The Styrian
coat of arms
Tradition
- Present - Future
[top]
The
Styrian panther ...
... - modelled on a mythical creature symbolising strength and independence.
For more than 800 years, the fire-breathing panther has featured along with the Styrian ducal crown on the provincial arms of Styria.
Styria, ...
... accorded the status of independent duchy in 1180, also launched the rise
of the small duchy of Austria to become a state of global importance:
the starting point was the alliance forged in 1192 on the basis of the Georgenberger
Handfeste (testamentary contract).
As inhabitants of a frontier area, in subsequent decades the Styrians successfully repelled the Turks heading westwards. Since then, the region has been regarded as a bridge between Western Europe and the Balkans.
The collection of arms
...
... in Graz Armoury, comprising some 29,000 exhibits (more than 3000 suits
of armour and almost 8000 small arms), is the world's largest mediaeval arsenal.
It is witness to the history
of the region, captivating visitors to international exhibitions with its
many exhibits.
Eggenberg
palace ...
... is the Styrian version of the Escorial.
It was built as a prestigious Baroque palace at the beginning of the 17th
century by the statesman and imperial counsellor Hans-Ulrich von Eggenberg
and today offers a festive setting for many cultural and social events.
Styria Facts and Figures [top]
At a
glance ...
Population:
1,184,720
Area: 16,387 squ.km
Political districts: 17
Communities: 543
Forested area: 8,530 squ.km
Universities: 4
Working population: 45,5%
Overnight stays: 9,4 million
Styria in
general
[top]
A ...
... land
of history:
More than 800 years ago, Styria formed the starting point for the Federal
Republic of Austria.
.. land
of technology:
Once a focal point of industrialisation in Austria, today a practically oriented
trend-setter in new technologies.
.. land
of music:
Most bands and choral societies.
.. land
of forests:
Austria's most important timber producer.
.. land
of variety:
From high Alpine glaciers to wine-growing regions.
.. land
of liberality:
Avant-garde and tradition are not at odds here.
.. fertile land:
Three quarters of all Austrian apples are harvested in Styria.
.. land
of pleasure:
More than 25 per cent of Austrian beer is brewed in Styria.
..
land of Europe:
After Austria's accession to the European Union, Styria is now the south-easternmost
region of the new Europe.
Der steirische
Panther ...
[top]
"Das Wappen des Landes Steiermark ist in grünem Schild der rotgehörnte
und -gewaffnete silberne Panther, der aus dem Rachen Flammen hervorstößt."
So lautet die Beschreibung des Landeswappens im Gesetzblatt von 1950.
Einen Panther im Wappen hatte aber schon Markgraf Ottokar III. aus dem Hause der Traungauer im Jahre 1160. Bei der Erhebung der Steiermark zum Herzogtum zwanzig Jahre später ging das Traungauerwappen schließlich auf die grüne Mark über.
Im
Jahre 1260 ähnelte die Erscheinungsform des Wappens bereits sehr dem
heutigen. Damals führte der Marschall der Steiermark bei einer Schlacht
ein grünes Banner mit sich, auf dem ein silbener Panther zu sehen war.
Der steirische Panther hat mit den Raubkatzen allerdings wenig gemein. Er
hat einen Pferdekopf, eine Löwenmähne, einen Löwenschwanz,
zottelige Hinterläufe, rote Stierhörner und Klauen. Zudem speit
er Feuer.
History of Graz [top]
Graz's appearance as a city offers numerous possibilities to discover its history, which has included times of splendour and expansion as much as times of difficulty and stagnation.
One of the main features in the development of the city is its geographical location in a valley, which is surrounded by mountains. The river Mur flows through its centre and an wide, open stretch of land can only be found in its sound.
The middle of the city's central basin, which is only a few metres from the river, is where the is and it is inbetween these to natural features that the city central basin developed.
Graz, which is the centre of the Steiermark region, is also Austria's second largest city. Realistically, it is composed of a number of smaller villages, which were once independent. Until they began to intertwine with one another in the 19th and 20th centurys, their only common feature was that they all developed around the Schloßberg.
Archeologists have found artefacts from the early stone ages to the Roman era in the area we know cal Graz but the the earliest advanced settlement here is traced back to the Slaws in 800 AD. The name means "Little Castle" and comes from the Slavonic word Gradec. Unfortunately, however, there have only been a few archeological finds from this epoch.
The High and Late Middle Ages were decisive periods in the city's historical coming of age. Under the Stirian Nobles, Graz became an important centre of commerce and trade and the Ruine Gösting is a symbol of the city's status. The city centre then, as now, was composed of the area around the Sackstraße, the Murgasse, the Sporgasse and the Hauptplatz, with the nice old town of the Kälbernes Quarter. There was also a Jewish Ghetto in the south of the city, but in the 15th century, pogroms forced Jews to go elsewhere.
Despite its
medieval standing, it is the buildings that were built during the time the
Habsburg dynasty resided in Graz, that continue to dominate the inner city's
landscape. From 1379-1493, the Cathedral and much of the Castle were built
and the conflict over land in the 16th century also left architectural reminders.
The city's landed nobility, many of whom were Protestant, made their presence
felt by erecting buildings such as the Landhaus and numerous city palaces,
the facades of which were given baroque features as time went on.
