Visit Graz Castle For a Nice Walk And See The Famous Uhrturm

One of my favourite activities during my visit was sightseeing walks at Schlossberg Graz. This is a castle on the hill overlooking the rest of the city, offering a wonderful viewpoint. I enjoyed both morning and evening walks around the castle.

The castle site dates back to the 10th century, but the current fortifications were built during the 16th century. When walking on the hill, you can see many fortifications and towers.

I liked exploring the various formal gardens and defensive bastions on the hill. A fantastic time to visit is around sunrise, when it’s mostly empty and tranquil. Exploring the grounds was one of my favourite free things to do in Graz.

What to See at Graz Castle in Austria

I enjoyed seeing the various features, especially early in the morning when it was quiet.

Uhrturm

One of the most popular parts of the site is Uhrturm, or the Clock Tower.

The Uhrturm dates from the 13th century and is pretty to see, especially up close, when the area is quiet early in the morning.

One of the best angles to see the clock tower is from the Citizens Bastion.

Schloßbergsteig Steps

One scenic way to ascend or descend is via Schloßbergsteig. Schloßbergsteig is a series of stairs and balconies from the old town to the castle.

Citizens Bastion – Bürgerbastei

If you like a tranquil environment, colourful flowers and special views, then the Citizens’ Bastion at Schlossberg Graz is great. To access the bastion, aka Bürgerbastei, there are steps from near Uhrturm.

They built the Citizens’ Bastion in 1551/1552, and it’s well preserved. It got its name because, in times of war, it was defended by the citizens of Graz. In 1930, they opened the bastion up to the public, and it is now the most floral part of the site.

There were many benches to sit on; I had a supermarket picnic here, including a lovely schnitzel sandwich and cold beer.

From the bastion’s viewpoint, there is a plan of the city to help you identify parts of Graz you can see from above. This was one of my favourite places for views of the countryside, the old town, Graz Cathedral and the mausoleum.

The Chinese Pavilion

Another pleasant sight when walking in Schlossberg is the Chinese Pavilion. They built this in 1890 on the site of a former vine arbour. The pavilion has magnificent panoramas and some pleasant flowerbeds.

Glockenturm

Glockenturm is an octagonal bell tower that is 34 metres tall. Archduke Karl II commissioned this, and it was built in 1588.

The tower houses the 3rd biggest bell in the Styria region of Austria. You can hear the bells ringing at 7 am, 12 pm and 7 pm each day.

Map Of Schlossberg Graz

At various points on the hill, you can see maps to help you find specific parts of the fortress and its gardens.