmen´s school of the Institute of Economic Development
(WIFI), school of nursing, academy and institute for vocational-school
teacher training, federal institute of kindergarten teacher training,
pedagogical academy, federal institute of physical education, training
institute for religious-instruction teachers, pedagogical academy and
religious-instruction training institute of the Graz-Seckau diocese,
vocational training institutes, 2 adult education centres.
Hauptbahnhof, Ostbahnhof, Graz-Koeflach railway stations, tram,
Castle-Hill cable railway; Graz-Thalerhof Airport (in the municipality
of Feldkirchen).
\\
''Economy:'' Graz is the economic centre of Styria and main provider
of employment in the region. 137,022 people employed (1991), 54,600
commuters (1989), large service sector (ca 73.4% of the people
employed, especially in public service, trade, finance and insurance;
1980-1989 increase of 11.1 %). Manufacturing industries:
(1980-1989 decline of 12.1%): construction of vehicles ( Steyr Daimler
Puch AG, Eurostar Automobilwerk) and vehicle parts ( SGP
Verkehrstechnik GmbH), machine construction and structural steel
engineering, machine and apparatus construction, building industry,
food, beverage and tobacco industry (breweries, production of meats,
bread and confectionery, coffee roasting), chemical industry
(especially paints and lacquers) and pharmaceutical industry,
electronics and electrical engineering industry, paper-processing
industry, printing works; high density of small and middle-sized
enterprises, tourism (572,504 overnight stays), central offices of
province-owned enterprises: Graz-Koeflacher Eisenbahn, Styria
(railways and mining), Steiermaerkische Elektrizitaets AG
(electricity) ( STEG), Steirische Wasserkraft- und Elektrizitaets AG,
water power and electricity) STEWEAG.
\\
''History:'' The urban landscape is dominated by the River Mur, the
Castle Hill and the surrounding mountains. Splendid examples of
buildings ranging from Gothic to modern are found. Archaeological
finds dating back to the Neolithic Period have been made within the
city boundaries; stone monuments and archaeological finds bear witness
to the presence of the Romans; the influence of the Alpine Slavs
(Karantaner) in the Early Middle Ages is mainly evident in place,
river, field and mountain names as well as in the name of the city
itself ("gradec", Slavic for "fortified town", "castle") and
names of town quarters such as Andritz, Goesting and Strassgang.
\\
Up to the 19%%sup th/% century, the place name Graz was also used in
the variant spelling Graetz (also called Bairisch (Bavarian) -Graetz
in the Middle Ages, in order to distinguish it from Windisch (Slavic)
-Graz (southern Styria). Bavarian settlement after the middle of the
10%%sup th/% century is traceable in names like Baierdorf,
Wetzelsdorf, Algersdorf, Guntarn. Remnants of medieval settlement can
be seen on the corner of Sporgasse- Hofgasse streets and on the
Sackstrasse street between River Mur and the Castle Hill, on which a
castle was erected (perhaps in the 2%%sup nd/% half of the
10%%sup th/% century). The settlement was first mentioned in 1128,
around 1130 the castle on Castle Hill was the residence of the
sovereign of the historical district of Traungau ( Otakare). Around
1147 a street market was established on what is now Sackstrasse
street. The oldest documented house in Graz is the "Reinerhof" (1147).
Around 1164 a second market was established (on today´s
Hauptplatz, main square) under Margrave Otakar III. In 1172 Graz
was mentioned as market town, in 1189 as "civitas", in 1268 as
"oppidum". From 1379 ( Neuberger Teilungsvertrag), Graz was the
residence of the Leopoldian line of the Habsburgs in the Inner
Austrian Lands. Graz flourished under Emperor Friedrich III, who
erected the castle in its present form as town residence in 1438
(Turkish invasions in 1480 und 1532). After the partition of the lands
inherited from Emperor Ferdinand I in 1564, Graz became once
again the residential town of the Inner Austrian Lands under the
archdukes Karl II (1564-1590) and Ferdinand II, who, after
being elected Emperor, moved his residence to Vienna in 1619. However,
Graz remained capital of the Inner Austrian Lands (including Styria,
Carinthia and Carniola, Gorizia, Trieste, Central Istria).
