Styria | Article
The Mediterranean side of Austria | By expert lecturers Dr Ulrike Ziegler & Sascha Pirker
Dr Ulrike Ziegler introduces us to Sascha Pirker
Styria is located in the southeast of Austria and sheltered by the main Alpine ridge in the north. This “Green heart of Austria” boasts a wide variety of natural landscapes, from dense forests in the north to ample orchards and vineyards in the south. The Mediterranean climate makes Styria Austria’s most fertile province with the characteristic trilogy of wine, pumpkin and apple. Set amongst these lush Styrian landscapes abundant cultural treasures await their discovery. The capital city Graz, our home on this tour, is not only a UNESCO world heritage site due to its pristinely maintained old town, but was also named UNESCO City of Design for its cutting-edge architecture and contemporary art. Mighty Mediaeval and Baroque abbeys alternate with small tucked away chapels and churches replete with fresco painting and wooden carved sculpture. Knightly castles and opulent palaces showcasing furnishings and art collections betray the wealth of this region in past centuries.
I will be joined on this new Art Pursuits study tour by tour lecturer and Austrian guide Sascha Pirker from Vienna. We met through a mutual employer, the Austrian study tour operator Zeitspuren. When I joined Sascha’s Zeitspuren group in Vienna last autumn for a study day on tapestries, I knew that he would fit with Art Pursuits. During our enjoyable group lunch at the Kunsthistorisches Museum the idea was born that we could join forces on a new Austrian tour to Styria, that I have had in the planning for a long time. Sascha’s expertise stretches from University lecturer to professional tour guide. He was particularly keen on incorporating the modern art and architecture of Graz to the programme and I’m excited to hear what he will have to tell us.
To introduce himself in his own words, Sascha kindly agreed to a short interview.
What first sparked your interest in art history?
When I was a child, I had the opportunity to travel the world with my family and visit some of the most important art historical sites. I also got to explore the cultural landscape of my hometown, Vienna, in Austria. From an early age, I loved visiting museums and thinking about the objects I saw. Later I have been working in cultural education for many years, including several years at the Architekturzentrum Wien, a museum for modern and contemporary architecture, and at the Kunsthistorisches Museum Wien with its collections ranging from antiquity to the late 18th century.
Do you have a favourite museum or gallery, and why?
One of my favourites is the Fondation Maeght in the south of France. It combines architecture, art, and landscape in a truly unique way. It is a great place to learn about art in a relaxed setting.
What can we expect to learn and see during the tour?
In the Castle of Eggenberg, we will unravel artistic programs that blend astrological and hermetic ideas, numerical symbolism, and mythology into complex allegories. We also meet the little sister of St Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna, the pilgrimage church of Maria Straßengel, learn that there is a Styrian Tuscany, which is called a "friendly alien“ in the otherwise Alpine landscape.
Can you share an interesting or surprising fact about a specific piece or artist that we will see?
The amazing Staircase of Reconciliation in Graz is a hidden gem. It is made up of two opposing spiral staircases that briefly join, separate, and then reunite on each floor.
Can you tell us about a memorable experience from one of your tours over the years
One of my most memorable experiences was on a trip to Florence. We were visiting L'Opificio delle Pietre Dure when work was underway on Vasari's Last Supper. Since the flooding of the Arno in 1966, it had been secured, covered and no longer visible to anyone; we were among the first to see it again.
Register your interest for Ulrike & Sascha's tour to Styria now!
- STYRIA The Mediterranean side of Austria | 20 - 25 October 2025 | Coming soon...
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