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Graz, Austria
Graz is a city of delightful contrasts. The red-roofed old town, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is dominated by the Schlossberg, a forested hilltop with a clock tower that is the city's symbol. You can climb the 260 steps, take the funicular, or ride a glass elevator through the rock. Below, the Hauptplatz is one of Austria's finest market squares, and the Landhaus courtyard is a Renaissance masterpiece. But Graz also embraces the contemporary — the Kunsthaus, a blue biomorphic blob on the Mur riverbank, is a deliberately provocative contrast to the old town, and the Murinsel, a floating steel island in the river, adds another layer of modern design. The Styrian food culture centers on Buschenschanken (wine taverns) and pumpkin seed oil, and the university student population keeps the city lively and affordable.
explore by interest
Climb the Schlossberg steps early morning for exercise and views — the path passes through shaded gardens with benches and viewpoints at every turn.
May through September offers warm weather for outdoor dining and farmers market visits, with the Styriarte classical music festival running through summer.