1 . C L O C K
T O W E R
AM SCHLOSSBERG
The fortified medieval tower acquired its present
form around 1560 . And its characteristic wooden
gallery was used as a fire unit . From the bell tower
you can hear the sound of three bells . The walls are
decorated with three arms .
The tower on this place of the hill was first built in
the 13th century . When the fortress was
reconstructed in the middle of the 16th century , the
tower got its present form . Arrows on a huge clock
often confuse people . The clock does not work ? No .
Initially , the clock had only a long arrow to show
the hour , which could be seen from a distance , and
only later was added a minute hand , which was
shorter than an hour . The clock , made by Michael
Sylvester Funk in 1712 , is still working , but from the
middle of the 20th century they are electronically
controlled . When there was a fire in the city , a fire
signal came to the fire brigade due to the bell
inside this tower .
The fire bell ( 1645 ) is one of three bells still hanging
outside the Clock Tower . The oldest bell of Graz
( 1385 ) is striking . During the execution , the signal of
" poor bad bell " ( established around 1450 ) was heard .
In subsequent years , this was like the sound of a
curfew . In the three corners of the tower there are
coats of arms that previously adorn the gates and
walls of the fortress of Schlossberg : the Styrian
panther with the crown of the duchy of Styria on his
head ( circa 1570 ), one eagle as the emblem of the
later Emperor Ferdinand I ( 1552 ) and the double
eagle with the initial letters Maria Theresa ( 2nd half
of the 18th century ).
During the war , the massive " Bürgerbastei " ( fortress
of the bastion ), located behind the Clock Tower , was
supposed to protect the inhabitants of Graz , hence
its name . Today this place for seedlings is the
splendor of flowers and quite southern plants . And
here there are even benches . Relax and enjoy the
magnificent view of the city and beyond .