Brief information:
- How do you get to the Schlossberg? The Schloßberg plateau can be reached on foot via the Felsensteig, the Schlossbergbahn (at Kaiser-Franz-Josef-Kai), or the lift (at Schlossbergplatz). See below for details.
- How high is the Schlossberg Graz? With a height of 124 meters, the Schlossberg Graz is the highest natural point in the state capital and offers a spectacular 360 degree panoramic view of the entire city.
- What is the Graz clock tower? The Graz clock tower is a 28 meter high clock tower. It stands on the Schloßberg and, with its dials over 5 meters in diameter and gold-plated hands, is the landmark of Graz.
The Schloßberg, which served as a fortress between 1125 and 1809, is right in the center. She could even hold out against Napoleon. From 1839 the development of the bare rock into a park began. Today you can find the Graz clock tower and the bell tower here.
There are 3 ways to get to the Schloßberg:
- On foot over the 260 steps of the Felsensteig from Schlossbergplatz or along paths from Karmeliterplatz or Wickenburggasse.
- With the Schlossbergbahn (at Kaiser-Franz-Josef-Kai). The funicular with its 60% gradient and its glass roof offers a great view of the old town of Graz. The trip costs 2.5 € and runs approximately every 15 minutes. You can reach the valley station by tram lines 3 and 5 (Schlossbergbahn stop) – trips from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- The lift takes you up quickly for about 1 minute. At the destination you get off directly at the Graz clock tower. The entry point is at the entrance to the Grazer Märchenbahn at Schlossbergplatz. The trip costs € 1.9
Incidentally, the brave can slide all the way down in a sack using a system of tubes. The tube meanders around the elevator shaft again and again. The journey takes about 40 seconds.
The Graz clock tower
The hands on the mighty dials often cause confusion, because in Graz the clocks seem to run differently. Originally there was only one large hand for the hours – the hands for the minutes were added later. This resulted in the hands being swapped. The clockwork that Michael Sylvester Funck built in 1712 still works today, but has been operated electrically since the middle of the 20th century.
There are still 3 preserved bells in the tower. The oldest bell in Graz, cast in 1382, strikes the hours.
The interior of the mountain
Incidentally, there are tunnel systems a few kilometers long in the mountain itself, which were shelters during air and bombing raids during World War II. Today they are partly used for events. One possibility to experience the inside of the mountain is the Graz fairy tale train (Grazer Märchenbahn).
The Grazer Märchenbahn is a narrow-gauge railway with a gauge of 600 mm in the tunnel of the Grazer Schloßberg, which starts at the lower level of the Schloßberg lift on Schloßbergplatz. It is an attraction for young and old – a popular excursion in the Styrian capital, especially for families with children from 4 years of age. During the 35-minute journey, the train passes a total of 22 stations. At 10 a stop is made. As an active part of an action, passengers can intervene in what is happening and solve puzzles together or collect valuable things, for example.