City of Graz – Historic Centre and Schloss Eggenberg Austria

City of Graz – Historic Centre and Schloss Eggenberg Austria

Short Report

The city of Graz - Historic Center and Schloss Eggenberg witnesses of a splendid example of the living heritage of a central European urban complex influenced by the ancient presence of the Renaissance period and the cultural and artistic role of the most important noble families. They are a harmonious blend of architectural styles and currents that have succeeded each other from the Middle Ages to the 18th century, from the many neighboring regions of Central and mediterranean Europe. They represent a varied and very comprehensive ensemble of architecture, decorative and landscape examples of these exchanges of influence.

Wonderful Universal Importance

The extension of the city of Graz - Historic Center building on its Schloss Eggenberg considerably strengthened the integrity of the property. The extension gives rise to the new enlarged buffer zone that is continuous, and the old road. In addition, the castle and its gardens maintain satisfactory architectural and structural integrity. The authenticity of the castle is good, and that of the baroque interior of the first floor is excellent. The authenticity of the ground floor, which has been transformed into a museum, and that of the garden, which is partly renovated and restored, are of a lower level which is acceptable.

Wide Report

The historic center of the city of Graz, artistic and architectural movements from the Germanic area, the Balkans and the Mediterranean, which served as the crossroads for centuries. The largest architects and artists of these different regions are powerful and thus created bright syntheses. The urban area that are part of the historic center of the city is an exceptional example of a harmonious integration of architectural styles of consecutive periods. Each era is represented by typical buildings, which are often masterpieces. The urban physiognomy faithfully tells the story of the historical development.

The first traces of continuous human settlement back to the neolithic period. The site is not a Roman settlement, although crossed by a few roads. After the fall of the Roman Empire was invaded, successively by Avars, Hungarians, and finally by German settlers. Graz was included in the issue of Carinthia and mentioned for the first time in an official act of 1128-29. Around this time an open market began to thrive, which lead to urban development with the immigration of Bavarian settlers. After the Treaty of Neuberg (1379) and the first division of the Habsburg heritage, Graz came under the rule of the rule laid down by Leopold III. The 16th century was marked by constant threats of the Turks, both as religious unrest. The medieval fortifications were updated according to Renaissance principles. In 1564, Graz, the capital of Inner Austria, despite the risk of Turkish incursions and the progress of the Reformation. When elected Emperor in 1618, Ferdinand, son of Archduke Charles II, his court in Vienna and Graz underwent a relative economic recession. If the danger of the Turks is finally averted the economy flourished again. Aristocrats and bourgeoisie compete in their aspirations for awards and culture, and a few houses were built in the Renaissance and early baroque style.

The original castle where the emperor Frederick III has lived, is the Gothic town hall, and a late-gothic chapel and a double spiral staircase which goes back to 1499. The wing is built by Archduke Charles in 1570 have remained largely intact. Frederick III the current cathedral in late gothic style (1438-64) in addition to a Romanesque church dedicated to St. Aegidius. The contains admirable frescoes, such as the 'scourges of God', attributed to Thomas von Villach (1480).  After the transfer of the bishopric Seckau from Graz, the church of Saint Aegidius, used for 200 years as a center for the choose between counter-reformation , was the cathedral of the new diocese in 1786.

The Mausoleum of Emperor Ferdinand II, started in 1614 by Giovanni Ponis was only inaugurated in 1714 when the interior design, entrusted to Johann Bernhard Fischer von Ehrlach, was completed. The facade in particular reflects the transition from the Renaissance to the Baroque style and is an original synthesis between a powerful architecture supplemented by light domes. The Seminar (the former Jesuit College): unlike other schools this impressive complex, started in 1572, was not aggregated in the baroque style and is therefore an important illustration of the large Renaissance architecture by the order was in the first place in the German province. After the dissolution of the order in 1773, the Jesuit University came under public control. With a view to preservation of the collection, the library was installed in the old magna auditorium and in the theater, on the orders of the Empress Maria Theresa. The decor and furnishings make it a big event of the transition of the Rococo in the classic style, and now serves as a show for the Styrian Archives.

Historical Data

The first traces of continuous human settlement of the site goes back to the neolithic period. The site was not used as a Roman settlement, although a few roads exceeded. After the fall of the Roman Empire, it was invaded, first by Alpine slaves, the Avars, a horse-riding nomadic lifestyle people oppressed by Karel; then by the Hungarians, who were defeated at the battle of Lechfeld in 955; and finally by German settlers. Graz is therefore included in the issue of Carinthia. A small fortress (gradec in Slavic, hence the name of Graz) was built on the Schlossberg, while a few houses and a church were built. Graz was mentioned for the first time in an official act of 1128/29.

