Schlossbergbahn

The Schloßbergbahn is a funicular railway in Graz that carries passengers from the city centre up to the Schloßberg hill. The lower station sits beside the tram routes 3 and 5, about 500 metres north of Hauptplatz. The upper station stands on the site of the old fortress, high above the rooftops. Two glass-roofed cars travel the single track, linked by a cable. The line climbs 110 metres in less than two minutes. The railway opened in 1894 with a steam engine and rack brakes, unusual for its day. In 1900 it switched to electric power drawn from the city’s trams. The cars were rebuilt in 1960, then again in 2004 with modern styling and panoramic roofs. Holding Graz, which runs the city’s trams, operates the line daily until midnight, longer on weekends. The lift beside it gives another way up and down. Visitors find wide views across Graz from the upper station platform. The cars’ glass roofs frame the city skyline as they climb. The lower station is a short walk from the tram stop, easy to reach from the centre. The hilltop offers paths through gardens and remnants of the old fortress. The lift’s tunnel entrance is close by for those who prefer a vertical route.