Graz Clock Tower

With the Schlossbergbahn visitors are taken to the Schlossberg, the local mountain of Graz, in one and a half minutes. An even faster way to reach the clock tower on the Schlossberg is to take the Schlossberglift. Alternatively, one can climb the Schlossberg on foot - 260 steps lead to the summit and from the top, there is a beautiful view over Graz.
Our tips for walks:

• Walk "Over the Rooftops of the City"
• Walk "Over the Mountains - Right in the City!”

In our folder "Moving through the City" you will find even more route suggestions for hikes and walks in the Graz city area.

The History of the Graz Clock Tower

A tower at this location on the mountain is mentioned as early as the 13th century. During the reconstruction of the Schlossberg starting in the mid-16th century, the tower received its present appearance.

The hands on the large dials often cause confusion. Do clocks in Graz run differently? No. The fact that there were originally only large hands visible from a distance for the hours, and the minute hand was added later, led to a swapping of the hands. The clockwork built by Michael Sylvester Funck in the year 1712 still functions today but has been electrically operated since the mid-20th century.

During fires in the city, the fire station at the clock tower rang the fire bell. It is one of the three remaining bells of the tower (1645). The oldest bell in Graz, cast in 1382, strikes the hours.

The "Sinner's Bell" (around 1450) was rung during executions. In later times, it reminded night owls of the closing time, earning it the nickname "Ragman’s Bell."

On three corners of the tower, coats of arms are attached that once adorned the fortifications of the Schlossberg:

• the Styrian Panther with the Duke's hat of Styria (around 1570)
• the one-headed eagle as the coat of arms of the later Emperor Ferdinand I (1552)
• as well as the double-headed eagle with the initials of Maria Theresa (2nd half of the 18th century).

The mighty Bürgerbastei, on which the clock tower stands, had to be defended by the Graz citizens during wartime, as its name indicates. Today, it features a splendid garden with flowers, some very southern plants, and numerous benches. A place to linger and enjoy the view over the city and beyond.

Historical Note on the "Stone Dog"

Not far from the clock tower on the road downhill stands the "Stone Dog." According to legend, in 1481, the barking of a dog saved the Emperor's daughter Kunigunde from being kidnapped by the Hungarian King Matthias Corvinus, who had unsuccessfully sought the princess's hand in marriage.