\\
The town expanded in the Late Middle Ages ("Kaelbernes Viertel" and
Burgviertel quarters) and after 1500 (Karmeliterplatz square) and came
to include the old, unfortified peripheral towns of Geidorf, Gries and
Lend. Because of the continuous threat of a Turkish invasion,
ever-present after 1544, the town fortifications and the Castle were
modernised by the architect Domenico dell´Allio. In order to
counterbalance the collegiate school of the Protestant estates (where
the mathematician and astronomer J. Kepler taught), the Jesuit
University was founded in 1585. The Counter-Reformation and the end of
the Turkish threat after 1664 paved the way for the Baroque. By 1811,
most of the fortifications had been abandoned or dismantled, which
allowed the town to spread, particularly to the south and east. In
1770, the town houses were given numbers, in 1786 the bishop´s
residence was transferred from Seckau to Graz. The Jesuit and previous
parish church of Sankt Aegidius was made a Cathedral. In 1869/1672 the
Stadtpark (central park) was laid out, in 1811, at the suggestion of
Archduke Johann, the Estates founded the Joanneum as a school of
technology and museum. The development of Graz into a major city
started in 1840, particularly after 1844, when it was connected to the
Suedbahn, the railway which links Vienna to the south-east of Europe;
Graz came to be known as the "retirement home" of Austria under the
monarchy. Greater Graz was born in 1938, when 10 new town districts
were incorporated into the city. Liebenau, St. Peter, Waltendorf,
Ries, Maria Trost, Andritz, Goesting, Eggenberg, Wetzelsdorf and
Strassgang were added to the districts of Innere Stadt (city centre),
St. Leonhard, Geidorf, Lend, Gries and Jakomini. In 1988 Puntigam
was also made part of Graz. Today Graz is made up of 17 town
districts. The town area had increased from 21.6 km%%sup 2/% to 127.29
km%%sup 2/% by 1938. During World War II, particularly in 1944/45,
Graz was heavily damaged (16% of all buildings were totally or partly
destroyed) and 1,788 inhabitants were killed.
\\
In the 1950s and especially in the 1960s Graz experienced another
expansion. In 1974 a law on the preservation of the historical city
centre was passed, which stimulated the renewal and revitalisation of
the oldest parts of town. The urban development programmes of 1980 and
1990 in particular have strengthened Graz´s role as provincial
capital and provided for economic, social and environmental measures
as well as traffic and transport strategies. The organisation in
centres (city, district and town quarter centres) has largely
determined the pattern in which the town has developed. The political
changes that have taken place in east and south-east Europe since the
end of the 1980s have made Graz increasingly a "gateway to the
south-east". 1999 the historic city center of Graz was termed as
unique cultural heritage and incorporated into UNESCO´s World
Heritage List in the category cultural property.
\\
''Religious buildings:'' St. Aegidius Cathedral (first documented
in 1174), 1438-1462 reconstruction as parish church, from 1564 church
of the Habsburg Residence, 1577-1773 Jesuit church, since 1786
Cathedral of the diocese of Graz-Seckau; western porch with coat of
arms and series of vowels AEIOU ("Austriae Est Imperare Orbi Universo"
or "Austria Erit In Orbe Ultima") of Emperor Friedrich III
(1456); on the south façade Gothic fresco ("Landplagenbild") by
Thomas von Villach (1485), depicting the dangers to the Austrian
population in the 15%%sup th/% century: the plague, locusts and the
Turks; high altar (1730-1733) with sculptures by J. J. Schoy,
altarpiece by F. I. Flurer and statues by F. Robba of Venice;
numerous tombstones and sepulchral monuments from various periods
since the Gothic, among them the remarkable relief portrait of
J. C. v. Cobenzl (1741) by GRAZ R. Donner; 2
reliquaries, originally bridal chests of Paola Gonzaga (before 1477 in
Mantova). Next to the Cathedral, the Mausoleum of Emperor
Ferdinand II is an important example of Mannerism, built
1614-1637 by G.P. de Pomis and P. Valnegro, interior after 1687, high
altar around 1695 by J. B. Fischer von Erlach, frescoes
"Apotheosis of the Imperial House" (1688/89), sarcophag of Archduke
Karl II (buried in Seckau) and Maria of Bavaria by S. Carlone in
the crypt (around 1608); above it, burial site of the bishops.
