Graz, University city in Styria, Austria
Graz sits along both sides of the Mur River, surrounded by hills and mountains, with a medieval core of narrow streets and Renaissance buildings. The streets open onto squares with arcades, courtyards, and facades from different periods that shape the compact center.
The settlement first appears in records in 1128 and grew during the 12th century under the Babenberg family from a small castle into a trading center. Later it became a Habsburg residence and developed into a crossroads between central Europe and the south.
Students shape the daily rhythm, filling cafés and bookstores throughout the neighborhoods around the campuses. Farmers markets like the one at Kaiser-Josef-Platz showcase the region's food traditions, where pumpkin seed oil and local produce play a central role in how residents cook and eat.
The center is walkable, with most points of interest located close together within the old town. The funicular to the Schlossberg carries visitors directly to the viewpoint, from where you can see the entire urban area below.
The Kunsthaus, nicknamed the Friendly Alien for its blue bubble-shaped form, creates a contemporary contrast with the surrounding old town. Inside, the building hosts rotating exhibitions of modern art that gain a particular effect from the organic shape of the rooms.
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