Grundlsee
A famous for its emerald green colour and its clear water. This alpine lake lies in the Styrian part of the Salzkammergut, just about few minutes by car from Bad Aussee. Surrounded by the mountains of the Totes Gebirge mountain range, the Grundlsee provides many perfect photographic vistas.

Lake Toplitz / Toplitzsee
A lake situated in a dense mountain forest high up in the Austrian Alps, 98 km (60 miles) from Salzburg in western Austria. It is surrounded by cliffs and forests in the picturesque Salzkammergut lake district within the Totes Gebirge, or dead mountains. After a depth of 20m, the Toplitzsee water contains no oxygen. Fish can survive only in the top 18m, as the water below 20m is salty. Bacteria and worms have been found that can live without oxygen.

Kammersee
The largest lake of the Salzkammergut area of Austria. It extends for about 20 km from north to south and 4 km from east to west. Its water comes from the Seeache, which flows out of another lake, the Mondsee.

Riegersburg Castle
This monumental fortress towers atop a volcanic rock. The oldest castle complex was built here around 1100 A.D. Defence walls extending more than 3 kilometers, 11 bastions and 7 gate houses surround the 15 hectares on the large rocky plateau, rendering the citadel impregnable. It has been privately owned by the Liechtensteins since 1822. Today, 2 exhibitions are housed in 108 rooms of the fortress: The entire first floor, incl. the state rooms, is devoted to the 900 year old history of the princely Liechtenstein family, whereas the basement is home to the continuation of the famous 1987 Styrian Provincial Exhibition "Witches and Wizards".

Graz
Consider as a European Capital of Culture. It celebrated with massive cultural investment in new artistic venues. Today, cutting-edge architecture complements this former seat of the Hapsburgs and bedrock of the Holy Roman Empire. Sporting architectural styles that trace its history from the Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque and Art Nouveau up to the 21st century, Graz also has a rich European mix of Romany, Slavic, Magyar and Alpine-Germanic cultures.

Schlossberg / Castle Mountain
Hill dominating the old town (475 m high), site of demolished fortress, with views over Graz.

Graz "Old Town"
One of the best-preserved city centres in Central Europe. In 1999, it was added to the UNESCO list of World Cultural Heritage Sites. Graz was sole Cultural Capital of Europe for 2003.

Uhrturm / Clocktower
A symbol of Graz, on the top of Schloßberg, it is the most prominent landmark of Styria's capital Graz. It dates back to 1712 and still operates with the original clockwork. The Uhrturm is a great place to get an overview on Graz, Austria's second city with some 230,000 residents.

Neue Galerie
Perceives it as its duty to current and future generations, and cultural task, to inform the public about the status of regional, national and international contemporary art production by means of exhibitions and symposia.

The Landhaus
the building where the federal state parliament of Styria resides, a palace in Lombardic style. It belongs to the most important examples of Renaissance architecture in Austria and was built by the Italian architect Domenico dell'Allio between 1557 and 1565.

Landeszeughaus
Styria Armoury, the largest of its kind in the world.

Schauspielhaus
The principal theatre.

Dom / Cathedral
A rare monument of Gothic architecture. Once, there had been many frescos on the outer walls, today, there are only few remains, like the Landplagenbild ("picture of plagues") painted in 1485, presumably by Thomas von Villach. The three plagues it depicts are locusts, pestilence and the invasion of the Turks, all of them striking the town in 1480. It features the oldest painted view of Graz.

Mausoleum of Emperor Ferdinand II
Next to the cathedral, the most important building of Mannerism in Graz. It includes both the grave, where Ferdinand II and his wife are buried, and a church dedicated to St Catherine of Alexandria.

Rathaus Graz
Literally translating as "council house", often rendered as "city hall" or "town hall". However, many specific buildings are referred to as Rathaus, even when spoken about in English. From the word, Rat (council), a German advisory or ruling council (derived from raten, "to advise").

Burg / Castle complex
A Gothic double staircase, built between 1438 and 1453 by Emperor Frederick III because the old castle on the Schloßberg was too small and uncomfortable. The Burg remained the residence of the Inner Austrian Court until 1619. Today, it serves as residence of the government of Styria.

Gemaltes Haus / Painted House
It is completely covered with frescos, painted in 1742 by Johann Mayer.

Kunsthaus Graz
A museum of modern art.

Murinsel
Actually not an island at all, but an artificial floating platform in the middle of the Mur river, this landmark of Graz was designed by New York artist Vito Acconci on the occasion of Graz becoming the 2003 European Capital of Culture. The building in the form of a giant sea shell measures 50m in length and 20m in width. Two footbridges connect it with both banks of the Mur. The center of the platform forms an amphitheatre. Below a twisted round dome there is a café and a playground. The Murinsel is built for a maximum number of 350 visitors.

Schloss Eggenberg
A Baroque palace on the western edge of Graz with State rooms and museum.

Basilika Mariatrost
A late Baroque church, on the eastern edge of Graz.

The Herz Jesu Kirche
The largest church in Graz with the 3rd highest spire in Austria, built in Gothic Revival style.

Calvary Hill
The Gösting area of Graz with a 17th century calvary and church.

LKH-Universitätsklinikum
The biggest hospital of Graz, it is the largest Art Nouveau building complex in Austria. It was built between 1904 and 1912. It is run by the state.

Ruine Gösting
Hilltop castle ruins on northwestern edge of city, and Plabutsch/Fürstenstand, behind Schloss Eggenberg with a hilltop restaurant and viewing tower.

Graz Reininghaus
Currently the biggest privately financed city development project in Austria.

Graz Reininghaus
Currently the biggest privately financed city development project in Austria.

Lurgrotte
The most extensive cave system in Austria. The cave has two entrances: Lurgrotte Peggau and Semriach. On February 13th 1935 the cave was crossed for the first time, it took a total of 18 hours for 6 km. In 1957, after 20 years of construction work, the Lurgrotte was ready for guided tours to Semriach, lasting 3-4 hours. But the paths got destroyed again by the worst flood of the century in 1975.

Lipizzanergestüt Piber
Lipizzaner stud where the famous white horses are bred.

Steirische Weinstrasse / Wine Route / Wine Road
A wine growing region south of Graz, also known as the "Styrian Tuscany".

Thermenregion
Spa region east of Graz.