Graz 48946 226149686 2008-07-17T01:20:33Z Waldir 182472 /* Old Town */ +link {{otheruses}} {{Infobox Town AT| name=Graz| name_local=| image_coa = Wappen Graz.svg| image_map =Map at graz.png| state = [[Styria (state)|Styria]] | regbzk = | district = [[Statutory City]]| population =252852| population_as_of = 2008-01-01| agglomeration ≈ 320,000| population_ref =| pop_dens = 1,990| area = 127.56| elevation = 353| lat_deg=47| lat_min=04| lat_sec=13| lat_hem=N| lon_deg=15| lon_min=26| lon_sec=20| lon_hem=E| postal_code = A-801x, A-802x, A-803x A-804x, A-805x| area_code =+43 316| mayor = [[Siegfried Nagl]] ([[Austrian People's Party|ÖVP]])| website = [http://www.graz.at www.graz.at]| }} {{Infobox World Heritage Site | WHS = City of Graz - Historic Centre | Image = [[Image:Graz clock tower.jpg|250px|center|The Grazer Schloßberg Clock Tower.]] | State Party = {{AUT}} | Type = Cultural | Criteria = ii, iv | ID = 931 | Region = [[List of World Heritage Sites in Europe|Europe and North America]] | Year = 1999 | Session = 23rd | Link = http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/931 }} '''Graz''' [graːts] (etymologically possibly from [[Slovene language|Slovene]]: ''Gradec'' IPA: /gra.deʦ/, "little castle"), with a population of around 290,000 as of [[2008]] (of which 252,852 have principal residence status), is the [[List of cities and towns in Austria#List of cities and towns by population size|second-largest city]] in [[Austria]] after [[Vienna]] and the capital of the federal state of [[Styria (state)|Styria]] (''Steiermark'' [ˈʃtaɪ̯ɐmaʁk] in [[German language|German]]). Graz has a long tradition as a student city: its six [[List of universities in Austria|universities]] have over 44,000 students. Graz's "Old Town" is one of the best-preserved city centers in Central Europe. In 1999, it was added to the [[UNESCO]] list of [[World Heritage Site|World Cultural Heritage Sites]]. Graz was sole [[Cultural Capital of Europe]] for 2003. == Geography == The city is situated on the [[Mura|Mur]] river, in the south east of Austria. It is approximately 200 km southwest of Vienna or 2.5 hours by train / 2 hours by car. The nearest larger [[urban center]] is [[Maribor]] in [[Slovenia]] which is about 50 km away. Graz is the capital and largest city in [[Styria (state)|Styria]], a green and heavily forested area. ===Climate=== Due to its position south east of the Alps, Graz is shielded from the prevailing westerly winds that bring weather fronts in from the [[North Atlantic]] to north western and central Europe. Due to this factor the weather in Graz is [[Mediterranean]] influenced. Graz therefore has more hours of sunshine per year than Vienna or Salzburg and also less wind or rain. Graz lies in a basin that only opens to the south, causing the climate to be warmer than would be expected at that [[latitude]]. Plants are found in Graz that normally grow much further south. However, this milder, less windy climate is detrimental to the [[air quality]] in Graz as it makes the city prone to [[smog]] in winter. The exhaust fumes of the around 120,000 cars driven into Graz every weekday by people living in the surrounding areas, together with the car journeys made by the inhabitants of Graz itself, are the most significant source of [[air pollution]]. *average temperatures: [[Graz Airport]] 8.7°C / [[Karl-Franzens University]] 9.4°C *average rainfall: 818 mm with on average 92 days of rain ([[Karl Franzens University]]) *average hours of sunshine: 1,890 ([[Karl Franzens University]]) ===Neighbouring municipalities=== The following towns and villages border Graz: *to the North: [[Gratkorn]], [[Stattegg]], [[Weinitzen]] *to