(SOCIAL) LIFE IN GRAZ & OBERSCHÜTZEN 1 Good to know about AUSTRIA You would like to study in Austria? Here are some interesting key facts which should help you to find your way around quickly! FACTS ABOUT AUSTRIA Capital: Number of Residents: Vienna Approx. 8.8 Mio. Size: Currency: 83.858 km² Euro (€ 1 = 100 Cent) Federal States: Neighbouring Countries: Burgenland, Carinthia, Lower Austria, Upper Germany, Italy, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, Austria, Salzburg, Styria, Tirol, Vorarlberg, Slovakia, Slovenia, Czech Republic, Hungary Vienna Climate: Time Zone: Moderate climate: mild summers with heat Central European Time Zone (CET), UTC +1, spells (up to +30 ° C), cold and wet winters with 2x per year (end of March / end of October): snow (down to -15 ° C) time change Famous Austrian Artists: Fauna & Flora: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Johann Strauss, No kangaroos , but there is the central Elfriede Jelinek, Joseph Haydn, Franz Schubert, European wildlife: e.g. deer, hares, pheasants, Franz Liszt, Anton Bruckner, Egon Schiele, Gustav foxes, badgers, martens, partridges and others. Klimt, Oskar Kokoschka, Gustav Mahler, Peter In addition, there are many deciduous forests Handke, Thomas Bernhard, Helmut Qualtinger, (oaks, beech) or mixed forests (beech, spruce) in and counting higher regions spruce, larch and arolla pine. Traditional Austrian Cuisine: Sports: e.g. Tafelspitz, Wiener Schnitzel, Styrian fried e.g. Winter sports: skiing, cross-country skiing, chicken, goulash, Sacher cake, Kaiserschmarrn, ice skating, summer sports: cycling, swimming, apple strudel and much more sailing; numerous club sports are possible Image film “Study in Austria”: https://studyinaustria.at/en/why-austria/study-in-austria-the-film/ WHY AUSTRIA? High social security High standard of living Extensive offer of education and further education Landscape diversity High sense of and long tradition in art and culture Enjoyable eating and drinking Optimal location in the heart of Europe 2 GRAZ You are new in the city of Graz and you would like to find your way around quickly and easily here? We have put together some interesting information and links about (social) life in the city to help you get to know your new place of study as well as new people. SIGHTS & CULTURAL OFFER Did you know that Graz was not only celebrated in 2003 as Europe's cultural capital, but since 2011 Graz is also "UNESCO City of Design" and is one of the most future- oriented cities in the world? SIGHTS (examples) Burg & Doppelwendeltreppe (Burg & Double Glockenspiel Spiral Staircase) Glockenspielplatz 4, 8010 Graz Hofgasse 15, 8010 Graz Short description: Three times a day the traditional Short description: The Burg in Graz - former residence mechanical “Glockenspiel” sounds at the of the Habsburg family and today's headquarter of “Glockenspielplatz”. In the house gable a dancing the local Styrian government - has been structurally Styrian couple in colourful traditional costumes turns rebuilt over centuries and combines elements from around to three different melodies. the Gothic, Renaissance and Biedermeier eras today. Worth seeing and listening! A special highlight is the double spiral staircase, More information: https://bit.ly/2KYUpWV which at first glance may look like an optical illusion, as it consists of two opposing stairs that merge briefly on each floor, separate and come together again. The double spiral staircase is also called "reconciliation stairs" and is a true tourist attraction! More information: https://bit.ly/2KpBZyl Grazer Dom (Graz Cathedral) Grazer Uhrturm (Clock Tower) Burggasse 3, 8010 Graz Schlossberg, 8010 Graz Short description: When it comes to attractions in Short description: What must one have necessarily Graz, you cannot miss the Graz Cathedral - one of the seen in Graz? Correct! The landmark of Graz, namely most significant cultural-historical buildings! The the clock tower at Schlossberg, not far away from the cathedral reminds of times when Graz was still an main square! From here you can catch a stunning imperial city. Once built by the imperator Friedrich view over the red roofs and historic backyards and III., the cathedral serves today as the main church of simply enjoy your day! By the way, in the middle of the Catholics in Styria. From the year 1978 comes the the rock of the Schlossberg, you can find the event organ of the cathedral, which has 5354 pipes and 73 location "Dom im Berg", next to the fairy-tale grotto. registers and plays at church and organ concerts all Find out more about the clock tower on the following pieces. Not far from the Graz Cathedral is also the website: http://bit.ly/2IryYgf. Institute for Church Music and Organ of the KUG! If you want to see the "shadow" of the clock tower, More information: https://bit.ly/2JkYm7O which has been created in 2003 when Graz was the "European Capital of Culture", then you have to go to the Grazer outskirts of “Seiersberg”. 