Landeszeughaus

The Landeszeughaus, in Graz, Austria, is the largest existing original armoury in the whole world and attracts visitors from all over the world. It holds approximately 32,000 pieces of weaponry, tools, suits of armour for battle and ones for parades.

History

The Landeszeughaus was built from 1642 - 1645 by a tyrolean architect called Antonio Solar. Styria desperately needed such a large armoury to host a massive amount of weaponry and armour for the defence of styria against the invading Ottoman Empire. There was a defensive perimeter, 100 km south of Graz in nowadays Croatia/Hungary to defend styria against the turks. The weapons stored in the Landeszeughaus were needed in order to equip the soldiers at this perimeter.

After about 100 years in use, Austrian empress Maria Theresia wanted to close down the armoury, because she centralised the defence of Austria. She wanted to bring all the weapons and armour to Vienna. Nevertheless the Styrian Estates managed to plead for the ongoing existence of the Styrian Armoury and if not for active use at least as a symbol for their struggle against the turks and also for their achievements in defending not only Styria but Austria alike.

Also WW II posed no real threat to the objects, because they were all brought into hiding to several castles around Graz. After WW II the objects were brought back into the luckily undamaged original building.

The Armoury is not only the largest original armoury in the whole world, it is also the oldest museum in Styria and became part of the so called Landesmuseum Joanneum in 1892.

Visitor information

The armoury is open seven days a week throughout the year. In winter, it can only be visited through guided tours.

The armoury is situated right in the city centre, a few steps from Hauptplatz in Herrengasse Nr. 16. When arriving per train just take trams number 3 or 6 from main train station to the city centre and leave at station "Hauptplatz/Grazer Congress". Then just walk strait into Herrengasse and after about 100m you will notice an antique cannon standing in front of a door on the right side. Thats the main entrance to the armoury. Alternatively you can also leave at station "Jakominiplatz" and walk back to Hauptplatz through Herrengasse.

External links

Listed in the following categories:
Post a comment
Tips & Hints
Arrange By:
Ovgu C. O.
5 June 2018
Not so interesting????
Nataliya Pilyayeva
12 February 2019
В Рождество здесь ставят Рождественский вертеп - скульптуры из льда
Load more comments
foursquare.com
7.4/10
3,437 people have been here
Map
Herrengasse 16, 8010 Graz, Austria Get directions
Thu 10:00 AM–7:00 PM
Fri 9:00 AM–6:00 PM
Sat 10:00 AM–7:00 PM
Sun Noon–7:00 PM
Mon 10:00 AM–1:00 PM
Tue 8:00 AM–9:00 PM

Landhaus on Foursquare

Landeszeughaus on Facebook

Hotels nearby

See all hotels See all
Hotel Gollner

starting $122

Parkhotel Graz

starting $165

Hotel zum Dom - Palais Inzaghi

starting $132

Augarten Art Hotel

starting $139

Best Western Plus Amedia Graz

starting $107

NH Graz City

starting $212

Recommended sights nearby

See all See all
Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Grazer Rathaus

格拉茨市政厅(Grazer Rathaus)是奥地利格拉茨市长、市议会驻地,以及一部分政府所在地。

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Innere Stadt (Graz)

Innere Stadt (German pronunciation: [ˈɪnəʀə ʃtat] (About this sound

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Franciscan Church, Graz

The Franciscan Church (Deutsch. Franziskanerkirche) and Franciscan

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Graz Cathedral

Graz Cathedral (Deutsch. Grazer Dom), is the cathedral church in the

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Kunsthaus Graz

The Kunsthaus Graz, Grazer Kunsthaus, or Graz Art Museum was built as

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Graz Opera

Graz Opera (German: Oper Graz) is an opera house and opera company in

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Murinsel

The Murinsel (German, literally Mur island) in Graz, Austria, is

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Schlossbergbahn (Graz)

The Schlossbergbahn, or Schloßbergbahn (English: Castle Hill

Similar tourist attractions

See all See all
Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Zeugma Mosaic Museum

Zeugma Mosaic Museum, in the town of Gaziantep, Turkey, is the biggest

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Şanlıurfa Museum

Şanlıurfa Museum (Turkish: Şanlıurfa Müzesi) is an archaeological muse

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
EYE Film Institute Netherlands

EYE Film Institute Netherlands is a Dutch archive and museum in

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Şanlıurfa Archaeology and Mosaic Museum

Şanlıurfa Archaeology and Mosaic Museum is a museum in Şanlıurfa (al

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History

The Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History is located in

See all similar places