Provincial Armoury

Knights by passion? This certainly applies to some of the fighters in shining armor. In the Graz Armory, they stand in rows, the harnesses and weapons of brave medieval warriors. The special historical setting and the impressive number of collector's pieces make a visit to the Graz Armory essential. Over five floors, there are an incredible 32,000 exhibits to admire, and many a large and small visitor loses themselves here in dreams of hero sagas from past times.

Due to its geographical location south of the Alps and as the capital of Inner Austria, Graz developed into an important center for defense against invading peoples from the east. Especially through the advance of the Ottoman Turks, the Styria estates were forced to stock up their armaments as part of an organized defense beginning at the end of the 15th century. Local gunsmiths and armorers received commissions just like masters from Nuremberg, Augsburg, and Innsbruck. From 1642, Antonio Solar built a "armory" next to the Landhaus for the expanded arsenal.

The narrow building extends over five stories and is about 50 m long. The facade is adorned with two richly beautiful Baroque figures by Giovanni Mamolo, embodying Mars (god of war) and Minerva (goddess of war and the arts). The Armory was supposed to be dissolved as part of the military reforms of Maria Theresa. However, the Styrian estates managed to avert a closure and preserve the arsenal as a testimony to the bravery of the Styrians in the fight against the "hereditary enemy of Christianity."

Thus, the only original preserved armory in the world still counts about 32,000 exhibits today. Historical weapons and war equipment, from the end of the 15th century to the beginning of the 19th century. Over 3,300 harnesses and helmets, more than 7,800 firearms, about 5,400 polearms, 2,400 swords, sabers, and the like - whatever was needed for warfare at the time, it can be found here. Besides the abundance of simple weapons for the foot soldiers, impressive ceremonial armor for the nobility and a fully preserved horse armor from the early 16th century stand out. However, the approximately 50 cannons on the ground floor were removed when Napoleon's troops approached and later sold to a bell founder.

Today, this so-called "cannon hall" houses the information office of Graz Tourism.

By the way: Anyone seeing so much old iron wonders why none of it is rusting. Contributing to this, besides careful maintenance, are the wooden ceilings and floors, as well as the wooden panels on the walls. They absorb moisture.