the East: [[Kainbach bei Graz]], [[Hart bei Graz]], [[Raaba]] *to the South: [[Gössendorf]], [[Feldkirchen bei Graz]], [[Seiersberg]] *to the West: [[Attendorf]], [[Thal, Austria|Thal]], [[Judendorf-Straßengel]] ===Districts=== Graz is divided into 17 districts. They are: [[Image:Graz Stadtbezirke weiß.png|350px|left|The 17 Districts of Graz]] I. [[Innere Stadt (Graz)|Innere Stadt]] (''3,302'') II. [[St. Leonhard (Graz)|St. Leonhard]] (''12,377'') III. [[Geidorf]] (''19,119'') IV. [[Lend (Graz)|Lend]] (''22,369'') V. [[Gries (Graz)|Gries]] (''22,658'') VI. [[Jakomini]] (''25,808'') VII. [[Liebenau (Graz)|Liebenau]] (''11,556'') VIII. [[St. Peter (Graz)|St. Peter]] (''12,809'') IX. [[Waltendorf]] (''10,782'') X. [[Ries (Graz)|Ries]] (''5,789'') XI. [[Mariatrost]] (''7,403'') XII. [[Andritz]] (''16,316'') XIII. [[Gösting]] (''9,227'') XIV. [[Eggenberg (Graz)|Eggenberg]] (''16,467'') XV. [[Wetzelsdorf]] (''12,225'') XVI. [[Straßgang]] (''12,212'') XVII. [[Puntigam]] (''6,248'') ==Population development== {|class="wikitable" !Year !Population |- |1900||168,808 |- |1951||226,476 |- |1961||237,080 |- |1971||249,089 |- |1981||243,166 |- |1991||237,810 |- |2001||226,244 |- |2006||250,099 |} The more recent [[population]] figures do not give the whole picture as only people with principal residence status are counted and people with secondary residence status are not. Most of the people with secondary residence status in Graz are students. At the end of 2006 there were 37,624 people with secondary residence status in Graz. [http://www.graz.at/cms/ziel/606066/En/][http://www.statistik.at/blickgem/blick1/g60101.pdf] Population (with principal residence status) in the [[agglomeration]] was approx. 320,000 at the end of 2006. ==History== {{Unreferencedsection|date=March 2008}} [[Image:IMG 0411 - Graz - Landhaushof.JPG|thumb|right|Landhaus]] [[Image:IMG 0412 - Graz - Landhaushof.JPG|thumb|right|Landhaus]] The oldest settlement on the ground of the modern city of Graz dates back to the [[Copper Age]]. However, there is no historical continuity of a settlement before the Middle Ages. The name of the city, and some archaeological finds point to the erection of a small castle by South Slavic people (namely [[Slovenes]]), which in time became a heavily defended fortification. In [[Slovene language|Slovene]], 'gradec' literally means "small castle". The German name 'Graz' was first used in 1128, and during this time dukes under [[Babenberg]] rule made the town into an important commercial center. Later Graz came under the rule of the [[Habsburg]]s, and in 1281 gained special privileges from [[Rudolf I of Germany|King Rudolph I]]. In the 14th century Graz became the city of residence of the [[Inner Austria]]n line of the Habsburgs. The royalty lived in the [[Grazer Schloßberg|Schloßberg]] castle and from there ruled [[Styria (duchy)|Styria]], [[Carinthia (duchy)|Carinthia]], and parts of today's [[Italy]] and [[Slovenia]] ([[Carniola]], [[Gorizia and Gradisca]]). In the 16th century, the city's design and planning were primarily controlled by Italian Renaissance architects and artists. One of the most famous buildings built in this style is the Landhaus. It was designed by [[Domenico dell'Allio]], and was used by the local rulers as a governmental headquarters. Graz was also a city that famous astronomer [[Johannes Kepler]] lived in for a short part of his life. There, he worked as a math teacher, but found time to study astronomy. He left Graz to go to [[Prague]] when [[Lutheran]] people were banned from the city. Karl-Franzens Universität, also referred to as the [[University of Graz]], is the city's oldest university, founded