In reaction to this construction programme, Catholic land owners brought Jesuits
into the city. From 1564-1619, Catholics sponsored masterpieces such as the
Old University (today a seminary), the Mausoleum, the Minoritenkirche and
the Church of St. Ändra.
The most important piece of baroque architecture in the city is without doubt Eggenberg Castle, but the city's landscape also changed when forts were built around the Schlossberg and the City Park. Only a few remains, such as the Paulustor, the Burgtor and the Kasematten (Kasematten-Schlossbergbühne), can today be seen though, for they were pulled down in the 19th century.The grounds that were subsequently empty were used to extend the Stadtpark in 1869 and to build new residential areas and because of this, the inner city and surrounding areas, were brought closer together.
In the 19th century, Graz became had a big enough population to call itself a city and its most influential citizens, many of whom favoured unification with Germany, built impressive buildings such as the Karl-Franzens-Universität, the Opernhaus, the Town Hall and the Herz Jesu Church. On one hand, these were to illustrate the Graz's right to call itself a city and on the other hand, they were to show people that Graz was an "example of German Culture".
As the 19th century progressed, the divide between the city's left and the right, which was heavily represented in the working-class districts of Gries and Lend, became ever more apparent. At the same time, Graz was also described as a "Pensionopolis" because many retired imperial civil servants and artists, like Johann Nestroy to name but one, moved to the city.
During the Third Reich, again proved to be favourable towards union with Germany and when Hitler annexed Austria in 1938, there was much euphoria. The city was even given the "honorary title" of "Stadt der Volkerhebung" ("city of the peoples' uprising").
At the beginning of the 21st century, Graz is a city which is very aware of its geographic proximity and historical relationship to the Balkans and Eastern Europe. Unlike in the past, there is a more open, less hostile atmosphere towards this reality and it is noticable not only in city life as a whole, but also in the city's three universitys.
Info
about Graz
[top]
Graz - Capital of
Styria
Graz developed
at the spot where the river Mur (see also Murradweg) flows into a wide plain,
after flowing down from a hilly, narrow region.
The city's past and present development was significantly influenced by the
area's existing geological and geographical features. The River Mur, which
flows from north to south cuts the city in half, hilly regions flank the north,
the east and the west of the city and the Schlossberg mountain in the city
centre is only a short distance away from the river.
The streets that surround the city centre stretch out in all directions and are connected by small alleys, between which buildings fill up the web-like structure. Seventeen district surround the city in circular formand their contemporary social fabric reflects not only when they were built, but also the circumstances of their growth, as well as their economic importance.
The architecture
of the 'Altstadt', or Old Town, consists largely of huge rows of houses, many
of which date back to medieval times and many of them are grouped around several
smaller squares and alleys (Kälbernes Viertel). The Schlossberg, the
City Park and the river Mur separate it from the rest of the city and moreover,
UNESCO recently named this part of Graz a venue of 'World Cultural Heritage'.
Apart from its historical and cultural significance, Old Town is also where
many of the town's social life is played out. There are numerous restaurants
such as the Restaurant Maroni) and cultural events such as the Steirischer
Herbst. The city also gets very busy on Carnival Tuesday (Faschingsdienstag)
and during the City Fair. On warm summer evening, it can be difficult to find
your way through the masses of people, all of whom are looking for a free
table at a café or a bar like the Mohrenwirt.
In the north,
east and south of the city centre, you will find the St. Leonhard, Jakomini
and Geidorf (Geidorf-Kunstkino) districts, which changed from being suburban
to upper-middle class residential areas in the 19th century. As is to be expected,
these districts are full of historical houses and other architecturally interesting
buildings, such as the Herz-Jesu Church and the Technical University Karl-Franzens-University.
Geidorf is also home to parks such as the Augarten, where you can find the
MuWa, which is the 'Museum of Perception'.
The eastern part of Geidorf is also home to some impressive turn-of-the-century
villas. Despite its potential for a residential feel, the areas atmosphere
of this district, just like that St. Leonhard and Jakomini, is dominated by
the university. Considering that there are nearly 40.000 students and numerous
staff, this is not really surprising though!
The western bank of the River Mur, which is opposite the Old Town, is divided
between the Gries and Lend districts, the latter of which is known for its
(Farmer's Market). They complete the inner ring of districts that surround
the Old Town and architecturally speaking, this part of Graz is full of baroque
buildings, such as the Minoriten Monastery.
In the 19th century, Gries and Lend were centres of trade and much of the traffic that passed through the city stopped here. Today, they are known for their multicultural population: many different nationalities have found a home here, there are lots of different shops and nightlife at venues such as the Bang!, continues to thrive.
A further
eleven districts surround the neighbourhoods that surround the Old Town. Most
of them were once small villages, which were incorporated into Graz in 1938.
Although areas such as St. Peter or Gösting (Ruine Gösting) still
have a very intimate feel, the majority of these districts are actually modern
residential features. Those in the south have managed to cover a vast area,
but some, like Andritz, Puntigam and Liebegau (where the Arnold Schwarzenegger
Stadion is), are Graz's most important centres of industry and business.
Graz's outer districts, which have lots of forests and meadows, have a slightly
rural feel. The locals tend to take advantage of the fact that you can get
to places such as the 'Buschenschank' in a relatively short time, either by
bicycle or by public transport. In addition, hilly areas such as Rosenhain,
Leechwald and Ruckelberg in the east of the city, provide further oppurtunities
of being at one with nature.