Styrian Armory

The Landeszeughaus (Provincial Armory) in Graz is the largest armory in the world that remains largely in its original condition. The building was constructed between 1642 and 1647 to plans by Antonio Solari in the German early Baroque style. It once served as the central weapons depot of Styria, supplying equipment for the provincial levy and for the Military Frontier against the Ottoman Empire in what is now Croatia and Hungary. Its five stacked floors offered enough space to store and maintain equipment for sixteen thousand soldiers in an orderly fashion.

After the armory was closed in the 18th century, the Styrian Estates succeeded through sheer persuasion in saving the collection from being dissolved. Today the building is part of the Universalmuseum Joanneum and houses around 32,000 exhibits. The focus is on armor, bladed weapons, polearms, and firearms from the 16th and 17th centuries, originally intended for ordinary foot soldiers and cavalrymen. Alongside the massive arsenal, you can also admire richly decorated officers' weapons from renowned workshops in Augsburg, Innsbruck, and Nuremberg.

Among the special highlights are the cuirass of Archduke Charles II of Inner Austria and a horse armor from the early 16th century. During World War II, the weapons were safely moved to Styrian castles and returned without losses after the war. Following a comprehensive renovation that redesigned the entrance area and made the building accessible, the Landeszeughaus attracts thousands of visitors every year who want to experience the historical significance of this unique ensemble.