This is 2nd photo of Noor from Graz, Austria. After reading nice feedback from our readers, Noor send this photo of her with 2 of her Austrian friends. Graz is the second largest city in Austria and has the reputation of being a “student city” because of the large number of universities it holds. In 2003 Graz was named the Cultural Capital of Europe by the European Union.
Noor’s intensive study program has begin. The intensive sessions are during the months of September and February. After the intensive sessions regular courses in the fall begin in October and concludes in February; spring semester begins in late February and concludes in late June. Because of the academic calendar, students are advised to study for a full year or spring semester only, if possible.
Noor has told us more about Graz. The city’s architecture is dominated largely by the struggle of the Reformists and the Habsburgs’ Counter Reformation. Protestant buildings like the Landhaus and many different palais encounter buildings like the old University, the Mausoleum and the Minoritenkirche erected to represent Catholic believes.
The most important building of baroque architecture in Graz is without doubt the Eggenberg castle. A very significant city mark is the romantic Uhrturm, a tower still using the original clockwork from 1712 and a popular first kiss area for many inhabitants. The fortress on the Schlossberg determines the townscape of the city and contains the largest collection of early modern weaponry and suits of armour throughout Europe. In the 19th century Graz grew into a large city and many representative buildings like the Karl-Franzens-University, the city hall and the opera house were erected.