Visit Graz
A place to wander and discover courtyards, terraces and squares, a cradle of the Renaissance, but also offering the best of contemporary culture – welcome to Graz. A practical tip right from the start: If you want to explore Graz, comfortable shoes and clothing are advisable. The reason for this is easily explained:Even if Graz is actually considered pretty small – it is the second-largest city in Austria with a quarter of a million residents – you should be prepared for the fact that time flies in these small lanes with all the different shops, restaurants and coffee houses. In the historic old town with its roads, streets, squares and courtyards there’s lots to explore and even more to enjoy. Graz is also Austria’s culinary capital so clothes that aren’t too tight should help!  Graz Old town Graz is known as “Austria’s delicatessen”: its geographical position at the meeting point of the Alpine and Mediterranean climatic zones means that everything from alpine beef and milk to Mediterranean vegetables are grown locally. Countless bars, coffee houses, wine bars, inns and restaurants invite you to sample regional delicacies made with Styrian regional produce. The ideal starting point for culinary walks is one of the two centrally located farmer’s markets, where farmers from the surrounding area sell their fresh produce. This combination of Alpine and Mediterranean lifestyles can be found at numerous outdoor dining hot spots, which especially in summer create a special kind of easy living feeling. Graz boasts sights and sounds aplenty, for example in the historic old town centre at the foot of the Schlossberg with its city palace, churches, town houses and archetypal buildings. The Renaissance accounts for a good part of the southern flair which both locals and visitors cherish so much.Yet what’s really makes Graz so special is not its old town: The historical architecture is disrupted by contemporary buildings such as the striking “Kunsthaus” art exhibition centre in Graz, also referred to as the “friendly alien”. An unusual type of art is on display here: the interweaving of tradition and modernity into a new form with a mature sense of style. This city is lively with many a cultural happening in architecture, music, theatre, literature, design and fine arts. This is demonstrated by the wide range of festivals such as Styriarte, La Strada, Steirischer Herbst and Elevate, (dates for each in 2010) which appeal to diverse audiences throughout the year. More information: www.visitgraz.com, www.genusshauptstadt.at/en |
Austria 
