About City
Austria is a very popular country among the students. You can find almost all of the faculties you can imagine and the level of education is very high and highly recognized. In
Austria you will meet many international students and thus living in here will be very colourful and diversified.
Graz is the second biggest city in Austria. It is also prestigious fair and festival centre with excellent opera and theatre. It`s oldest historical part in 1999 was added to the UNESCO list of World Cultural Heritage Sites. A large number of students (40 thousand) who learn in local higher education institutions vivify the atmosphere and is the reason why you cannot be bored in the evenings.
The name Graz probably comes from a Slavic word gradec – fortified place or a small castle. Here, on the foreground of the Alps in the 6th century Slavic and Germanic tribes fought with each other in order to seize control over the former Celtic and Roman terrains; the Germanic tribes won. However, not until the end of the10th century, when around the Mur river the March has been finally established, Graz started to play a role of a defensive, political and economical centre. In the 13th century the city was surrounded with walls and the castle was erected. During the rule of the Habsburgs Graz became one of the most important place of their empire while being their residence.
The Habsburgs patronage favored the development of science and arts. For some time the city was even a place where an outstanding astronomer Johannes Kepler lived and worked. Local school has been quickly raised to the level of university.
Graz is located in a picturesque surroundings. The river Mur is crosses it from the north to the south. The city is divided into 17 districts (Stadtbezirke). The Old Town (Altstadt) lies completely on the left bank of the river. It is dominated by the Castle Mountain (Schloßberg) where there are ruins of an old fortress with a characteristic clock tower (Glockenturm). The street of the Old Town are really narrow. Lots of them are closed to cars and that is why it is best to go everywhere by feet. The old city walls has partially survivedin the outskirts of the Old Town. The Old Town area is enclosed by the Wickenburgergasse, Parkstr., Glacisstr., Fischer-Alle, Burgring, Operring, Joanneumring and Radetzky streets. To the East there is a university and near Operaring – opera house. Along the river there are walkways and busy streets. Moving by a car in the centre is quite difficult due to high number of one-way streets.
West to the centre of the town the Eggenberg palace has been raised. It is one of the objects which are very popular among the tourists visiting Graz.
Castle Mountain is a perfect viewpoint and you can get there by a funicular railway (Schlossbergbahn which starts at Kaiser-Franz-Josef-Kai) by glass elevator or by steep stairs (Schloßbergstiege) from the at the foot of the Castle Mountain (Schloßbergplatz).
| Population | Cinemas | Theaters |
| 256 000 | 12 | 6 |
Interesting Places
- Domkirche cathedral of gothic architecture
- Gothic and Baroque churches with Stadtpfarrkirche among others
- Mariahilfkirche
- The Renaissance Landhaus
- Rathaus (Town Hall from the 19th century)
- Uhrturm – the clocktower, symbol of Graz
- Armoury from the 17th century
- Schlossberg demolished fortress
- Basilica Mariatrost
- Museums especially Joanneus Folk Museum with the crown of Styria`s princes and European paintings
Clubs recommended by Study4u
Pilar Wein Bar Lounge
Luxurious, modern bar perfect for meeting friends and even more official appointments. It is open to the latest hours of the night and offers a wide range of cocktails and drinks.
Go to club website
Pharmacy bar-lounge
Very popular, modern club with unique atmosphere. Excellent drinks and cocktails. There is a possibility to spend some time nicely at the garden or on the terrace.
Go to club website
Useful links
