Schlossberg (Castle Hill), Graz (must see)

Castle Hill, is the historic heart of Graz and the hill from which the city originally grew. According to legend, the Devil created it after flying over the town with a huge rock, hoping to claim a soul in return for making a high hill. Because it was Easter Sunday, he had no power, so he angrily threw the rock down; its largest fragment became Castle Hill.

Rising to about 470 meters above sea level, Castle Hill has been fortified since at least the 10th century. In the 16th century, Italian architects helped build a major defensive system around 1,300 feet long, with a cable lift used to raise stones to the summit. The fortress was considered one of the strongest in Europe and was never captured, but in 1809 Napoleon ordered much of it demolished. Two of its most beloved structures, the Clock Tower and Bell Tower, survived.

In 1839, the ruins were transformed into a public park, giving Graz one of its finest green spaces. Today, Castle Hill combines history, nature, and panoramic views over the red-tiled rooftops, the Mur River, and the surrounding Styrian countryside. Visitors can reach the summit by climbing the steep stairs, following a winding path, riding the funicular, or taking the glass elevator through the mountain.

Scattered across the hill are remnants of the old fortress, including bastions, walls, tunnels, and viewpoints. The Clock Tower remains the most famous landmark, while cafés, restaurants, gardens, and open lawns make the hill a pleasant place to linger. Cultural life is also part of the experience: one bastion holds an open-air stage, and the Casemate Stage, with a retractable roof and space for more than 1,700 spectators, hosts concerts and events. Inside the hill, tunnels connect to the elevator and include the Fairytale Express, a small train ride for children. Castle Hill is also used during the Elevate Festival of music, art, and politics.