Surrounded by lush gardens, the expansive Eggenberg Palace lies just a few kilometres outside of Graz’s city centre. In the 17th century, the castle was home to members of the most powerful Styria dynasty. Today, the castle is regarded as Austrian’s finest example of baroque architecture. The exhibits from the collection of the Universalmuseum Joanneum attract large crowds.
The history began with Prince Hans Ulrich von Eggenberg, who commissioned the construction of the palace in 1625. The prince appointed an Italian architect whose design for the palace included a symbolical representation of the universe. Today, the main floor is used for exhibits but the other 24 state rooms on the first floor have remained untouched. The Planetary Room is the most impressive. Court painter Hans Adam Weissenkircher adorned the ceiling with several enormous panels. He literally praised the Eggenberg family to high heaven, including many references to astrology, numerology and mythology.