Graz is the capital of Styria and the second-biggest city in Austria after Vienna. It is centrally located within today's Bundesland (state) of Styria, or Steiermark in German. Mark is an old German word indicating a large area of land used as a defensive border, in which the peasantry is taught how to organize and fight in the case of an invasion. With a strategic location at the head of the open and fertile Mur valley, Graz was historically a target of invaders, such as the Hungarians under Matthias Corvinus in 1481, and the Ottoman Turks in 1529 and 1532. Apart from the Riegersburg Castle, the Schlossberg was the only fortification in the region that never fell to the Ottoman Turks. Graz is home to the region's provincial armory, which is the world's largest historical collection of late medieval and Renaissance weaponry. It has been preserved since 1551, and displays over 30,000 items.
The most important sights in the historic centre are:
- Town Hall (Rathaus).
- The Castle hill (German: Schlossberg), a hill dominating the historic centre (475 m (1,558.40 ft) high), site of a demolished fortress, with views over Graz.
- The Clock Tower (Uhrturm) is a symbol of Graz, at the top of the Castle hill.
- The New Gallery (Neue Galerie), a museum of art.
- The Castle hill funicular (Schlossbergbahn), a funicular railway on the Castle hill's slope.
- The seat of Styria's provincial parliament (Landhaus), a palace in Lombardic style. It is one of the most important examples of Renaissance architecture in Austria and was built by Italian architect Domenico dell'Allio between 1557 and 1565.
- The Armoury (Landeszeughaus) is the largest of its kind in the world.
- The Graz Opera House (Opernhaus), the principal venue for opera, ballet, and operetta performances. It is the 2nd largest opera house in Austria.
- The Graz Theatre (Schauspielhaus), Graz's principal theatre for productions of plays.
