EGGENBERG CASTLE (SCHLOSS EGGENBERG)

Not to be missed. Located in the west of the city, the castle was commissioned by the imperial advisor of Ferdinand II, Hans Ulrich von Eggenberg, and built between 1625 and 1656. The work of the architect Giovanni Pietro de Pomis. The castle has 365 windows, 31 rooms on each floor, 24 ceremonial rooms with 52 doors and 4 corner towers that evoke the measurement of time: hours, seasons, weeks, days and minutes. The Gregorian calendar was adopted 40 years earlier. The interior of the castle is in baroque and rococo style. It is the largest castle in Styria and since August 2010 it has been included in the Unesco World Heritage List. During the visit of the palace, you can discover the interiors where some rooms have kept their old furniture. Don't miss the splendid paintings that retrace the origins of the world, from Antiquity to the beginning of modern times. The Hall of the Planets is also magnificent: it houses paintings of the twelve signs of the zodiac.
There are several museums in the castle. The Old Gallery(Alte Galerie) immerses us in the art of the medieval period, which is very pious, before moving on to more diverse Renaissance and Baroque works. The exhibition ends with neoclassical paintings by the masters of the late 18th century. The Archaeology Museum(Archäologiemuseum) presents a series of objects (over 1220), the most emblematic of which date from the Bronze Age. Very educational, this exhibition is of interest to adults and children alike. Finally, theMünzkabinett houses a permanent exhibition with a section presenting the coins in circulation from Antiquity to the 18th century, while the other section presents the life of Balthasar Eggenberger, the financier who enabled the Eggenberger family to become one of the most powerful houses of the time. The gardens are also a must. Take the time to wander around and enjoy the different landscapes, from the English park to the baroque gardens. Don't miss the Planetary Garden, completely recreated in 1999 on the theme of astrology. A jewel!
If you want to see the rose garden in full bloom, schedule your visit between late May and early June. And if you want to learn more about roses and their different species, a guided tour is offered on their history, cultivation, maintenance...