City (pop., 2001: 226,424), capital of Steiermark (Styria) state, southeastern Austria.
The country's second largest city, it lies on the Mur River at the foot of the Styrian Alps. It grew from a fortress settlement and received town rights 0441; AD 1240. It became the centre of Steiermark during the Middle Ages and was the residence of the Leopoldine Habsburg s after 1379. Its fortifications, built in the 15th and 16th centuries, successfully withstood numerous sieges by Hungarians and Turks; the fortifications were converted into parks in the 19th century. Astronomer Johannes Kepler taught at its university, founded in 1585. A rail and industrial centre, Graz has an active trade in agricultural products; tourism is also important.