3 Kunsthaus Graz Landeszeughaus (Styrian Armoury) Lendkai 1, 8020 Graz Herrengasse 16, 8010 Graz Short description: The “Kunsthaus Graz”, also known Short description: The Styrian Armoury, with its as the "Friendly Alien", has been floating between the 32.000 exhibits on five floors, is not only an rooftops of the old town since 2003 and is an impressive armoury and an interesting museum on exhibition center which combines global trends in the country's history, but also the largest historic contemporary art with regional and local activities. armoury in the world. But not only the spectacular architecture of the “Kunsthaus Graz”, but in particular various exhibitions, a shop, the Kunsthauscafé or a media lounge attract visitors from all over the world magically. More information: https://bit.ly/2uWNiL8 Landhaushof (Landhaus Courtyard) Mausoleum Herrengasse 16, 8010 Graz Burggasse 3, 8010 Graz Short description: The “Landhaus”, which was built in Short description: Immediately adjacent to the Graz the 16th century for the estates of Styria is today the cathedral the imperial resting place of Emperor seat of the Styrian parliament and is one of the most Ferdinand II is located - the mausoleum, built in the important Renaissance buildings in Central Europe. 17th century, which forms a unit together with the In the inviting atmosphere of the courtyard concerts, adjoining “Katharinenkirche“ and which is one of the theater performances and various events take place most important architectural monuments in Austria. regularly. While in the summer months flowers adorn Among other things, together with the Graz the arcades, during the winter months you can cathedral, the building characterizes the cityscape of marvel at the famous ice crib. Graz and is part of what is also known as the "Grazer Stadtkrone". More information: https://bit.ly/2KYeH2S Murinsel (Island in the Mur) Schloss Eggenberg Lendkai 19, 8020 Graz Eggenberger Allee 90, 8020 Graz Short description: An island in the middle of the city? Short description: The Eggenberg Palace, which has Graz can offer you also that! In 2003 the “Murinsel” been a UNESCO World Heritage since 2010, and was (Island in the Mur) was commissioned as part of the built in the early 17th century, is located on the city’s role as capital of culture and is now the outskirts of Graz at the foot of the Plabutsch amid of connection between the city and the river. Not only a wonderful landscape park and it is one of the most concerts and cultural evenings take place here, but it important castles in Styria. Valuable collections and is also a wonderful place to enjoy your drink and get interesting exhibitions invite you to visit. to know the city from a different point of view! More information: https://bit.ly/2jpq3BQ More information: http://murinselgraz.at/en/ Further information can be found here: https://www.graztourismus.at/en/see-and-do/sightseeing/top-10-sights Special Hint from a KUG Student: I like to go by bike to the basilica in Mariatrost, which by the way is one of the most famous pilgrimage destinations in Styria! Surrounded by greenery, it's a great place to have a picnic and enjoy nature. You can go back then through the Leechwald! Ideal for students, as this is not far from the university! (Faris, Composition and Music Theory, Education in Composition and Music Theory) 4 Performance Venues (examples) Dom im Berg Next Liberty Schlossbergplatz 1, 8010 Graz Kaiser-Josef-Platz 10, 8010 Graz FORUM STADTPARK Opera Graz Stadtpark 1, 8010 Graz Kaiser-Josef-Platz 10, 8010 Graz Messe Congress Graz Orpheum Messeplatz 1, 8010 Graz Orpheumgasse 8, 8020 Graz Helmut-List-Halle Schauspielhaus Graz (Theatre) Waagner-Biro-Straße 98a, 8020 Graz Hofgasse 11 8010 Graz Kammersäle Graz Theater am Ortweinplatz – TaO (Halls of the Austrian Chamber of Labour) Theater am Ortweinplatz 1, 8010 Graz Strauchergasse 32, 8020 Graz Kasematten – Schlossbergbühne Theater ASOU Grazer Schloßberg, 8010 Graz Neubaugasse 24, 8020 Graz Kleinkunstbühne Hin und Wider WIST Moserhofgasse Mandellstraße 11, 8010 Graz Moserhofgasse 34, 8010 Graz Further venues can be found here: http://www.kultur.graz.at/kalender/ort/ Annual Festivals & Events in Graz (examples) Augartenfest International Storytelling Festival grazERZÄHLT Concerts in the Graz Augarten / Volksgarten Festival of the narrative arts Aufsteirern Long Table of Graz Styrian Folk Culture Festival in the center of Graz Cuisine at the main square of Grazer DIAGONALE La Strada Festival of Austrian film Festival of street art and puppet theatre Elevate Opernredoute Festival for music, art and political discourse