monument in Graz

Uhrturm

The Uhrturm (Clock Tower) on the Schlossberg in Graz is the city's defining visual symbol: a medieval tower on a rock hill above the old town, with a clock face that runs backward by convention. The large hand shows hours and the small hand shows minutes, the reverse of how every other clock in the world works.

The Uhrturm (Clock Tower) has stood on Graz’s Schlossberg since at least 1265 and survived Napoleon’s 1809 demolition order because citizens paid a ransom to spare it. The clock face runs backward: the large hand shows hours, the small hand shows minutes, a legacy of how the original mechanism was installed. Free to visit via the Schlossberg park; reach the summit by glass elevator (Schlossberglift, EUR 2.50), funicular (Schlossbergbahn), or 260 stone steps. The views over Graz from the tower terrace are worth the climb at any time of day.

Type
monument
Destination
Graz
Cost
Paid entry
Founded
13th century
Era
Medieval
Address
Schlossberg, 8010 Graz
Coordinates
47.7279, 16.1986
Official website
Visit website