Leechkirche

The Leechkirche on the edge of the university district is the oldest preserved building in Graz. The early Gothic church Maria am Leech was built by the Teutonic Knights from 1275 to 1293 – on historically significant ground: The hill had already served as a burial site during the Hallstatt period, excavations revealed a burial mound from the 8th century BC, and previously there was a Romanesque round chapel here. Above the portal, a stone Madonna reigns, and inside, valuable stained glass from the construction period has been preserved – the oldest in Styria. The simple, towering structure is considered the purest example of early Gothic architecture in the city. Today, the Leechkirche serves as a university church; it is located on Zinzendorfgasse, the vibrant bicycle and student axis between Stadtpark and Uni-Campus.