The representative city hall with its dome, clock and corner tower has dominated Graz's main square since the end of the 19th century.

It serves not only as the official seat of the mayor and the city government. Shops and a café with a garden in the courtyard also enliven the building.

And many a couple associate romantic memories with Graz City Hall. After all, the wedding ceremony was held here in the large wedding hall.

The growing importance of Austria's second largest city can be clearly seen in the history of the town hall. Around 1550, the city administration moved into a rather modest Renaissance building on today's main square, which incidentally also served as a prison. It was replaced in 1803 by a larger new building in baroque-classicist style.

The massive population increase in the 19th century and the growing self-confidence of the citizens led to the construction of the today's city hall according to the plans of the Viennese arquitects Wielemans and Reuter. Completed in 1893, the building in late historicist Old German style was to replace all the houses in the block. Which did not quite succeed. Three narrow town houses are still to be found on Herrengasse, literally clamped into the mighty town hall building. Their owners had refused to "sacrifice" the houses to the new town hall. For many a symbol of the stubbornness that is said to be ascribed to Styrians...

The main facade of the town hall was greatly simplified in the 20th century. However, the figures removed from niches and above the portal are now returning in a renewed form: allegories of craftsmanship, art, science and trade and important players in Austrian history.

Inside, the quality of the two-storey meeting room may well enhance the work of the town council. A coffered wooden ceiling, a gallery, wall panelling, even the chandelier and wall clock have been preserved from the dignified original furnishings of the late 19th century.

Even though marriage ceremonies in Graz are now possible in many romantic places - only the wedding hall in the town hall offers the possibility, thanks to a web camera, to broadcast the ceremony live to friends and relatives all over the world.

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