The 365 windows represent the exact number of days in a calendar year.
The state rooms possess 24 windows on each floor, symbolizing the 24 hours of a day.
The palace was built as a physical manifestation of the universe according to the early 17th-century astronomical knowledge.
The 52 doors throughout the palace correspond to the number of weeks in a year.
The site hosts a colony of peacocks that roam freely across the palace grounds.
The Planetary Room features a cycle of frescoes that connect the elements, zodiac signs, and planets to the Eggenberg family history.
The palace was built on the site of a 13th-century family seat, incorporating older architectural elements into the Baroque design.
Schloss Eggenberg is a 17th-century palace located in western Graz, serving as the most significant Baroque complex in the Styria region. It was constructed for Prince Hans Ulrich von Eggenberg, following a design based on the Gregorian calendar with 365 windows, 31 rooms on each floor, and 24 state rooms. The interior features the Planetary Room cycle, a series of paintings by Hans Adam Weissenkirchner illustrating the Ptolemaic world view. The building is surrounded by an extensive English landscape garden populated by a permanent population of free-roaming peacocks. The estate houses the Alte Galerie, the Numismatic Collection, and the Archaeology Museum, which collectively comprise the Universalmuseum Joanneum. Visitors access the upper floors exclusively via guided tours of the state rooms to protect the original decor. The complex retains its original 17th-century layout and astronomical symbolism.
The Planetengarten courtyard and the main entrance facade reflecting in the surrounding landscape.
Book guided tour slots for the state rooms in advance, as capacity is limited.
Allow extra time to walk the extensive grounds, which are distinct from the museum tour.
Check for temporary outdoor exhibitions in the garden area during summer.
Do not attempt to visit the state rooms without a pre-booked guided tour, as independent access is prohibited.
The state rooms are typically closed during the winter months, while the gardens remain accessible year-round; the museum is generally closed on Mondays.
Shoe covers are provided and mandatory for all participants on interior state room tours.
