Schlossberg

Herberstein Garden

Q: Where is the Herberstein Garden located?

The Herberstein Garden is situated on the southern slope of Graz’s Schlossberg . It can be reached via the Kriegssteig and is just a short walk from the Clock Tower , making it an ideal stop during a stroll around the Schlossberg.

Q: Why is the Herberstein Garden worth visiting?

The Herberstein Garden is one of the most beautiful green retreats on Graz’s Schlossberg. Once the vineyard of the Counts of Herberstein , it was transformed into a terraced garden and opened to the public in 1931 . Often referred to as the "Hanging Gardens of Graz" , it combines historic garden architecture, Mediterranean plants and magnificent views over the city.

Q: How much time should you allow for a visit to the Herberstein Garden?

Allow around 20 to 30 minutes to explore the garden, enjoy the views and take photographs. Thanks to its location, it can easily be combined with visits to the Clock Tower , the Bell Tower , or other attractions on the Schlossberg.

Q: Which plants grow in the Herberstein Garden?

The garden has a distinctly Mediterranean atmosphere . Lemon, fig, pomegranate and bitter orange trees have flourished here for generations, producing aromatic fruit year after year. Since 1991 , the garden has also included a small vineyard, where the famous Schlossberg wine was produced for many years.

The southern slope of the Schlossberg was cultivated as a vineyard by the Herberstein count’s family, who inherited the palace of the same name in Sackstraße in 1798.

From the attic of the south wing, a now dilapidated rocky path led to the vineyard. In 1930, the City of Graz acquired the garden, which had fallen into neglect following changes in ownership, and renovated both the terraces and the greenery. In the same year, the Herberstein Garden was made accessible via the War Trail and ceremoniously opened to the public in 1931.

The gardens are considered to be an outstanding example of garden architecture in the interwar period.

Good to know

The Herberstein Garden is situated on the southern slope of Graz’s Schlossberg. It can be reached via the Kriegssteig and is just a short walk from the Clock Tower, making it an ideal stop during a stroll around the Schlossberg.

The Herberstein Garden is one of the most beautiful green retreats on Graz’s Schlossberg. Once the vineyard of the Counts of Herberstein, it was transformed into a terraced garden and opened to the public in 1931. Often referred to as the "Hanging Gardens of Graz", it combines historic garden architecture, Mediterranean plants and magnificent views over the city.

Allow around 20 to 30 minutes to explore the garden, enjoy the views and take photographs. Thanks to its location, it can easily be combined with visits to the Clock Tower, the Bell Tower, or other attractions on the Schlossberg.

The garden has a distinctly Mediterranean atmosphere. Lemon, fig, pomegranate and bitter orange trees have flourished here for generations, producing aromatic fruit year after year. Since 1991, the garden has also included a small vineyard, where the famous Schlossberg wine was produced for many years.

The Schlossberg is home to a surprising variety of wildlife. Visitors may see squirrels, around 45 species of birds, lizards basking on the old stone walls and, with a bit of luck, even badgers. Deep inside the mountain, bats inhabit the historic tunnels, making the Schlossberg an important urban nature reserve.