Leechkirche, oldest church in the historical city (underneath burial
ground of the Urnfield Culture, 9%%sup th/% /8%%sup th/% centuries
B.C.), erected in 1202 as St. Kunigund Chapel (circular building),
given as a present to the Knights of the Teutonic Order in 1233;
rebuilt after its destruction during the Hungarian invasion around
1255-1293, after 1500 alteration of the west front with its two
towers; the sculpture "Enthroned Madonna with the Christ Child" in the
west porch (around 1283-1293) is one the major works of the late
"Zackenstil" (toothed ornaments as a typical feature) in Austria;
figurative Gothic stained-glass windows (around 1333 and around 1500).
Late Gothic city parish church Heiliges Blut (around 1439/1440 and
after 1480) with Baroque façade (1742) and Baroque gable tower
(1781) by J.G. Stengg; "The Assumption of the Virgin Mary", painting
by J. Tintoretto; modern figurative glass paintings (1950-1953) by A.
Birkle; presbytery with remains of the cloister in late Gothic style
of the former Dominican monastery. Gothic Franciscan Church
(1515-1519) and Franciscan Monastery; cloister with outstanding
sepulchral monuments; Gothic St. Jakob Chapel (1320-1330). Early
Baroque Mariahilf Church (in the crypt burial place of the Eggenberg
ducal family) by G. P. de Pomis (1607-1636, façade by J.
Hueber 1742-1744) with Minorite monastery; altarpiece "Mariahilf" by
G. P. de Pomis; in the monastery Museum of the Diocese and summer
refectory ("Minoritensaal") by J. Carlone (1691 onwards), magnificent
interior, including large-scale painting "Christ´s Feeding of
the Multitude" by J. B. Raunacher (1732). - Baroque
Hospitaller´s Church and Monastery (1615, rebuilt 1735,
consecrated in 1769) by J. G. Stengg, high altar by J.
Schokotnigg (1763), monastery and hospital enlarged in the
19%%sup th/% and 20%%sup th/% centuries. Gothic Heiliger Geist
Buergerspitalkirche (hospital church) 1461-1463, one of the most
impressive sacred buildings in Graz. Stiegenkirche ("church of
stairs", first documented in 1343, former monastery church of the
Augustinian Hermits), rebuilt 1613-1628 with an original flight of
stairs which serves as entry to the church; monastery closed in 1783,
church partly renovated in 1984. - St. Antonius Church (1600-1602)
with former Capuchin monastery (now Styrian folklore museum founded by
V. Geramb). Herz-Jesu Church, most monumental building of the Gothic
Revival in Styria, built 1881-1891 by G. Hauberisser the Younger;
height of the tower 102 m. Calvary and Calvary Church
(1654-1723), large complex with chapels at the stations of the cross
and Golgotha Group, church built 1668-1723, "Heilige Stiege"
stairway. St. Martin Castle church at Kehlberg (built in 1642 by
the Admont Benedictine); High altar (around 1740 by J. T.
Stammel) with depictions of St. Martin, the Downfall of Saul,
Miracle Healing by St. Eligius and life-size representations of
horses, which constitute the major work of religious Baroque sculpture
in Styria. Maria Elend zu Strassgang parish church with stones dating
back to Roman times, Gothic Madonna of the Protective Cloak (around
1519) and remarkable tombstones from the Gothic and Renaissance
periods. -
\\
Pilgrimage church Mariatrost, built 1714-1724 by A. and J. G.
Stengg; frescoes after 1737, Late Baroque interior.
