Palais Saurau

The Palais Saurau at the upper end of Sporgasse is one of the most notable examples of urban Renaissance architecture in Graz. Built between 1564 and 1566 for Pankraz von Windisch-Grätz, it came into the possession of the Saurau family in 1630, who gave the building its name.

The three-story building with four wings around a rectangular courtyard is distinguished by its mighty round-arched portal made of rusticated stone. Above this is an elaborate skylight grille from the early 18th century – a masterpiece of Baroque wrought iron craftsmanship in Styria. On the slope of the Schlossberg, a small Baroque garden pavilion is part of the complex, so hidden that it is barely visible from any point in Graz.

Particularly famous is the half-figure of a Turkish rider with a sword, which is placed below the roof edge. It is considered the house sign of the Saurau family. The original has been located in the City Museum Graz since 1951, while a wooden copy can be seen at the Palais. A legend connects the figure to the withdrawal of a Turkish siege, which is said to have been ended by a shot from the Schlossberg – historically unproven, but still part of the tradition today.

The Palais Saurau illustrates the status of noble families in the city and simultaneously shows how Renaissance and Baroque traditions have shaped the image of Graz.