Things to do in The South
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Landhauskeller
What started as a spit-and-sawdust pub in the 16th century evolved into an atmospheric, high-quality restaurant serving specialities like its four different sorts of Tafelspitz (prime broiled beef). Flowers, coats of arms and medieval-style murals pack a historical punch, and in the summer outside tables look onto the stunning Landhaus courtyard.
reviewed
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Aiola Upstairs
Ask any local where to find the best outdoor dining experience in Graz, and they’ll probably say Aiola. Whether it’s king prawns with pasta or corn-fed chicken, this wonderful restaurant on Schlossberg has great views, delicious international flavours, a superb wine list, spot-on cocktails and very chilled music.
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Minimundus
Down near the Wörthersee, Minimundus has around 140 replicas of some of the world’s architectural icons, downsized to a scale of 1:25. By lying on the ground with a camera, you can later impress your friends at parties with great snaps of the Taj Mahal, Eiffel Tower or Arc de Triomphe. Building materials are true to the original. The Sydney Opera House, Tower of London, Statue of Liberty and Schloss Neuschwanstein are also here. English guides to the less recognisable models – such as Bad Ischl train station – are on sale for €4. There’s a café and restaurant (normal size) on site.
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Landesmuseum Rudolfinum
If you’ve ever wondered what the fossilised head of an ice-age woolly rhinoceros looked like, a visit to Landesmuseum Rudolfinum will quell your idle speculation. The museum’s Lindwurmschädel (dragon skull) was found in the 14th century and it even became the model for the head of Klagenfurt’s central fountain. This museum also has lots of Celtic armour and jewellery, and the multimedia ‘Glocknerrama’ – an acoustic and visual simulation that leads you to the peak of Austria’s highest mountain.
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Restaurant Maria Loretto
Restaurant Maria Loretto Situated on a headland above Wörthersee, this wonderful restaurant is easily reached by foot from the Strandbad. You might also hire a bicycle and make a day of it, perhaps taking a dip from reedy banks or the lakeside beach before or after the culinary deed. It does a very good trout and some flavoursome meat dishes, but it’s the sheer character of the place that makes it a wonderful choice for food and casual drinks. Call ahead Mondays, when it’s sometimes closed except from May to August.
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Prunkräume
The dominating theme of the 24 Prunkräume in the Schloss Eggenberg is astronomy and mythology. The Planet Hall, which is a riot of white stuccowork and baroque frescoes, is one highlight; the frescoes portray the seven planets (all that were then discovered), the four elements and the 12 signs of the zodiac.
Most rooms are devoted to one theme, including a Chinese room and a games room. Guided tours are conducted in German every hour on the hour, though an English translation is possible (enquire in advance).
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Schlossbergbahn
Rising to 473m, Schlossberg is the site of the original fortress that gave Graz its name. Its wooded slopes can be reached by a number of paths, with the funicular Schlossbergbahn from Kaiser-Franz-Josef-Kai, or by Glass Lift from Schlossbergplatz. Even Napoleon was hard-pressed to raze this fortress, but raze it he did. The whole area was later landscaped and today an open-air theatre, a great restaurant-bar and a small Garrison Museum are the legacy.
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StrandBad
Swimmers can dip a paw into the Strandbad, Klagenfurt’s lakeside beach with cabins, restaurants and piers for basking. You can plough a circuit 100m offshore for 500m or so along the line of buoys and back. It’s a decent swim of about 1km in warm waters in summer, and uncrowded. Kästchen (lockers large enough for day packs) in the Strandbad cost €1 plus €10 deposit and are located on the extreme right of the complex as you walk in.
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Kunsthaus
Start your walk from the tourist office on Herrengasse and enormous on the bank of the On the bank of the Mur River is the Kunsthaus7. Designed by British architects Peter Cook and Colin Fournier, this world-class contemporary art space is a bold creation which looks something like a space-age sea slug. Exhibitions change every three to four months, and tours cover not only the exhibitions but also the building.