\\
''Secular buildings:'' Landhaus (from 1494, "Knight's hall"
1527-1531), built by D. dell´Allio 1557-1565 as
"Staendehaus" (house of the Estates), the main work of
Renaissance architecture in Styria; beautiful courtyard with arcades;
stairway and chapel (1630-1631); meeting hall of the Landtag
("Landstube", 1741). - Landeszeughaus (Armoury, 1642-1644), with
approx. 29,000 weapons and armours the largest historical arsenal in
the world; portal with figurative ornaments (1644). Castle (built
1438-1453 by Emperor Friedrich III); additional building erected
by Maximilian I (1494-1500) with Gothic double spiral stone
staircase; enlarged in the 16%%sup th/% century, some parts
demolished in1853/1854, new buildings added in 1950-1952; in the
2%%sup nd/% castle yard, Styrian gallery of honour with modern busts
of famous artists and scholars. Former Jesuit College (built
1572-1597, now seminary for Roman-Catholic priests), grand stairway
decorated with emblems. Old University (1607-1609) with library hall
(former university aula, rebuilt 1776-1778). - Palaces of noble
families: Saurau-Goëss (1564-1566), Herberstein (17%%sup th/%
/18%%sup th/% centuries, now New Gallery museum), Attems (1702-1709,
now seat of the provincial government), Wildenstein (18%%sup th/%
century), Koenigsacker (17%%sup th/% century), Meran (1841-1843), des
Enffans d´Avernas (17%%sup th/% century). - House of the
Knights of the Teutonic Order (1690/1691) with arcaded courtyard
(around 1520), historical town hall (1887-1893), provincial hospital
(1904-1974), provincial museum Joanneum (1665-1674, Old Gallery
1890-1894), opera (1898/1899, further additions in 1985),
Schauspielhaus theatre (built in 1824/1825 by P. Nobile), altered
1960-1964). Castle Hill with clock tower (13%%sup th/% century
fortification, restructured 1559-1569); Liebenau Castle (1853/1854,
now federal boarding school); Eggenberg Castle (1625-55); Goestling
Castle (1724-1728) and castle ruin (from 11%%sup th/% century);
Karlau Palace (1584-1590, now prison).
\\
In the historical city centre and the old suburbs several ensembles of
buildings have been entirely preserved, such as the Hauptplatz,
Franziskanerplatz, Freiheitsplatz (neoclassicism), Suedtiroler Platz,
Minoritenplatz, Mehlplatz, Karmeliterplatz squares, "Kaelbernes
Viertel" (16%%sup th/% century), Sporgasse, Sackstrasse, Murgasse,
Schmiedgasse, Stempfergasse, Buergergasse, Burggasse streets. Numerous
parks and gardens: Castle Hill, Stadtpark (1869-1872 on the Glacis),
Burggarten, Rosarium, Hilmteich and Leechwald, Rosenhain, Augarten,
Volksgarten, botanical garden.
\\
''Monuments:'' Mariensaeule (column dedicated to the Virgin
Mary,1666-1670), Emperor Franz I (1841), L. Count von Welden (who
laid out the Castle Hill gardens, 1859), F. Schiller (1865), W. von
Tegethoff, Archduke-Johann fountain (1878), Emperor Joseph II (1887),
A. Gruen (1887), M. von Franck (1899, who laid out the Stadtpark), C.
Morre (1907), P. Rosegger (1936), W. A. Mozart (1936), State
Treaty memorial (1955), J. Kepler (1963), J. Marx (1967/68), R. Stolz
(1970), F. Nabl (1974).
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''Cemeteries:'' Zentralfriedhof (1888-1892) with crematory,
Steinfeldfriedhof, Leonhardfriedhof and St. Peter-Stadtfriedhof
with numerous graves of well-known personalities.
!Literature
F. Popelka, Geschichte der Stadt Graz, 2 vols.,
1928/1935, 1963; W. Steinboeck (ed.), Festschrift der Stadt Graz, 850
Jahre, 1978; H. Schweigert (ed.), Graz, Dehio-Handbuch - Die
Kunstdenkmaeler Oe., 1979; W. Leitner and P. Cede, Graz, der urbane
Lebensbereich an der Mur, 1987; Oesterreichisches Institut fuer
Raumplanung, Regionalberichte 1991, Steiermark, 1991; M. Steiner, M.
Gruber and W. Schmied, Der Zentralraum Graz und seine Wirtschaft,
1993.
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