in 1585 by Archduke [[Charles II of Austria|Charles II]]. For most of its existence it was controlled by the [[Roman Catholic Church|Catholic church]], and was closed in 1782 by [[Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor|Joseph II]] in an attempt to gain state control over educational institutions. Joseph II transformed it into a lyceum where civil servants and medical personnel were trained. In 1827 it was re-instituted as a university by Emperor [[Franz I of Austria|Franz I]], thus gaining the name 'Karl-Franzens Universität,' meaning 'Charles-Francis University.' Over 30,000 students currently study at this university. [[Nikola Tesla]] studied electrical engineering at the [[Graz University of Technology|Polytechnic]] in Graz in 1875. Nobel Laureate [[Otto Loewi]] taught at the [[University of Graz]] from 1909 until 1938. [[Johannes Kepler]] was a professor of mathematics at the University of Graz. [[Erwin Schrödinger]] was briefly chancellor of the University of Graz in 1936. [[Adolf Hitler]] was given a warm welcome when he visited in 1938, the year Austria was [[Anschluss|annexed]] by [[Nazi Germany]]. The thriving [[History of the Jews in Austria|Jewish community]] was destroyed by the Nazis and their grand synagogue was burnt. A small group of Graz Jews returned despite everything after the war. In 2000, on the anniversary of the [[Reichskristallnacht]], Graz city council presented the Jewish community with a new synagogue as a gesture of reconciliation. Hitler promised the people of Graz 1,000 years of prosperity and an end to mass unemployment: only 7 years later the Graz resistance surrendered the city to [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] troops sparing Graz any further destruction. By then about 16% of buildings had been destroyed by [[Allies of World War II|Allied]] bombing - luckily the Old Town was not seriously hit. Graz lies in Styria, or ''Steiermark'' in German. ''Mark'' is an old German word indicating a large area of land used as a defensive border, in which the peasantry are taught how to organize and fight in the case of an invasion. With a strategic location at the head of the open and fertile [[Mura|Mur]] valley, Graz was often assaulted (unsuccessfully), e.g. by the Hungarians under [[Matthias Corvinus]] in 1481, and by the [[Ottoman Turks]] in 1529 and 1532. Apart from the Riegersburg, the Schloßberg was the only fortification in the region that never fell to the Ottoman Turks. Graz is home to the region's provincial armory, which is the world's largest historical collection of Baroque weaponry. It has been preserved since 1551, and displays over 30,000 items. From the earlier part of the 15th century Graz was the residence of the younger branch of the Habsburgs, which succeeded to the imperial throne in 1619 in the person of [[Emperor Ferdinand II]], who moved the capital to Vienna. New fortifications were constructed on the Schlossberg at the end of the 16th century. [[Napoleon I of France|Napoleon]]'s army occupied Graz in 1797. In 1809 the city had to withstand another assault by the French army. During the course of this attack, the commanding officer in the fortress was ordered to defend it with his men against Napoleon's army, which numbered about 900 and 3,000 respectively. He successfully defended the Schloßberg against 8 attacks, but they were forced to give up since the Grande Armee conquered Vienna and the Emperor ordered to surrender. The fortress of Graz is seen as the strongest fortress ever built. Following the defeat of Austria by Napoleonic forces at the [[Battle of Wagram]] in 1809, the fortifications were demolished using