Graz

Pictures taken in Graz on our Summer Holiday 2010
Heron Heron couple nesting on top of the electric post. : 2010, Austria, Holiday, Keski-Eurooppa, Unkari, animal, bird, city, eläin, haikara, heron, lintu, loma, nest, pesä Landeszeughaus The Styrian Armoury results from the resulting need to store large quantities of armour and weapons, and was built from 1642 - 1645 by a Tyrolean architect called Antonio Solar. It is the world's largest historic armoury. It holds approximately 32,000 pieces of weaponry, tools, suits of armour for battle and ones for parades. : 2010, Austria, Graz, Holiday, Itävalta, Keski-Eurooppa, Landeszeughaus, armory, building, city, historia, history, kaupunki, loma, museo, museum, rakennus Gemaltes Haus On the façade of the Herzoghof building in the centre of Graz, Greek and Roman Gods engage in a rendez-vous. The building was first painted as early as 1600. The Baroque painter Johann Mayer applied the ‘divine’ frescos in 1742, since which time it has been known as the ‘painted house’. : 2010, Austria, Gemaltes Haus, Graz, Holiday, Itävalta, Keski-Eurooppa, building, city, kaupunki, loma, painted wall, rakennus Bürgerhaus Zum großen Christoph The house on the corner of the main square and Franziskanergasse dates from the 17th century. In the front facade two rectangular bay windows are recessed on corbels. The facade fresco depicting the Saint Christopher is from P. Scholz and is surrounded by a stucco frame. The sandstone relief of St. Mary's miraculous image is from 1975. : 2010, Austria, Graz, Holiday, Itävalta, Keski-Eurooppa, building, city, fresco, fresko, kaupunki, loma, rakennus
Luegg-Haus The core of the building dates from the 15th and 16th centuries and is decorated in the Baroque style. : 2010, Austria, Graz, Holiday, Itävalta, Keski-Eurooppa, Luegg-Haus, building, city, historia, kaupunki, loma, rakennus Rathaus The old Town Hall was razed to the ground in 1803 and then rebuilt between 1805 and 1807 to plans by Christoph Stadler. The new construction cost 150,000 gulden and the town raised this money by means of a special new wine tax. Building work on an extension to the Town Hall started in 1869, and the cornerstone for the new sections was laid in 1887. From the plans of the architects Alexander Wieleman and Theodor Reuter, we can see that new building's ground floor as well as the first floor of the east and north wings incorporated much of the old Classicist building. The large cupola of the Town Hall was also added at this time. The design of the façade on the top two floors was first simplified in 1922. Then the ornate series of statues, designed by the artists Hans Brandstetter, Karl Lacher, Karl Peckary, Emanuel Pendl and Rudolf Vital, was all but removed in 1957. The present whereabouts of these culturally and historically important works of art is sadly unknown. All that remains is two sandstone statues (lansquenets) by Hans Brandstetter (1892) and a sandstone bust by Karl Lacher which can still be found on the west façade over today´s portal. : 2010, Austria, Graz, Holiday, Itävalta, Keski-Eurooppa, Rathaus, building, city, kaupungintalo, kaupunki, loma, rakennus, town hall Erzherzog-Johann-Brunnendenkmal In front of the town hall there is a lovely fountain which dates from 1878. This fountain is dedicated to the Styrian prince Archduke Johann. He lived from 1782 to 1859 and was instrumental in the development of Styria. The prince has four female figures around him. These symbolize the rivers Mur, Enns, Drava and Sann. : 2010, Austria, Graz, Holiday, Itävalta, Keski-Eurooppa, arkkipiispa Johann, art, city, fountain, kaupunki, loma, suihkulähde, taide Decorative sign Another beautiful shop sign : 2010, Austria, Graz, Holiday, Itävalta, Keski-Eurooppa, art, city, kaupunki, kyltti, loma, shop sign
