Schloss Harmsdorf

Schloss Harmsdorf once stood in Graz-Jakomini, a district of the city. Its history reaches back to the 14th or 15th century, when it was a two-storey building with a tower. In 1944 the structure was destroyed by bombing during the Second World War. Today only fragments of the old walls remain in the cellar. The site has belonged to the city of Graz since the 20th century. A children’s home now occupies the grounds. The estate once included a steward’s house, a large walled garden and fields. Around 1737 a glasshouse was added, containing 203 orange and lemon trees. These trees and the glasshouse were valued at about 420 gulden. The settlement of Harmsdorf was listed in the Graz directory as a separate tax unit until 1867. In 1849 a unanimous vote by citizens led to its merger with the city. Visitors can still see parts of the old foundations in the cellar. The grounds slope gently towards the city centre. A children’s home occupies the main building, so the site is not open to the public. The remaining walls stand among mature trees and shrubs. The area forms a quiet corner in a busy district.