explosives, as stipulated in the Peace of [[Schönbrunn Palace|Schönbrunn]] of the same year. The belltower and the civic clock tower, often used as the symbol of Graz, were allowed to survive this fate after the people of Graz paid a ransom for their preservation. Archduke [[Charles II of Austria|Charles II of Inner Austria]] had 20,000 [[Protestantism|Protestant]] books burned in the square of what is now a mental hospital, and succeeded in returning Styria to the authority of the [[Holy See]]. [[Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria|Archduke Franz Ferdinand]] was born in Graz, in what is now the Stadtmuseum (city museum). ==Main sights== {{wrapper}} [[Image:Graz Austria pano from Schlossberg.jpg|thumb|centre|700px|A panoramic view of the old town from the Graz Schlossberg]] |- In the last few years some groundbreakingly modern new public buildings have been erected in the city. The most famous of these include the [[Kunsthaus Graz|Kunsthaus]] (house of modern art) designed by [[Peter Cook (architect)|Peter Cook]] and [[Colin Fournier]], a museum constructed right next to the river Mur, and the "[[Murinsel]]" (island in the Mur), an island made of steel, situated in the river. It was designed by the American architect [[Vito Acconci]] and contains a café, an open-air theatre and a playground. === Old Town === |[[Image:GrazerRathaus-edit.jpg|thumb|250px|right|View of the ''Rathaus'' or City Hall at dusk.]] The old town was added to the [[UNESCO]] [[World Heritage Site|World Heritage List]] in 1999 due to the harmonious co-existence of typical buildings from different epochs and in different architectural styles. Being situated in a cultural borderland between Central Europe, Italy and the Balkan States, Graz absorbed various influences from the neighbouring regions and thus received its exceptional townscape. Today the old town consists of over 1000 buildings, their age ranging from Gothic to Contemporary. The most important sights in the old town are: * '''[[Grazer Schloßberg|Schloßberg]]''', hill dominating the old town (475 m high), site of demolished fortress, with views over Graz. * '''Uhrturm''' clocktower, symbol of Graz, on the top of Schloßberg. * '''Neue Gallerie '''. Museum of art. * '''Schloßbergbahn''', a funicular railway up the Schloßberg. * The '''Landhaus''', the building where the federal state parliament of Styria resides, a palace in Lombardic style. It belongs to the most important examples of Renaissance architecture in Austria and was built by the Italian architect [[Domenico dell'Allio]] between 1557 and 1565. * The '''Landeszeughaus''', armoury, the largest of its kind in the world [http://www.civilization.ca/milhist/austria/images/auslzh2b.gif],[http://www.cosmopolis.ch/landeszeughaus7.jpg]. * The '''Schauspielhaus''' is the principal theatre[http://www.andreas-praefcke.de/carthalia/austria/images/a_graz_schauspielhaus.jpg][http://www.nona.cc/images/diverse/music/graz_landhaus.jpg],[http://www.mondial.at/images/graz-landhaus.jpg]. * '''Dom '''(cathedral), a rare monument of Gothic architecture. Once, there had been many frescos on the outer walls, today, there are only few remains, like the ''Landplagenbild'' ("picture of plagues") painted in 1485, presumably by [[Thomas von Villach]]. The three plagues it depicts are locusts, pestilence and the invasion of the Turks, all of them striking the town in 1480. It features the oldest painted view of Graz. * '''Mausoleum''' of Emperor [[Ferdinand II, Holy Roman Emperor|Ferdinand II]] next to the cathedral, the most important building of [[Mannerism]] in Graz. It includes both the grave, where Ferdinand II and his wife