Clock Graz

The Graz Clock Tower (Uhrturm) is the most distinctive landmark of the Styrian capital, perched high on the southwestern slope of Schlossberg hill. Standing 28 meters tall and fitted with four large, gilded clock faces, it marks the point where the medieval city wall met the former castle complex. The slender tower, built on a square floor plan, has unusually steeply sloping walls that taper from bottom to top. Its history goes back to the 13th century, though its present form dates only from a rebuilding in 1569, when the first clock was installed. Later, in 1712, the tower received a fourth clock face and a more precise clockwork that displayed minutes for the first time.

Visitors cannot enter the tower, but you can admire its architectural singularity from a distance. Three historic bells still hang inside, including the hour bell from 1382, the oldest bell in the city, as well as the fire bell and the so-called poor sinners' bell. These bells once served important purposes, such as striking the hours or warning of fires. A special legend tells of the Stone Dog, which you can see below the tower on a ledge in the wall. It is said to commemorate a faithful dog that saved the emperor's daughter Kunigunde from abduction in the 15th century.

The clock tower survived the siege by Napoleon's troops in 1809, even though it was struck by a cannonball. The citizens of Graz were able to buy it back at the time, which saved it from destruction. More recently, during the 2003 European Capital of Culture year, the tower was temporarily accompanied by a black steel twin, an artwork that recalled the darker chapters of the city's history. Today the restored tower stands as a living symbol of the long history and identity of Graz.