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Villa Lido
A short walk along the lakeshore from Europapark, this classy and attractive lakeside restaurant has a café terrace on land and tables on a wooden jetty over the water (reserve for one of these). Its menu takes your taste buds through Italian saltimbocca, classic fish or red-meat dishes and pasta, and culminates in delicious sorbets. The upstairs lounge is open from 5pm till late.
reviewed
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The Tourist Office
The Tourist Office offers a guided walking tour in German and English at 14:30 daily from April to October and at 14:30 Saturday from November to March. Also ask about its regular theme tours in town and weekend day trips outside Graz, or pick up its nifty multimedia (and multilingual) guide to sights, using a handheld computer (around €8.50/8.50 two/four hours).
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Dolce Vita
In a region strongly influenced by northern Italian cuisine, this restaurant is something of a local flagship. Inexpensive it is not, but it builds a seasonal menu mostly around fresh local produce and game, while also offering a lunchtime Venetian Sarde in saor (sardines in a marinade). Expect to pay about €14 for a pasta entree.
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Frida & Fred
The creation of FriDa & FreD, Graz’s first museum devoted to children, makes it even better. This small but fun-packed museum is aimed at kids up to the age of 12, and hosts workshops, exhibitions and theatre. Like any good children’s museum, it has loads of hands-on tasks and interactive displays.
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Opernhaus
Graz is an important cultural centre, hosting musical events throughout the year. One of the main venues in town is the Opernhaus. Performance details and tickets (no commission) are available at Theaterservice Graz. The Opernhauscloses in August and there are discounts for students.
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Edegger-Tax
This modern café is perfectly complemented by its 1569 bakery (open 7am to 6pm Monday to Friday, to noon Saturday) next door. Apart from the yummy goodies baked on the premises, its stunning wood-carved façade is reason enough to drop by; note the small doors in the frontage, concealing ingenious hiding places.
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Alte Galerie
The Alte Galerie is the best among the museums housed within the Schloss, with exquisite paintings and sculpture dating from the Romanesque period through to the late baroque. The palace houses three other collections, which can be visited with admission to the Alte Galerie or Schloss itself.
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Schauspielhaus
Graz is an important cultural centre, hosting musical events throughout the year. One of the two main venues in town is the Schauspielhaus. Performance details and tickets (no commission) are available at Theaterservice Graz. The Schauspielhaus closes in August and there are discounts for students.
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Konzerthaus
Entertainment options in Klagenfurt are somewhat limited, but you can catch plays at the Konzerthaus stages a mixed bag of opera and popular music. An events booklet from the tourist office is useful. In summer, the lakeside stage by the Europapark is a great experience.
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Burg
Southeast of Schlossberg is the city’s 15th-century Burg, now housing government offices. At the far end of the courtyard, on the left under the arch, is an ingenious double staircase (1499) – the steps diverge and converge as they spiral.
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Schlossberg Cave Railway
The Schlossberg Cave Railway, the longest grotto railway in Europe, is another highlight for the little ’uns. The trip, taking about 20 minutes, winds its way around fairy-tale scenes through tunnels once used as a safe haven from the allied bombings during WWII.
reviewed
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Stern
During the day and early evening Stern is a fine restaurant with a focus on salads, wok and pasta dishes served at outdoor tables on Kameliterplatz; when the sun sets, its cellar-like interior morphs into a bar, featuring DJs every Friday and Saturday, and live acts on Sunday.
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Dom Im Berg
The tunnels under Schlossberg were once used as air-raid shelters. Today, some of them have been refashioned into a large art-clubbing venue. The sound system and light show are the best in Graz, so it’s no surprise the place is often full when it hosts clubbing events.
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Bergbaumuseum
The Bergbaumuseum is a pleasant option for a rainy day. Exhibits including tools and drilling equipment are housed in tunnels that lead from the grounds of the botanical gardens deep into the hill. The locals took shelter here from Allied bombing during WWII.
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Yamamoto
Yamamoto is refreshingly authentic in an age when Chinese restaurants are reinventing themselves as lucrative sushi bars; it’s Japanese owned and run, and gets its sushi delivered throughout the week, so it’s always fresh and, like the noodle dishes, delicious.
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Wappensaal
The ceiling of the Wappensaal has a trompe l’oeil gallery painted by Carinthian artist Josef Ferdinand Fromiller (1693–1760), and depicting Carinthian landowners paying homage to Charles VI. Stand in the centre of the room for the best effect.
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