The Peak of Graz City--Schlossberg

📍Attraction Address: Castle Hill rising from the old town of Graz 🚗Attraction Transportation: Overlooking the old town from Castle Hill is a must-do when visiting Graz. Castle Hill is 437 meters high, and you can take a cable car or walk up. There are three main ways to tour the hill: for a more relaxed experience, you can take the cable car that reaches the top in 2 minutes; a quicker option is the transparent elevator, which takes only half a minute to reach the top; finally, you can walk up the 260 steps of the Kries Path carved along the mountain wall. 👍️Must-visit Attractions: The main attractions on Castle Hill include the Chinese Pavilion, the Clock Tower, the Fortress Ruins, the Castle Hill Museum, the Kasematten Stage, the Battery, and the Starbast Prison. Fortress Ruins: The castle ruins on Castle Hill are the oldest buildings in Graz, with nearly a thousand years of history; the German name of Graz originally means "castle." Graz initially developed into a small feudal town centered around this location. On the old site of the castle, four cannons are placed, overlooking the area with great majesty. During the Napoleonic era in the 19th century, when France invaded Austria, there was a fierce defensive battle on this hill. Although the Austrians were eventually defeated, they remembered this battle deeply. After this battle, France occupied Austria for eight years. Napoleon, unable to forget the heavy casualties of the French siege forces, ordered the castle to be completely destroyed, leaving only the remaining ruins. Today, the clock tower built on these ruins has become a symbol of the city. The winding paths built along the hill have also become a popular spot for young couples to stroll in the summer. Observation Deck: Besides viewing the large clock, there is an observation deck at the top of the hill where you can overlook the entire city of Graz, with maps available to compare the city's layout. There are also several scenic cafes at the top where you can enjoy coffee while taking in the view, making for a very pleasant experience. Clock Tower Graz Clock Tower Standing on Castle Hill, the Clock Tower is a landmark building of Graz, visible from anywhere in the city, with the time clearly marked on its clock face. For hundreds of years, the clock has silently witnessed and recorded the rise and fall of Graz like a guardian. The clock chimes three times a day (7:00, 12:00, and 19:00), each time striking 101 times, reminding people that it was cast from 101 cannonballs. The Clock Tower was first built in the 13th century as a watchtower, and it was rebuilt in 1588 to its current form. At that time, its tasks were to give warnings and tell the time, with three different large bells hanging on the tower: the time bell, the fire alarm bell, and the death bell. In 1712, the time bell was replaced by a larger and newer wall clock, and the death bell was soon removed, leaving only the fire alarm bell in place.