Belgier barracks, Military barracks in Wetzelsdorf district, Graz, Austria.
Belgier barracks is a military complex in Wetzelsdorf district featuring multiple symmetrical buildings with pitched roofs and a central administrative facility. The compound at Straßganger Straße 171 includes several uniform barrack structures arranged to form a unified operational space.
Construction began in 1939 and finished in 1940 as SS-Kaserne Wetzelsdorf under Nazi occupation. After World War II, Soviet and later British forces controlled the facility until Austria reclaimed it as military property in 1955.
The barracks bear a name honoring a Belgian royal connection that stretches back several centuries to the reign of Louis XIV. This naming choice reflects an important historical bond with European monarchy that remains embedded in the facility's identity.
The site sits at about 359 meters elevation and remains an active military facility with restricted access to most areas. Visitors should expect limited viewing opportunities from public roads and respect any posted military boundaries.
Actor Arnold Schwarzenegger served here as a tank driver during his mandatory military service before his rise to international stardom. This early chapter of his life remains relatively unknown to many of his fans worldwide.
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