are buried, and a church dedicated to St Catherine of Alexandria. * '''Rathaus''' (toontown). * '''Burg''' (castle complex), with Gothic double staircase, built between 1438 and 1453 by Emperor [[Frederick III, Holy Roman Emperor|Frederick III]] because the old castle on the Schloßberg was too small and uncomfortable. The ''Burg'' remained the residence of the Inner Austrian Court until 1619. Today, it serves as residence of the government of Styria. * '''Gemaltes Haus''' ("painted house"), in Herrengasse 3. It is completely covered with frescos (painted in 1742 by Johann Mayer). * '''Kunsthaus''' (museum of modern art). * '''[[Murinsel]]''', an artificial island in the Mur. * '''Buildings''', '''courtyards''' (e. g. Early Renaissance courtyard of the ''Former House of Teutonic Knights'' in Sporgasse 22) and '''roofscape''' of the old town. === Outside the Old Town === [[Image:Graz Herz Jesu Kirche 7.jpg|thumb|[[Herz-Jesu-Kirche (Graz)|Herz-Jesu-Kirche]]]] * '''Schloß Eggenberg''' a Baroque palace on the western edge of Graz with State rooms and museum [http://www.bsx.at/bsx_pictures/news/041216_eggenberg.jpg],[http://www.aeiou.at/aeiou.photo.data.image.fvw2/fvw2118h.jpg],[http://cms.graztourismus.at/cms/dokumente/10002500/ae6390ca/024_Schloss_Eggenberg.jpg]. * '''[[Mariatrost Basilica|Basilika Mariatrost]]''' a late Baroque church, on the eastern edge of Graz [http://cms.graztourismus.at/cms/dokumente/10002521/ba5381e4/043_Basilika_Mariatrost.jpg],[http://www.graz-seckau.at/pfarre/graz-mariatrost/pics/kirche2.jpg],[http://physik.uni-graz.at/~kew/images/promotion/basilika_mariatrost_scale.jpg]. * The '''[[Herz-Jesu-Kirche (Graz)|Herz Jesu Kirche]]''' is the largest church in Graz with the 3rd highest spire in Austria, built in Gothic Revival style [http://www.graz-herz-jesu.at/kirche/oberkirche01.jpg]. * '''Calvary Hill''' in the Gösting area of Graz with a 17th century calvary and church. * The '''LKH-Universitätsklinikum''', is the biggest hospital of Graz, it is the largest Art Nouveau building complex in Austria. It was built between 1904 and 1912. It is run by the state. * Best viewpoints for vistas of the city are '''Ruine Gösting''', hilltop castle ruins on northwestern edge of city, and '''Plabutsch/Fürstenstand''', behind Schloss Eggenberg with a hilltop restaurant and viewing tower. * The site of the former brewery [[Graz Reininghaus]] is currently the biggest privately financed city development project in Austria. === Within the greater Graz area === * '''Österreichisches Freilichtmuseum Stübing''', an open-air museum containing old farmhouses/farm buildings from all over Austria reassembled in historic setting. * '''Lurgrotte''', the most extensive cave system in Austria. * '''Lipizzanergestüt Piber''', [[Lipizzaner]] stud where the famous white horses are bred. * The '''Steirische Weinstrasse''' is a wine growing region south of Graz, also known as the "Styrian Tuscany". * '''Thermenregion''', spa region east of Graz. * '''[[Riegersburg]]''', a mighty fortress that was never taken. It was a bastion against historical Turkish invasions [http://www.kultur.steiermark.at/cms/dokumente/10091554/8ee18bfb/riegersburg%20633.jpg],[http://www.riegersburg.com/images/gastlich/start2.jpg]. ==Culture== During 2003 Graz held the title of "[[European Capital of Culture]]". ===Museums=== [[Image:Graz Kunsthaus vom Schlossberg 20061126.jpg|thumb|[[Kunsthaus Graz]]]] The most important museums in Graz are: *'''Alte Galerie''' paintings and sculptures from the Romanesque to the end of the Baroque period, coin museum and regular exhibitions. *'''Neue Galerie''' visual arts from the 19th and 20th century. *'''Natural