Uhrturm (Clock Tower), Graz (must see)

Perched atop Castle Hill and overlooking the rooftops of Graz, the Clock Tower is the city’s most famous landmark and an enduring symbol of the Styrian capital. The tower itself dates to the 13th century and was first mentioned as part of the fortress defenses in 1265, when Castle Hill ranked among the strongest fortifications in the region.

The tower is instantly recognizable for its unusual clock faces. To get a better look, approach the base of the whitewashed tower from the garden terrace paths. Unlike most clocks, the larger hand indicates the hours, while the smaller hand marks the minutes. This arrangement was designed so the hours could be easily read from a distance.

The Clock Tower narrowly escaped destruction during the War of the Fifth Coalition in 1809. Under the terms of the Armistice of Znaim, Napoleon ordered the demolition of the Castle Hill fortifications. However, the citizens of Graz raised funds to pay a ransom and save the tower and its clock.

Standing about 28 meters tall, the tower features a distinctive shingled roof, a weather vane shaped like a rooster, and three historic bells. The oldest, the hourly bell, dates from 1382 and is the oldest bell in Graz. The fire bell, installed in 1645, warned residents of danger, while the “Poor Sinners’ Bell” of 1450 was rung for executions and curfew.

Another notable feature of the tower is the wooden watchman’s gallery. Tilt your head further upward, past the massive clock dials and toward the high shingled roofline, to locate a dark timber balcony wrapping entirely around the upper midsection of the tower. This covered wooden walkway, supported by heavy timber corbels, served as an elevated patrol path where city watchmen continuously paced the perimeter to scan the horizon for fires or approaching enemy armies.

Just below the tower stands a stone dog commemorating a local legend. To find this legendary protector, walk slightly down the stone pathway along the fortification wall just beneath the main tower base. According to tradition, a barking watchdog saved Kunigunde, daughter of Emperor Frederick III, from attackers in 1481.