Graz — Johann's Secret Legacy

Your adventure begins on Graz's Hauptplatz, a vast 14,000 m² square surrounded by buildings from the 15th to 19th centuries. In the center, the Erzherzog-Johann-Brunnen (Archduke Johann Fountain), inaugurated in 1878, pays tribute to Archduke Johann of Habsburg (1782-1859), whose role was paramount for Styria. Facing you stands the City Hall (Rathaus), rebuilt between 1887 and 1893 in a Neo-Renaissance style, with its imposing 60-meter-wide facade, a testament to Graz's civil power, a City of Human Rights since 1999. It is here, in the heart of Graz's historic city center, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1999, that the first clues of your historical treasure hunt await you.

Just 200 meters from Hauptplatz, on Herrengasse, the Landhaus reveals the splendor of the Renaissance. Built between 1557 and 1565, this palace now houses the regional government of Styria. Its facade is adorned with 225 sculpted busts of Styrian notables, a unique architectural feature in Central Europe. Its inner courtyard, with three-story arcades and dimensions of 45m x 35m, transports you to the 16th century. Nearby, the Joanneumsviertel, a museum complex created by Archduke Johann in 1811, invites you to explore the collection of over 3 million historical and scientific objects he assembled, showcasing the Archduke's passion for knowledge.

Continuing your urban journey in Graz, you take Sporgasse, a medieval cobbled street dating from the 12th-13th centuries. Four to five meters wide, it is lined with restored Renaissance and Baroque houses, with 15th-century commercial arcades. This pedestrian street, preserved since 1970, retains its intact historic layout and leads you towards Schlossberg hill. You then reach the Burgtor, a 16th-century fortified gate with 1.5-meter-thick walls, a necessary passage to access Schloss Graz, a former medieval fortress transformed into a princely residence in the 15th-16th centuries.

At the top of Schlossberg, the Uhrturm (Clock Tower), a 15th-century medieval watchtower, stands 28 meters high. A symbol of Graz, it offers panoramic views of the city and the Styria region. Its clock, dating from 1712, has the peculiarity of having inverted hands (the hour hand is longer than the minute hand). Four hundred meters southeast of Hauptplatz, Schloss Graz, now a regional museum, housed Archduke Ferdinand II (1529-1595) in the 16th century. He accumulated curiosities there, in the tradition of the great collectors of his time. It is here that you discover the 'Grazer Doppelwendeltreppe', a unique double spiral staircase dating from 1499, allowing people to ascend and descend without crossing paths.

Your exploration of Graz's Renaissance and Baroque heritage concludes by crossing the Erzherzog-Johann-Brücke (Archduke Johann Bridge). This 19th-century stone bridge, built between 1875 and 1877, spans the Mur River for 85 meters long and 12 meters wide. Adorned with sculptures dedicated to Archduke Johann, it offers a strategic viewpoint over the urban landscape. This historical treasure hunt will have led you through a preserved medieval quarter, offering an interactive visit to Graz and its protected historical monuments. You leave with an in-depth knowledge of Archduke Johann of Habsburg and the history of Styria, far beyond what a simple tourist visit could offer.