Kronprinz-Rudolf-Warte Graz, Protected observation tower in Graz, Austria.
The Kronprinz-Rudolf-Warte is an 11-meter-high observation tower located on Plabutsch mountain at an elevation of about 656 meters above sea level. From its circular viewing platform, visitors can see the layout of Graz and the surrounding landscape.
The tower was built in 1879 by the Styrian Mountain Association as a replacement for an earlier wooden structure from 1840. That earlier building had been destroyed by fire in 1874.
The tower is named after Crown Prince Rudolf, son of Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria. It stands as a landmark for mountain hikers in the region and draws visitors who appreciate its historical connection to the Habsburg era.
You can reach the tower by hiking trails or by car to the Orthacker restaurant parking area followed by a short walk uphill. The site is accessible year-round, though weather conditions on the mountain can change quickly.
An iron spiral staircase climbs to the top of the structure, where the circular platform opens up views of the districts of Eggenberg, Strassgang, and Wetzelsdorf. The perspective from above reveals how these neighborhoods sit in relation to the city's center and the surrounding hills.
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