History Museum''' exhibition of botany, mineralogy and zoology. *'''Stadtmuseum Graz''' city museum. *'''Grazer Kunsthaus''' museum of contemporary art. *'''Camera Austria''' museum of contemporary photography. *'''Landeszeughaus''' medieval armory comprising of 32,000 pieces of armour and weaponry, largest of its kind in the world. *'''Volkskundemuseum''' museum of folklore. *'''Diözesanmuseum''' museum of the Roman Catholic church. *'''Künstlerhaus''' museum of contemporary visual arts. *'''Literaturhaus''' museum of contemporary German literature. *'''Museum der Wahrnehmung''' museum of the senses, samadhi bath. *'''Kindermuseum Frida&Fred''' museum for children. *'''Tramwaymuseum''' 40 historic trams, the oldest dating from 1873. *'''Kriminalmuseum''' museum of criminology. *'''Luftfahrtmuseum''' (Graz airport) aviation museum. *'''Hanns Schell Collection''' key and lock museum, largest of its kind in the world. ===Festivals=== Many festivals take place throughout the year such as: *'''styriarte''' theatre and music festival. *'''steirischer herbst''' contemporary art festival. *'''Jazz-Sommer Graz''' *'''Eggenberger Schlosskonzerte''' classical music concerts in banqueting hall of Eggenberg Palace. *'''AIMS'''Midsummernightsconcerts, classical music concerts by overseas music students. *'''Classics in the City''' classical concerts held in old town courtyards. *'''vokal.total''' choir festival and A Cappella competition. *'''Diagonale''' festival of Austrian film. *'''LaStrada''' street/puppet theater festival. *'''Grazer Orgelfest''' organ concerts held in different churches and on different organs of Graz. *'''springfestival''' festival for electronic art and music. *'''elevate''' the Schloßbergfestival. (festival for contemporary music and political discourse). *'''Festival des Trigitalen Films''' Some of these events can be visited for free. ===Venues=== The most important art/music venues in Graz are: *'''Stadthalle Graz''' exhibition center. *'''Oper Graz''' opera house. *'''Schauspielhaus''' principal theatre. *'''NextLiberty''' youth theatre. *'''Orpheum''' music/stand up comedy venue. *'''Grazer Congress - Stephaniensaal''' classical music venue/ballroom. *'''Helmut-List-Halle''' music arena. *'''Grazer Stadtmuseum''' city museum/art venue. *'''Dom im Berg''' contemporary music venue/art venue. *'''Schloßbergbühne Kasematten''' music/theatre venue, open-air stage and auditorium in remains of underground vaults dating from 1578. *'''p.p.c.''' (project pop culture) contemporary music venue. *'''Explosiv''' contemporary music venue. *'''Kulturhaus''' art venue. *'''Postgarage''' contemporary music venue. *'''Generalmusikdirektion''' contemporary music venue. *'''Forum Stadtpark''' contemporary art venue. ===Architecture=== *'''Highest Buildings''' There are currently 228 buildings in Graz that are classified as highrise buildings. In Graz a building is classified as being highrise if the floor of at least one room is 22 metres above ground level. Buildings that are classified as highrise have to adhere to much more stringent fire safety regulations because the ladders of the majority of fire appliances used by Graz Fire Brigade cannot reach higher than 22 metres. {| class="prettytable" |- bgcolor="#DDDDDD" ! ! Name or Address ! Completion ! Usage ! Height / Storeys |- align="center" | 1. | align="left" | [[Herz-Jesu-Kirche (Graz)|Herz-Jesu-Kirche]] | 1887 | church | 109 metres |- align="center" | 2. | align="left" | Elisabeth Hochhaus | 1964 | residential | 75 metres / 25 storeys |- align="center" | 3. | align="left" | Kärntnerstrasse 212, Liebenauer Hauptstrasse | 1968 & 1955 | residential | 69 