Generalkogel

The Generalkogel is a 713-metre hill in the western part of the Graz uplands, near the city of Graz in Styria. It forms the western end of a ridge that separates the Gratkorn basin from the Thal basin. The summit lies on the boundary between two municipalities and is part of a protected landscape area. The hill is known for the grave of a woman who became known as the Generalin. Born in 1772 into a Huguenot family, she spent years in India running a girls’ school and trading goods before marrying a British colonel. After settling in Styria she acquired a castle and became a local figure of fascination. She chose this hill for her burial in 1849, and a simple memorial now marks the spot. Visitors reach the site along waymarked paths through mixed woodland. A wooden cross and a new plaque stand beside a stone slab in a quiet clearing. From the ridge there are wide views north over the Gratkorn basin and south towards Thal. The grave lies in a private wood but is accessible to walkers who respect the surroundings.