Grazer Märchenbahn

The Graz Fairy Tale Railway (Grazer Märchenbahn) is a narrow-gauge railway that runs through the historic air-raid tunnels of Graz's Schloßberg. These underground passages, which sheltered thousands of people during World War II, now house a fascinating interactive attraction. The route starts at Schloßbergplatz at the lower station of the Schloßberg funicular and stretches for two kilometers (1.2 miles). After several renovations and safety upgrades that continued into the 2010s, the railway reopened with a ceremony in 2014 under its new name and has been a popular destination in the city ever since.

The ride lasts about 35 minutes and takes you through a dark, cool tunnel system aboard an electrically powered train. Rather than showing traditional puppet figures, the modern concept relies on an atmospheric staging of light, shadow, and interactive elements. The train stops at several stations, where visitors can explore their surroundings with flashlights and illuminate different scenes. Fairy-tale quotations and evocative images spark passengers' imaginations without depicting the stories explicitly. The experience appeals equally to children ages four and up and to adults who want to discover an unusual perspective on the underground world of the Schloßberg.