metres / 21 storeys |- align="center" | 4. | align="left" | Franziskanerkirche | 1240 | church | 69 metres |- align="center" | 5. | align="left" | Hafnerriegel | 1960 | residential | 61 metres / 19 storeys |- align="center" | 6. | align="left" | St. Peter Pfarrweg, Kindermanngasse, Hanuschgasse | 1970s | residential | 55 metres / 17 storeys |- align="center" | 7. | align="left" |Vinzenz Muchitschstrasse, Ungergasse, Kärntnerstrasse 216, Eggenbergergürtel | 1970s | residential | 52 metres / 16 storeys |} In Graz there are a some new high rise buildings in the pipeline, the only one that currently (July 2007) is looking certain to be build is a 15 storey officeblock opposite the "Stadthalle" on the southern edge of the city centre. The construction of this officeblock is to commence in June 2008. [[Image:StrassenbahnGleisplanGraz1997.png|thumb|Tramway network 1997.]] ==Health services== In Graz there are 8 hospitals, 6 private clinics, 44 pharmacies and 2 ambulance services. == Transportation == An extensive public transportation network makes Graz an easy city to navigate without a car. The city has a comprehensive bus network, complementing a tram network consisting of six lines, two of which run from the main train station (Hauptbahnhof) to the old town before branching out. Furthermore, there are seven night-time bus routes, although these operate only at weekends and on evenings preceding public holidays. From the main train station (Hauptbahnhof), you can take regional trains to most of Styria. Direct trains also run to most major cities nearby including [[Vienna]], [[Salzburg]], [[Innsbruck]], [[Maribor]] and [[Ljubljana]] in [[Slovenia]], [[Zagreb]] in [[Croatia]], [[Prague]] in the [[Czech Republic]], [[Budapest]] in [[Hungary]] and [[Zurich]] in [[Switzerland]]. Trains for Vienna leave every hour. [[Graz Airport]] is about 10 kilometres south of the city centre and has a railway station within walking distance (east of the airport). The non charter flight international destinations from Graz are [[Berlin]], [[Cologne]]/[[Bonn]], [[Düsseldorf]], [[Frankfurt/Main]], [[London]], [[Munich]], [[Stuttgart]], [[Zurich]], [[Girona]]/[[Barcelona]] (from 8/11/2007) and [[Oslo]]. ==Sister cities== * [[Image:Flag of the United Kingdom.svg|25px]] [[Coventry]], [[United Kingdom]], since 1948 (Agreement, 1957) * [[Image:Flag of the United States.svg|25px]] [[Montclair, New Jersey]], [[USA]], since 1950 * [[Image:Flag of the Netherlands.svg|25px]] [[Groningen (city)|Groningen]], [[Netherlands]], since 1965 * [[Image:Flag of Germany.svg|25px]] [[Darmstadt]], [[Germany]], since 1968 * [[Image:Flag of Norway.svg|25px]] [[Trondheim]], [[Norway]], since 1968 * [[Image:Flag of Croatia.svg|25px]] [[Pula]], [[Croatia]], since 1972 * [[Image:Flag of Italy.svg|25px]] [[Trieste]], [[Italy]], since 1973 * [[Image:Flag of Slovenia.svg|25px]] [[Maribor]], [[Slovenia]], since 1987 * [[Image:Flag of Hungary.svg|25px]] [[Pécs]], [[Hungary]], since 1989 * [[Image:Flag of Russia.svg|25px]] [[Saint Petersburg]], [[Russia]] since 2001 * [[Image:Flag of Croatia.svg|25px]] [[Dubrovnik]], [[Croatia]], since 1994 * [[Image:Flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina.svg|25px]] [[Banja Luka]], [[Bosnia and Herzegovina]] Other forms of cooperation and city friendship similar to the twin city programmes: * {{flagicon|Serbia}} [[Niš]], [[Serbia]] == Famous people == *[[Arnold Schwarzenegger]], former [[bodybuilding]] champion, actor and current governor of [[California]]. Born and raised in the farming village [[Thal, Austria|Thal]], 2 km from Graz. In [[2005]], the Graz football stadium named after Schwarzenegger was renamed [[Stadion Graz-Liebenau]] after controversy over the use of the death penalty in California, now it is called UPC-Arena. *[[Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach]], architect of the [[Baroque architecture|Baroque period]]. *[[Ludwig Boltzmann]], Austrian physicist, Professor of Mathematical Physics at the [[University of Graz]] (1869), chair of Experimental Physics at the [[University of Graz]] (1876-1890). *[[Robert Stolz]], Austrian composer and conductor. *[[Friedrich St. Florian]], Austrian-American architect. *[[Olga Neuwirth]], one of the most important contemporary Austrian composers. *[[Nicolaus Harnoncourt]],born in Berlin raised in Graz, a conductor known throughout the world for his performances of classical works on period instruments. *[[Jochen Rindt]], the first Austrian [[Formula 1]] champion raised in Graz with his grandmother. *[[Otto Wanz]], former [[professional wrestler]] who held the [[AWA World Heavyweight Championship]]. *[[Wolfgang Bauer]], Austrian writer. *[[Werner Schwab]], playwright and visual artist. *[[Bernd Brückler]], professional ice hockey player *[[Thomas Vanek]], professional hockey player, born in [[Baden bei Wien]], raised in Graz. *[[Helmut Marko]], former racing driver *[[Markus Schopp]], midfielder for [[Major League Soccer|MLS]] side [[Red Bull New York]] *[[August Musger]], inventor of the slow motion technique in cinema. *[[Karl Böhm]], an Austrian conductor. *[[Lili Novy]], [[Slovenia]]n poet. == References == * {{cite web | year = 2006 | url = http://www.rechnungshof.gv.at/fileadmin/downloads/Teilberichte/Steiermark/Steiermark_2006_02/Steiermark_2006_02_1.pdf | title = Graz: Stadtplanung und Stadtentwicklung (Rechnungshofbericht, 2006) in German | format = PDF | accessdate = 2008-04-08 }} == External links == {{linkfarm}} {{Commons|Graz}} '''Official websites''' * {{wikitravel}} * [http://www.graz.at/ City website] {{de icon}} {{en icon}} * [http://www.graz.at/stadtplan/ Searchable map of Graz] * [http://www.graztourismus.at/ Graz Tourism Office] * {{de icon}} [http://www.kulturserver-graz.at/ KulturServerGraz Town's cultural portal] * [http://public-transport.net/bim/Graz.htm tramway in Graz] '''Cultural activities''' * [http://www.kunsthausgraz.at/ Kunsthaus Graz (Modern Art House)] * [http://www.jazzsommergraz.at/ Jazz Sommer Graz] * [http://www.lastrada.at/ LaStrada - a street festival] * [http://www.springfestival.at/ springfestival website - the portal to annual websites for the festival for electronic art and music in Graz] * [http://www.elevate.at/ elevate - festival for contemporary music and political discourse] '''History''' * [http://www.geschichteinchronologie.ch/eu/oe/EncJud_juden-in-Graz-ENGL.html Jews in Graz. Expelled 1439 - returned 1447 - expelled 1496 - returned 1783 - holocaust] (from Encyclopaedia Judaica 1971) {{European Capital of Culture}} {{World Heritage Sites in Austria}} {{Styria}} [[Category:Graz| ]] [[Category:Cities and towns in Styria]] [[Category:World Heritage Sites in Austria]] [[af:Graz]] [[ar:غراتس]] [[bar:Gráz]] [[bs:Graz]] [[br:Graz]] [[bg:Грац]] [[ca:Graz]] [[cs:Štýrský Hradec]] [[da:Graz]] [[de:Graz]] [[et:Graz]] [[el:Γκρατς]] [[es:Graz]] [[eo:Graz]] [[fa:گراتس]] [[fr:Graz]] [[gl:Graz]] [[hr:Graz]] [[io:Graz]] [[id:Graz]] [[is:Graz]] [[it:Graz]] [[he:גראץ]] [[jv:Graz]] [[ka:გრაცი]] [[la:Graecia (urbs)]] [[lv:Grāca]] [[lt:Gracas]] [[hu:Graz]] [[nl:Graz]] [[ja:グラーツ]] [[no:Graz]] [[nn:Graz]] [[oc:Graz]] [[pl:Graz]] [[pt:Graz]] [[ro:Graz]] [[qu:Graz]] [[ru:Грац]] [[simple:Graz]] [[sk:Graz]] [[sl:Gradec]] [[sr:Грац]] [[sh:Graz]] [[fi:Graz]] [[sv:Graz]] [[vi:Graz]] [[tr:Graz]] [[uk:Грац]] [[vo:Graz]] [[zh:格拉茨]]