Austria. Media News.

Dear friends of Austria and fellow travelers,

Summer is about to be officially here, if you count June 21 vs. Memorial Day as the official beginning of summer, and it is time to take you to Graz, an Austrian city with Mediterranean flair, lots of outdoor dining options, and some of the best wine of the country in the vineyards around the city - all it takes to make for a great summer destination!

Let us dive right in and discover some of Graz's highlights!

With warmest regards,
Sigrid Pichler & Helen Bitschnau

Managers of Public Relations
Austrian Tourist Office New York City
sigrid.pichler@austria.info 
helen.bitschnau@austria.info  
tel 212 575 7723 x 119 or x 112
www.austria.info 

   

Graz is known for its rich cultural heritage, stunning architecture, and vibrant atmosphere. It is the second-largest city in Austria and a UNESCO World Heritage site, it beautifully blends the old and new, with medieval structures juxtaposed against modern architecture. The historic city center with its captivating roof-scape (best seen from the Uhrturm clock tower) has well preserved Renaissance architecture, hidden court yards as well as famous landmarks like the aforementioned Uhrturm on the Schlossberg, the Armory, the Cathedral, and the modern Kunsthaus Graz. It is well worth venturing outside the city center to visit attractions like Eggenberg Palace, a Baroque masterpiece as well as the Graz Botanical Gardens.

Graz's culinary scene showcases a blend of traditional Austrian flavors, regional specialties, local markets, fine wines, and international cuisine. Food enthusiasts visiting Graz can indulge in a rich gastronomic experience that celebrates both local traditions and global influences. Graz is home to vibrant farmers' markets, such as the Kaiser-Josef-Markt and the Lendplatz Market. These markets offer a wide array of fresh produce, artisanal cheeses, meats, baked goods, and other regional products - pumpkin seed oil anyone? They provide an opportunity to sample local flavors and interact with the producers who are always happy to offer samples and share stories.

  

And with great food, comes great wine. Styrian wines (Graz is the capital of the province Styria) are some of the most excellent Austrian wines. Visitors can explore the local vineyards and wineries, the South Styrian Wine Road offers some great opportunities also for cycling enthusiasts! Tasting the region's signature wines, particularly white wines like Sauvignon Blanc and Welschriesling, is a definite summer must-do in the region! Sadly (or not) most of these wines have to be consumed in Austria, since most wineries are family run, production is small, and well, the Austrians love to drink their own wines!

  

 Looking a little bit beyond summer, the KLANGLICHT light and sound festival will transform the inner city of Graz into a centre of luminous poetry from October 25 and 27, 2023. Curated and organized by Bühnen Graz, Austria's unique light and sound festival will be held for the 5th time. On three evenings, national and international artists at KLANGLICHT transform the city into a truly magical place for the eyes, the ears and the heart with impressive façade projections, fascinating colorful landscapes, and enchanting sounds. Emotion and wonder, light, sound and magic – free admission, open in all weather conditions! Something to look forward to for sure!