Shlosberg Castle
The fortress castle is located on a hill 473 meters high. Schlosberg translates as « castle hill ». The castle can be reached on foot, climbed a funicular or elevator. In addition to tourists, locals love to spend time here. An excellent park spread out near the castle. The space of the park is crossed by historical paths, and from the observation deck on the hill you can admire the views of the ancient Graz. At one time it was the capital.
Castle History
There is a legend that the name of the city « Graz » – is derived from « Hradec » – strengthening « in Slavic. Slavs have inhabited these places since ancient times. A thorough defensive structure was built on the hill. The settlement around the fortress has become a place of lively trade. After 200 years, the residence of the great Habsburgs was located in Graz. The construction of the castle began with the Bergfried tower. Then the Urturm clock tower was rebuilt 28 m high, on all 4 facades of which the watch dials are installed. The watch mechanism has been operating since the beginning of the 18th century. From the height of the tower, the landscapes of Graz are perfectly visible. 2 bastions and a bell tower are well preserved. The tower itself is remarkably visible from almost all urban areas.
The construction of the castle began in the XII century in 1125. A gracious fortress and the city around us played an important defensive and defensive role at the borders of the Roman Empire. The castle survived more than one siege and attack, but was never captured. The troops of the Ottoman Empire repeatedly attacked Graz and the Schlosberg fortress. In 1531, the Turks again tried to seize the fortress and the city, which prevented them from moving further to Europe. In the battle by the Moore River, they were defeated. As a result of military events, the mountain was pretty destroyed and the fortress also suffered.
In 1543, it was decided to begin tremendous work to restore and strengthen the defense ability of the castle fortress. The construction was entrusted to the famous Italian architect Domenico Del Alio. He came up with an elevator for delivering heavy materials and people to the top of the hill in the fortress. Old buildings have been replaced with more modern and stronger ones. The work was completed at the end of the 16th century.
In 1809. Napoleon cast Vienna, but Graz and the castle survived. French troops partially destroyed the mountain, but could not take the fortress. Napoleon ordered daily housekeeping in Vienna until Graz surrenders. The defenders had to give in. Napoleon ordered the destruction of Schlosberg to the ground. But the inhabitants picked up the money and gave it to Bonaparte as a ransom so that he would not touch the bell tower and watch tower.
By anyone, the not conquered Schlosberg castle fortress is listed in the Guinness Book of Records. From Schlosberg Castle there is a passage to the castle of Graz along the inside of the city wall. In 1999, Schlosberg Castle, as a cultural monument, was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The castle often hosts concerts, theater productions, festivals. The event hall is organized by the casemates. They pull the roof, collect the scene and set up places for the audience. The improvised room has excellent acoustics. Both classical works and modern ones sound perfect in it.
Sights of Schlosberg Castle
Not far from the clock tower is a monument to the dog. There is a legend that a girl living in Schlosberg Castle rejected the groom. Out of revenge, he decided to abduct the bride. The dog with its barking raised all the guards to its feet and saved them from attack. The park is currently allowed to walk with dogs, and even a special drink is installed for them. It is interesting to look at the old well. Its depth is almost 100 m, and the adit reaches the river. Moore. The well was built in 1544-1547. During the Turkish siege, thanks to the well, the inhabitants and defenders of the fortress were provided with water.
4 signal guns attract the attention of tourists. They got the nickname « 4 evangelist » because they warned with their shots about the approach of enemies. Tourists love to climb the old bell tower, it opens up a beautiful natural landscape and the city itself. Its height is 34 m. At one time, the bell tower was completely destroyed by the Turks, but in 1588 it was restored. Inside the tower is a bell « Lizl ». Its weight exceeds 4.5 tons. They say that in 1587 he was cast from cannon nuclei, which got as a trophy in battles with the Turks. The bell took 101 cores.
Of interest is the sculpture of a lion, installed in 1908. It is called « Lev Hackner ». Hackner – the name of the brave major who commanded the fortress during the attacks of Napoleon’s troops. The defenders of Schlosberg Castle were less than 1000, but they managed to repel 8 attacks by the French, the number of which was 4 times larger. No one knew Hackner's face at the time of working on the sculpture, so it was decided to portray him as a mighty lion.
The riddle is surrounded by mines in the mountain. Previously, under them underground one could get from one castle to another and go out into the city.
