Standing in front of the Landhaus Palace in the center of Graz, gazing at the city, Qu Lihua suddenly understood the reason why the Austrians favored the city.

As the modern tram passes by Hairen Street in front of you, there is a well-preserved classical street in the background, between the grey walls and red tiled baroque buildings, two young Austrians with blond hair and blue eyes shuttling through the brand shops on the street, and the melodious violin music and melancholy saxophone of the street performers will play in your ears at the right time.

"The city is really artistic, and you always feel the elegance of Mozart's maestro when you come here!" Qu Lihua said.

"Yes, it's really artistic, and the old buildings of Austria are still very well preserved!" Meng Wenjie said.

Take a stroll through the city of Graz and you'll find that the city is full of this romantic atmosphere, with winding alleys, beautifully decorated courtyards, and fantastic gardens that have preserved their old age.

The basic layout has been formed, it is the largest existing medieval inner city in Europe, walking in the narrow streets of Graz, it is easy to have the illusion of going back in time, as if the modern industrial process has not reduced the classical charm of the city, everywhere you can see the large color spray advertisements and all kinds of new cars shuttling back and forth, both modern fashion, but also with the elegance of classical architecture.

Steeped in history, Graz gives its first impression of serenity and order.

"The city is not as fashionable as Paris in France, nor is it like Berlin in Germany, where there are many shops and the commercial atmosphere is too heavy, Graz in Austria is a historical city of multicultural blending, it is the hub between Central Europe and Southeast Europe, it is the trade center between Austria and Eastern Europe and the Balkans, and it is also a window for many Eastern European thinkers and artists to show themselves to the western European continent." ”

"For hundreds of years, Graz has been a meeting place for various European cultures and schools of thought, with Romans, Slavs and Germanic peoples all leaving their footprints here. ”

Meng Wenjie said: "Yes, I find that there are still a lot of Europeans coming here, there are a lot of musicians, painting comes from other places, there are Germans, there are French, these countries are neighbors, it's too close!"

"Yes, it's true that these neighboring countries are so close to each other that you can feel the classical atmosphere when you come here, and the art scene here is very good, and musicians and painters especially like to come here!" Qu Lihua said.

"And life is also convenient, although it seems that industrialization is not so obvious, it still retains the tram, and there is a nostalgic style!"

In Graz, however, you don't seem to see this cultural variety, despite the wide variety of cultural events that take place every year, from classical music, opera and theatre to jazz and the avant-garde.

However, even the most offbeat cultural performances in Graz have an elegant and romantic atmosphere, which is perhaps another reason why Austrians love the city, and no matter how the outside world changes, Graz will always retain its unhurried urban attitude.

Located in the basin of the Moir River, a tributary of the Danube River in southeastern Austria, this ancient city of Central Europe has historically been at the forefront of defense against foreign attacks because it holds the Hungarian plain and the middle Danube by land to the Adriatic Sea.

From the Ottoman Empire to Napoleon's army, Graz has endured numerous sieges by powerful enemies, and in the late 18th and early 19th centuries alone, the French army besieged and occupied Graz three times.

Meng Wenjie nodded, "This place is good, it really makes many people want to remember, the scenery is good, and there is charm, such a city is very suitable for living!"

Landhaus Palace is a testament to this twisted history, and the Landhouse State Arms Museum, which houses many treasures, has surprisingly maintained its elegant traditions despite the war, and Graz has not only preserved the most complete historical city in Austria during the frequent wars.

Landhaus Palace itself is considered to be one of the most elaborate and well-preserved Renaissance buildings in the German-speaking South, while at the same time retaining the calm, peaceful and independent attitude of the people of Graz.

The castle hill and the large clock that rises from the old town have become the symbol of Graz, and climbing the castle hill to see the scenery of the old town is a must-see place in Graz.

Castle Hill can go up by cable car or on foot, there are three main ways to climb the mountain, if you want to relax, you can choose to take a 2-minute cableway car to the top of the mountain, the faster is to take the transparent elevator, half a minute to the mountain, good physical strength, you can also follow the stone ladder Chris trail built on the mountain wall, walk the steps up the mountain.

Head Xia Yuxiang suggested that everyone take a ropeway or elevator up the mountain, and then take the stone steps down.

There are also three options to descend the mountain, taking the lift down the hill from the Chris Trail to the mountainside platform, or taking a romantic and secluded mountain path to Carmellet Square, then heading towards Sbot Street until you reach the Harren Street exit.

The main attractions of Castle Hill are the Great Clock Tower, the ruins of the bunker, the Castle Hill Museum, and the Kasenmat Stage.

The remains of the castle on the castle hill are the oldest buildings in Graz, almost 1,000 years old, and the castle is a special feature here.

Graz was first centered here and developed into a small feudal city, with four cannons placed on the site of the castle, which was condescending and imposing.

In the 19th century, when the French invaded Austria during the Napoleonic era, there was a fierce battle on this mountain, and although the army was defeated, the Austrians remembered the battle vividly.

Commander Xia Yuxiang was also very emotional, "We have been to many places, many cities have experienced wars, there are anti-invasion wars, people defend their homes, and World War II, which has a great impact on these cities!"

"For war, people are opposed, people love peace, no one wants their homeland to experience suffering, but there are historical reasons, it is difficult to avoid, human nature has a good side, there is an evil side, because of human selfishness, there will always be bullying, there are many people, there will be contradictions, in order to compete for fertile land, it will cause war. ”

"The French regarded Napoleon as their hero, while some of the invaders in Austria were very disgusted with Napoleon, and their views were different depending on their position!"

After this battle, the French occupied Austria for 8 years, and Napoleon could not let go of the countless casualties of the French army besieging the city, and ordered the castle to be completely destroyed, leaving only the ruins that remain today.

The clock tower built on top of these ruins became a symbol of the city, and the winding path along the hill became a popular place for young men and women to fall in love in the summer.