Graz - Schlossberg

On the hill (Schlosberg) stands the great landmark of Graz, the 28m/92ft high Clock Tower (Uhrturm; 1561, clock 1712). It is a survivor of the massive fortifications which were blown up in 1809 after the Treaty of Vienna, and now houses the Schlossmuseum. The nearby Turkish Well (Türkenbrunnen) is 94m/308ft deep. The Belfry (Glockenturm, 1588) on top of the hill is 35m/115ft high and contains a heavy bell (nearly eight tons), popularly known as "Liesl".

The Clock Tower is famous for its one uncommon feature - an hour hand that is longer than the minute hand.

In a Graz tunnel used as an air raid shelter during the last war there now runs a miniature railroad 600m/650yds long, the Märchengrottenbahn ("Fairytale Grotto Line").

The Garnisonsmuseum in Graz is located in the Schlossberg. It is of interest to military enthusiasts.

In the 19th C. the land in Graz formerly taken up by the old fortifications was made into a park. An open-air theater was constructed in 1949, with boxes in the old castle walls.