Schloss Eggenberg

Schloss Eggenberg

Attraction Introduction

Near Graz lies a magnificent and exquisitely crafted castle—Schloss Eggenberg, a splendid Renaissance-style building constructed in 1623 by Prince Johann Ulrich von Eggenberg, who invited Italian architects to design it.

The architect meticulously incorporated the Renaissance-era human understanding of astronomy, geography, and cosmology into the palace’s design. Both the ceilings and walls are adorned with paintings of zodiac animals and planetary systems. The palace’s four towers symbolize the four cardinal directions—east, south, west, and north. The 365 windows of the palace represent the days of the year, while the 24 halls symbolize the 24 hours of a day. Today, Schloss Eggenberg is open to visitors, and the regional government also uses the palace to host guests from around the world. The castle is surrounded by a beautiful natural park, where peacocks and sika deer can often be seen graciously interacting with visitors.

Graz, Austria