A bit smaller taxi A riksha taxi in Graz. Or something like that anyway. : 2010, Austria, Graz, Holiday, Itävalta, Keski-Eurooppa, city, kaupunki, loma Decorative sign These are common in Central Europe and very nice addition to the street scene. : 2010, Austria, Graz, Holiday, Itävalta, Keski-Eurooppa, city, kaupunki, kyltti, loma, shop sign Decorative sign These are common in Central Europe and very nice addition to the street scene. : 2010, Austria, Graz, Holiday, Itävalta, Keski-Eurooppa, city, kaupunki, kyltti, loma, shop sign Decorative sign These are common in Central Europe and very nice addition to the street scene. : 2010, Austria, Graz, Holiday, Itävalta, Keski-Eurooppa, city, kaupunki, kyltti, loma, shop sign
Grazer Dom Graz Cathedral, also called St. Giles' Cathedral, is the cathedral church in the Austrian city of Graz, dedicated to Saint Giles. It is the seat of the bishop of the Steiermark diocese, called the Diocese of Graz-Seckau. The church was built in 1438-62 by Friederick III in the Gothic architecture. Nearby is Mausoleum of Emperor Ferdinand II. : 2010, Austria, Graz, Holiday, Itävalta, Keski-Eurooppa, building, cathedral, city, katedraali, kaupunki, loma, rakennus, religion, uskonto War memorial First World War memorial on the wall of Graz Cathedral : 2010, Austria, Graz, Holiday, Itävalta, Keski-Eurooppa, cathedral, city, first world war, katedraali, kaupunki, loma, war memorial Katharinenkirche Katharinenkirche (St. Catherine's Church), together with the Mausoleum, form a beautiful architectural ensemble. The church was designed by architect Giovanni Pietro de Pomis in 1614. The Katharinenkirche building is one of the most important mannerist buildings in Austria. : 2010, Austria, Graz, Holiday, Itävalta, Keski-Eurooppa, city, kaupunki, loma Mariensäule The Marian Column (also called Turks column) forms an ensemble with the fountain at the Iron Gate. The votive column was completed in 1670. The column is designed by Domenico Sciassia, the pillar is made by Adam Roßtauscher. Arnold Schandernell from Augsburg was responsible for the work on the copper statue. The column is erected to celebrate the victory of the battle of Saint Gotthard by Count Raimondo Montecuccoli against the Turks. : 2010, Austria, Graz, Holiday, Itävalta, Keski-Eurooppa, Mariensäule, city, kaupunki, loma, patsas, sota, statue
Dreifaltigkeitskirche Dreifaltigkeitskirche (Holy Trinity Church) is a Roman Catholic church, which is located between Schlossbergplatz and Murkai in Sackstrasse. The church was built in the Italian Baroque style between 1694 and 1704 by Bartholomäus Ebener. Adjoining the church are a monastery and school. : 2010, Austria, Dreifaltigkeitskirche, Graz, Holiday, Itävalta, Keski-Eurooppa, building, church, city, kaupunki, kirkko, loma, rakennus Admonterhof The first mention of the building is dated 1317. Abt. Albrecht II had the Admonterhof 1381 enlarged during the renovation. The court became part of city's fortifications, designed by by the military architect Domenico dell'Allio. : 2010, Admonterhof, Austria, Graz, Holiday, Itävalta, Keski-Eurooppa, building, city, kaupunki, loma, rakennus Murinsel The Murinsel is actually not an island at all, but an artificial floating platform in the middle of the Mur river. This landmark of Graz was designed by New York artist Vito Acconci on the occasion of Graz becoming the 2003 European Capital of Culture. The building is in the form of a giant sea shell and measures 47 m in length. Two footbridges connect it with both banks of the Mur. The center of the platform forms an amphitheatre. Below a twisted round dome there is a café and a playground. : 2010, Austria, Graz, Holiday, Itävalta, Keski-Eurooppa, Murinsel, art, building, city, kaupunki, loma, rakennus, taide Kosakengasse 7 Nice iron balcony and painted pub sign : 2010, Austria, Graz, Holiday, Itävalta, Keski-Eurooppa, Kosakengasse, balcony, building, city, kaupunki, loma, parveke, rakennus
