STYRIA
- Jan 3
- 4 min read
Updated: Jan 31
Styria has been nicknamed the "green heart of Austria." Its capital, Graz, is a picturesque city. Its name has Slavic roots: "Gradec" means "small town."
STYRIA: ICONIC LANDMARKS
Styria is called the "green heart of Austria". Two-thirds of its territory is covered by dense forests.
To the north are the Alps, to the south stretch unhurried pastoral expanses: from the wild romance of the Gesäuse National Park to gentle hills covered with vineyards.
Austria's second-largest city, Graz is considered the cultural capital of Styria. Its historic center, comprising ancient streets and buildings, is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Graz is renowned for its Renaissance and Baroque architecture.
The ancient fortress of Riegersburg Castle is located in a picturesque valley. The castle offers incredible views of the surrounding area, and its interior houses historical exhibitions dedicated to the life and customs of that time.
Styria is also known for its vineyards and winemaking , and its wines are considered some of the best in Europe. This is a place where you can not only enjoy wine but also take winery tours where you'll learn about the production process.
STYRIA: COAT OF ARMS' HISTORY
In ancient times, this was a rawhide border marker against the Slavic and Hungarian princes. Castles on the hills became part of the everyday landscape. Styria quickly became Austria's forge: the iron of the Eisenerz fed foundries since the Middle Ages. The city of Graz grew around the castle and knights' fairs, and the local princes often acted far more independently than Vienna desired. Styria is strong, mountainous, and invariably freedom-loving.
The coat of arms of Styria is one of the most recognizable and, perhaps, the most exotic in Austria. It depicts a silver panther on a green field. This symbol appears as early as 1160 on the seal of Count Otakar III of the Traungauer family , who owned lands along the Enns and Steyr rivers.
It is with this name that Styria is associated with the emergence of an independent region and, more broadly, with one of the earliest beginnings of Austrian statehood. The region's name derives from the city of Steyr , the ancestral seat of the Traungauer family. The word itself has Celtic roots and means "backwater" or "dam," which, you must admit, sounds quite peaceful for the homeland of the flaming panthers.
But upon looking at the coat of arms, any observer will inevitably ask: what kind of creature is this? In fact, what we have before us is not a zoological panther, but a heraldic one — a rare beast that existed primarily in the imaginations of medieval artists.
The image of a panther may raise some questions. It's unlikely the artist ever saw the beast in person, which naturally left much room for creative imagination. Therefore, the panther's head is more equine than feline, with cute red horns and flames emanating from its mouth, symbolizing a wonderful fragrance.
But in fact, this is not a figment of local artists' imagination, but a legacy of an ancient bestseller called "The Physiologus." This book, most likely written in Alexandria in the 2nd century AD, was something of an ancient mix of encyclopedia, fantasy, and bestiary. It was actively copied, decorated with illustrations, and retold from Egypt to Europe — so that practically everyone who could read in the Middle Ages had seen the panther.
The Physiologus claimed that the panther sleeps for three days after a good meal, and upon awakening, emits a divine fragrance before which all animals bow. In heraldry, this motif is interpreted as the personification of the strength and attractiveness of a ruler, whose power, like a fragrant panther, "attracts" allies and subjects.
Perhaps a somewhat loose metaphor, but you must admit, it sounds beautiful. And the fact remains: the panther that adorns the Styrian coat of arms today is almost two thousand years old.
STYRIA: THE FUN FACTS
Of the diversity of the feline family.
The panther is a frequent guest on Styrian coats of arms. Graz is the capital of Styria, the second-largest city in Austria, and one of the country's most charming places. Its name derives from the Slavic word "gradets," meaning "small town," and perhaps no other "town" can boast such baroque grace.
The city's coat of arms mirrors the state's, but upon closer inspection, the attentive observer will notice more fiery details. Apparently, Graz decided a little extra sparkle couldn't hurt.
The coat of arms of the local community of Kainbach bei Graz has a completely different character, where a panther and a lion coexist peacefully. In the ancient heraldic tradition, such a duet is hard to imagine: two such powerful symbols usually compete for space on the shield. But here they have found a compromise: the panther is fragrant, the lion smiles philosophically, and both are quite content with the situation.
A good illustration of how sometimes in heraldry it is not enemies but allies who meet, and an ancient shield suddenly turns into a small parable about peace and mutual respect.
STYRIA: ALPINE SKIING
Schladming is a star resort among Austria's sports resorts, proving that great skiing doesn't require exorbitant altitude. It hosts a World Cup slalom stage. For experienced skiers, there are challenging slopes, and for gourmets, atmospheric alpine restaurants. Everyone feels like they're in the center of the action, but without the hustle and bustle.
In the evening, the town comes alive, not slumbers. The resort is particularly famous for its "Four Mountain Swing": the Planai, Hochwürzen, Reiteralm, and Hauser Kaibling, all linked together. This allows you to ski all day long without taking off your skis, experiencing the freedom of space from the foot to the peaks. It's a perfect solution for those who want "more mountains" in one trip.
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