St. Johann and Paul: Watching Reininghaus grow
© City of Graz/Fischer
Oops, there’s a new tower again! If you visit the small church of St. Johann and Paul on the Buchkogel at regular intervals, you can literally watch the new Reininghaus district grow from the viewing platform. The clock tower stands serenely in the background and if you have good eyes you can also see the Sacred Heart Church, the tallest building in the city. Once you’ve had enough of Graz, you can stop off at the inn under the church to eat your fill. (Gerald Winter-Pölsler)
Lendhotel terrace: Cappuccino with a view of the castle hill
Roof terrace at the Lendhotel © Simone Rendl
The Kastner Terrace on Sackstrasse is bustling with people, especially in the summer months. If you prefer something a little quieter but still don’t want to miss out on the view of the Schloßberg, you can make yourself comfortable with a coffee on the roof terrace of the Lendhotel. There is not only space here to relax, the terrace is also used for sports with a view. In summer, the place is regularly transformed into an open-air yoga studio, where cappuccino and sun salutations come together on the mat. (Simone Rendl)
Area 5: Spontaneous little break high above Jakominiplatz
From the Steirerhof roof you can look down to the “Jako” – or across the roof landscape to the Schloßberg © Nina Müller
A city like Graz, known for its historic rooftop landscape, is not exactly spoiled for choice when it comes to rooftop bars. Area 5 on the fifth floor of the Steirerhof offers a unique view of the hustle and bustle of Jakominiplatz and far beyond, past the gilded Dorotheum roof. Instead of a posh crowd and trendy drinks at high prices, there is a relaxed atmosphere with a student crowd (which means there is not much going on during the holidays!) and appropriate culinary supplies in the “kit” principle. Perfect for a small beer with a view and a spontaneous little break from the hustle and bustle down below. (Nina Müller)
Calvary: Historic hill with a heavenly view
© Stefan Pajman
Cycling along the Mur, gravel spraying away from under the tires, your gaze focused on the ground, avoiding every mound. You look up briefly and are amazed: On the left side, a large, stone hill has risen. Once you’ve climbed it, a gentle breeze blows from above. Calvary Hill is said to have come into being because the devil – cheated out of promised souls – smashed a rock onto Graz in anger. This broke, one part became the Castle Hill, the smaller part became Calvary Hill. Later, the Habsburgs decided that it should resemble the crucifixion hill of Golgotha in Jerusalem. Devilish legend or not, the view is heavenly. (Anna Stockhammer)
Princely status: Princely view over Graz
© KK
Where a large construction site was recently located on the Plabutsch, a four-meter-high viewing platform now rises into the air. When the weather is good, you can see the entire state capital from there. A new restaurant also ensures that no culinary wish is left unfulfilled. If you prefer to enjoy your own snack, you can simply make yourself comfortable on the lawn with a picnic blanket. The best way to get up is by bike or on foot, because the “climb” on the narrow access road can be a real millimeter-high task. (Marie Miedl-Rissner)
Schloßbergbahn: Grumpiness and enjoyment
Breathtaking: the night view from the Schloßbergbahn © Jürgen Fuchs
It’s always a mixture of a little annoyance and a lot of enjoyment. The fact that it usually takes a press conference before I climb the Schlossberg annoys me. Until I get on a cable car – even free thanks to my climate ticket. And enjoy this view of Graz through the panoramic glass for just under a minute and a half. The fact that the red cars are on the road until midnight and on Fridays and Saturdays even until two in the morning (!) is a good thing: when you slowly drive down from above towards Graz at night and the sparkling lights of the city, it’s breathtaking. Without a press conference. (Michael Saria)
Paragliding from the Schöckl: Just start running – and fly
Editor Michael Kloiber with flight instructor Andi from the Styrian Flight School © Kloiber
In good weather, you can enjoy a very special view of Graz and the Schöckl area (as far as Gleisdorf and Weiz) from the south of Graz’s local mountain. This view is even better from a height of two kilometers, as the experiment shows. If you summon up all your courage and walk a few steps down the slope with your paraglider, you will take off relatively quickly. And fly away. Depending on the wind, such a tandem paragliding flight can last around 30 minutes, but it literally flies by. Enchanted by the view, overwhelmed by thoughts, you then land in a field next to the car park at the Schöckl valley station. Rating: Highly recommended! (Michael Kloiber)
Mensa Rooftop: View over the roofs of Graz
Two young students on the roof terrace with a view over Graz, the Schloßberg in the background | Mensa Rooftop at the Campus Neue Technik of TU Graz © TU/Lunghammer
The building itself, designed by Karl Raimund Lorenz at Stremayrgasse 16 in the so-called “New Technology” area, is a special architectural monument from the 1950s. Chemists used to be based here, but today people study biomedical engineering here. But don’t be afraid, the rooftop cafeteria is open to everyone and offers gastronomy in a unique setting. It’s not just architects and civil engineers who can enjoy the fantastic perspective at roof level over the Rechbauerviertel to the Schloßberg. (Norbert Swoboda)
Summer in Graz: Our tips