It was around this time that an open market began to grow, making the first urban development with the immigration of Bavarian settlers. In addition to the local nobility, the population consists of traders and craftsmen, as well as a Jewish community which remained there until the 15th century. Graz was governed by the Houses of Traungau and Babenberg, and was given the status of a city. After the Treaty of Neuberg in 1379 and the first division of the Habsburg heritage, the city came under the rule of the rule laid down by Leopold III. Graz was the capital of Inner Austria, composed of Styria, Carinthia, Typical Upper Carniola lifestyle Includes, Istria and Trieste. Graz was also a favorite royal residence, in particular for Frederik III (1453-93), which many privileges had many buildings erected, and rebuilt the Church of St Aegidius, now the cathedral.

City and region then became involved in serious armed conflicts with Hungarian and Turkish conquerors. In 1480, the Turks even arrived the city gates: this episode is shown in a fresco in the cathedral 'scourges of God,' a gothic masterpiece of Master Thomas von Villach. The 16th century was marked by constant threats of the Turks, both as religious unrest. Faced with these threats, the medieval fortifications were completely reorganized and modernized according to the arrangements in the Renaissance. In 1559, the Clock Tower, the symbolic monument of Graz, had its characteristic appearance, which has remained unchanged on these days. In 1564, as a result of a new partition of the Habsburg lands, Graz, the capital of Inner Austria, despite the risk of Turkish incursions and the progress of the Reformation. Three-quarters of the residents were Protestants, who are active in the emerging protestant Foundation where Kepler, the famous astronomer and mathematical, taught.

The city was subject to the most important stage of its development with the arrival of the Jesuits in 1572. Archduke Charles II supported choose between counter-reformation , the Jesuit University and went to great lengths to undermine the protestant Foundation, which disappeared in 1600. His son Ferdinand had a monumental mausoleum built by the artist Pietro the Pomis. However, on his election as Emperor in 1618 he transferred his court in Vienna and Graz underwent a relative economic recession. In the 17th century, several houses were built in the Renaissance and early baroque style: the Kollonitsch Palace, the Effans von Avernas Palace and Lake Stubenberg palace, the last-mentioned Welserheim pass on to the family. Facades were reworked in these styles and courtyards enclosed by a wall were added to existing buildings. In the western part of the city, the Governor of Inner Austria, Hans Ulrich von Eggenberg, built a ducal palace of great artistic value; it is the main baroque palace in Styria. The great architect Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach, was born in Graz in 1656. If the danger of the Turks definitive has been averted thanks to two important victories, Saint Gothard in 1664 and in Vienna in 1683 the economy boomed. Aristocrats and bourgeoisie were competing with each other in their aspirations for awards and culture.

Graz later expanded to the south and south-west Factories and banks were established and began to grow. However, the movement to centralize Austrian power, ending in the abolition of the inner Austria, weakened the institutions of Graz. Simultaneously pilgrimage centers, such as Maria Hilf and Maria Trost, was monumental shrines. The suppression of monasteries by Joseph II led to the closure of nine of the sixteen monasteries, while the University Library as enriched with works from forty monasteries in Styria and Carinthia. In 1786 the Bishop of Seckau has transferred his residence to Graz and the Church of Saint Aegidius in a cathedral. The Jesuit was dissolved in 1773 and their university converted to a State university.

The economic growth of the city was very badly affected by the war between the Coalition and France. French troops Graz on different occasions, in 1797, 1805 and 1809, heavy war charges. He besieged the Schlossberg, a courageous resistance, but according to the Treaty of Schönbrunn, the fortifications had to be scrapped. In 1839, a public park, built on the Schlossberg, making its present aspect. In  1848 revolution was pretty mediocre. The pro-German mid-range the city until 1918. It was a prosperous period for the modern urban planning. The city became military areas to green areas for the public and indicated as non aedificandi zones. Urban expansion was channelled outside the green belt and influenced by the Biedermeier-style and then the Art Nouveau style, while the historic center is still in the social and commercial center of the city.

The murder of the heir to the throne, Archduke Franz-Ferdinand , who was born in Graz in the Khuenburg Palace, triggered off hostilities of World War I in 1914. When the new borders were drawn up in 1918-19, Graz lost its hinterland and to some extent was relegated to the margin of the geographical and economic views. In 1938, seventeen surrounding municipalities was the city of larger Graz. The Second World War was followed by a slow return to normal and Graz was again a modern garden city, industrial and cultural center and a university town.

Source:whc/unesco