Starcke House
On the foundations of the Powder Tower from the 16th century, which was destroyed in 1809, the entrepreneur couple Hödl built a winegrower’s cottage from 1825. The chapel-like building in neo-Gothic style with a conical tower made it possible to cultivate the newly laid out vineyard terraces and vegetable patches around the cottage.
It was named after the actor and writer Gustav Starcke (1848 –1921) from Dresden (Germany), who was engaged at the State Theatre in Graz from 1873 to 1885. Until his death, he repeatedly used the cottage as a summer residence and creative location for his Schlossberg poetry.
After that, the Starcke House housed the Schlossberg Museum in the 1920s.
There has been a restaurant in the Starcke Haus since 1997.
Good to know
The Starcke House is situated on the southern slope of Graz’s Schlossberg, close to the Stable Bastion and the Herberstein Garden. Its idyllic setting makes it a popular stop during a walk around the Schlossberg.
Gustav Starcke (1848–1921) was a German actor and writer who spent many summers in what is now known as the Starcke House. Here, he wrote, among other works, "Sommer-Idyll – Moods on Graz’s Schlossberg." The building owes its present-day name to him.
Before the Starcke House was built, the site was occupied by a 16th-century powder tower, which was destroyed during the demolition of the fortress in 1809. From 1825, Bonaventura and Karoline Hödl built a Neo-Gothic winegrower’s house on its foundations, complete with vineyard terraces and vegetable gardens. During the 1920s, the building housed the first Schlossberg Museum before later becoming a restaurant.
Yes. Today, the Starcke House is home to an award-winning gourmet restaurant. Chef Milivoj Novak combines regional ingredients with Mediterranean influences. In addition to its outstanding cuisine, the restaurant is especially renowned for its terrace overlooking the rooftops of Graz.
The Starcke House is one of the most charming and romantic places on Graz’s Schlossberg. This Neo-Gothic winegrower’s house, built from 1825 on the foundations of a former powder tower, combines a fascinating history with magnificent views over Graz. Since 1997, it has also been home to an award-winning gourmet restaurant.
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