Südtiroler Platz 6 This nice building now houses at least a restaurant, "Koko". I found no information regarding of the building itself. : 2010, Austria, Graz, Holiday, Itävalta, Keski-Eurooppa, building, city, kaupunki, loma, rakennus, ravintola, restaurant Barmherzige Brüder, Kleines Zinshaus The hospital of St. John of God in Graz looks back at a long tradition. Since its foundation in 1615, it has never closed its doors to the people seeking help and medical treatment. This was the first "real" hospital in Graz. : 2010, Austria, Graz, Holiday, Itävalta, Keski-Eurooppa, building, city, hospital, kaupunki, loma, rakennus, sairaala Barmherzigenkirche The church of Brotherhood of Compassion was founded by the Archduke Ferdinand and Max Ernst in 1615, the present construction is from later period - built in 1735-40, by J. G. Stengg. : 2010, Austria, Barmherzigenkirche, Graz, Holiday, Itävalta, Keski-Eurooppa, building, church, city, kaupunki, kirkko, loma, rakennus Kunsthaus Graz The Kunsthaus Graz opened its doors in 2003, the architectural pièce de résistance of Graz’s year as European Capital of Culture. The biomorphous building designed by Peter Cook and Colin Fournier—known locally as the Friendly Alien—has since become an attraction for art lovers and the culturally minded from all over the world. But it has also become an essential landmark in the urban identity of the city of Graz. As an exhibition centre for contemporary art, the Kunsthaus exhibits Austrian and international art from 1960 onwards. Its BIX media façade—designed by Berlin designers realities:united—constitutes a unique fusion of architecture and media technology. Effectively a large screen in the middle of the city, it acts as an instrument of art communication. : 2010, Austria, Graz, Holiday, Itävalta, Keski-Eurooppa, Kunsthaus Graz, art, building, city, kaupunki, loma, rakennus, taide
Lamps in line A narrow alley with nice row of old-fashioned lantern-like lamps : 2010, Austria, Graz, Holiday, Itävalta, Keski-Eurooppa, building, city, kaupunki, loma, rakennus Bärenapotheke Hainrichspergisches Haus. Baroque-style building, but I couldn't find any info of the building. However, The Bears Pharmacy was founded in 1650 as the fourth Pharmacy in Graz by Leonhard Blum. The name "The Black Bear" first appeared in 1749. When the town hall was expanded in 1887 the pharmacy moved from doomed Herrengasse 10 to its current location. : 2010, Austria, Bärenapotheke, Graz, Hainrichspergisches Haus, Holiday, Itävalta, Keski-Eurooppa, building, city, kaupunki, loma, rakennus Bärenapotheke Hainrichspergisches Haus. Baroque-style building, but I couldn't find any info of the building. However, The Bears Pharmacy was founded in 1650 as the fourth Pharmacy in Graz by Leonhard Blum. The name "The Black Bear" first appeared in 1749. When the town hall was expanded in 1887 the pharmacy moved from doomed Herrengasse 10 to its current location. : 2010, Austria, Bärenapotheke, Graz, Hainrichspergisches Haus, Holiday, Itävalta, Keski-Eurooppa, building, city, kaupunki, loma, rakennus Stadtpfarrkirche Stadtpfarrkirche, situated in Herrengasse, is the oldest parish church in Graz, first mentioned in historical records in 1343. The church was originally a small Gothic chapel; Baroque elements were added later. Today's church is mainly Neogothic in style, the only remaining Baroque elements being the chapel of St. John Nepomuk and the "Assumption of Mary" above the High Altar. The tower of Stadtpfarrkirche rises above all other buildings in the street. The church organ is among the finest in Austria. : 2010, Austria, Graz, Holiday, Itävalta, Keski-Eurooppa, Stadtpfarrkirche, building, church, city, kaupunki, kirkko, loma, rakennus, religion, uskonto
