!!!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).

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''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.

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''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.

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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).

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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.

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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.

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''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. -

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Pilgrimage church Mariatrost, built 1714-1724 by A. and J. G. 
Stengg; frescoes after 1737, Late Baroque interior.

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''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).

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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.

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''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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