Stadtpfarrkirche The statue of John of Nepomuk. He is a national saint of Bohemia, who was drowned in the Vltava river at the behest of Wenceslaus, King of the Romans and King of Bohemia. Later accounts state that he was the confessor of the queen of Bohemia and refused to divulge the secrets of the confessional. On the basis of this account, John of Nepomuk is considered the first martyr of the Seal of the Confessional, a patron against calumnies and, because of the manner of his death, a protector from floods and drowning. : 2010, Austria, Graz, Holiday, Itävalta, Keski-Eurooppa, Stadtpfarrkirche, building, church, city, kaupunki, kirkko, loma, rakennus, religion, uskonto Stadtpfarrkirche Main door of Stadtpfarrkirche : 2010, Austria, Graz, Holiday, Itävalta, Keski-Eurooppa, Stadtpfarrkirche, building, church, city, kaupunki, kirkko, loma, rakennus, religion, uskonto Sporgasse A view from the corner of Sporgasse and Hofgasse towards Hauptplatz : 2010, Austria, Graz, Holiday, Itävalta, Keski-Eurooppa, Sporgasse, building, city, kaupunki, loma, rakennus Sporgasse 13 Nice building with decorative entrance and also dragon drainage pipes on the roof : 2010, Austria, Graz, Holiday, Itävalta, Keski-Eurooppa, building, city, historia, history, kaupunki, loma, rakennus
Sporgasse 13 Nice building with decorative entrance and also dragon drainage pipes on the roof : 2010, Austria, Graz, Holiday, Itävalta, Keski-Eurooppa, building, city, historia, history, kaupunki, loma, rakennus Sporgasse 13 Nice building with decorative entrance and also dragon drainage pipes on the roof : 2010, Austria, Graz, Holiday, Itävalta, Keski-Eurooppa, building, city, historia, history, kaupunki, loma, rakennus Kleines Palais Attems and Palais Attems Palais Attems which is on the right, was ordered by Ignaz Maria Graf Attems, who acquired 1687-1702 six town houses, which stood on the site of today's palace. He commissioned the architect Johann Joachim Carlone to design and built it. Andreas Stengg is suspected to be involved with the palace as well. The work lasted from 1702 to 1716. The widow's palace (on the left) was built in the 16th century. The original layout with the front house, the stables and the rear side of the courtyard house can still be seen today. The building was sold in 1757 to Count Ignaz Maria II. Attems. It was then turned into a widow palace for the owner of the adjacent Palais Attems. 1858 Ignaz Maria Count III. Attems commissioned architect Carl Ohmeyer to put on a third floor and a new roof. : 2010, Austria, Baroque, Graz, Holiday, Itävalta, Keski-Eurooppa, building, city, historia, history, kaupunki, loma, rakennus The gateway of Small Attems Palace The portal has sheet metal studded leaf from the second half of the 18th century. Above the arch is a cartridge with the relief-like representation of the "Mary in the Glory" (1720). : 2010, Austria, Baroque, Graz, Holiday, Itävalta, Keski-Eurooppa, building, city, historia, history, kaupunki, loma, rakennus
Mariahilferkirche Our Lady of Succour dates back to the 17th century and was designed by Giovanni Pietro de Pomis. It was a popular pilgrimage church for many centuries. Its well-proportioned Baroque façade, simple elegant twin towers and Renaissance nave make it one of Graz's finest religious buildings. The cloister's second courtyard has a former Minorite Brothers Renaissance refectory on the upper floor, called the Minoritensaal, which is now a concert hall. The Diocesan Museum is housed in the same building : 2010, Austria, Graz, Holiday, Itävalta, Keski-Eurooppa, Mariahilferkirche, building, church, city, kaupunki, kirkko, loma, rakennus, religion, uskonto Radio Helsinki Kinda strange choice for a name for an Austrian radio station, but hey, Helsinki is known everywhere :). : 2010, Austria, Graz, Holiday, Itävalta, Keski-Eurooppa, Radio Helsinki, building, city, humour, huumori, kaupunki, loma, radio station, rakennus Taubenbrunnen Dove fountain by Walter Ritter, 1949. Behind the fountain is the clock tower of the castle. : 2010, Austria, Graz, Holiday, Itävalta, Keski-Eurooppa, Taubenbrunnen, city, fountain, kaupunki, loma, suihkulähde Flighr of stairs Stairs leading to the castle. Not very tempting. : 2010, Austria, Graz, Holiday, Itävalta, Keski-Eurooppa, city, kaupunki, loma