| Viewed Vienna? Seen Salzburg? Then check out Adrian Gillan’s OutUK guide to two lesser known Austrian gems: gorgeous Graz and luscious Linz. | |
| Graz in the sexy south and Linz in the naughty north may be separated by a spectacular three hour train ride across the eastern fringe of the Alps; yet both have attractive Old Towns on sparkling rivers overlooked by cute hills combined with cutting-edge culture and architecture, plus thriving gay scenes. |
Old town in Graz. |
GRAZThis European Capital of Culture (2003) bore Arnie Schwarzenegger but won’t bore you! Cruise through Graz’s Old Town with its squares, cathedrals and theatres, plus the utterly unique and atmospheric Armoury; ascend the Schlossberg hill for stunning views back down onto the Old Town and River Mur. | |
| Try a stroll along the said river, past the weird-life-form-seeming museum of modern art (www.kunsthausgraz.at - a.k.a. “Friendly Alien”); even walk on water on the Murinsel (Mur Island) - a giant metal shell-like structure that floats in the middle of the river, containing an amphitheatre and classy restaurant. |
The Friendly Alien or Museum Of Modern Art. |
|
Modern gay-friendly Hotel Augarten Art & Design
on south-central Schönaugasse is crammed with exciting new art and has a great restaurant, 24/7 indoor pool and
roof terrace offering stunning views across town - near sites and scene.
The Gasthaus Kunsthaus is a gay-friendly bar-restaurant within the space-age Kunsthaus art gallery by the river - the place to preen and be seen. Alternatively, dine at fab, stylish Lovin - a little east on Münzgrabenstrasse with its fine wine-list and gorgeous waiters to gorge on. Club-Café BARcelona on central Reitschulgasse claims to be the oldest gay bar in Austria; but most now muster in nearby Murnockerl on Schönaugasse near Hotel Ausgarten – a popular, atmospheric and friendly gay bar, popular with the young – or even at mixed gay-friendly wine and cocktail haven 1st Act on Jakoministraße. Then pop across the Mur to the west bank for gay-friendly style bar Contact Die Bar on Lendplatz, just north of the Kunsthaus. For more physical pursuits, try Pepi's Club-Beisl on Griesplatz, a gay male bar with video screens, just south of the Kunsthaus. When toes-a-tap, jaunt a few streets west to popular café-bar Café Inside, part of Bang nightclub on Dreihackengasse. Bang itself is a gay-dominated disco, sprawling out beyond Café Inside; pretty damned queer cum weekends, with a men-only darkroom. If still seeking succour, explore the northern fringes of the Stadtpark, especially around Maria Theresia Alley. Or, by day, visit Gloryholes Erotic Shop, complete with cinema, cabins and gloryholes; or mull Gayshop.at Sexworld for all the usual mags, toys and vids. GETTING THERERyanair fly direct to both Graz and Linz from London Stansted and you can fly direct from other UK airports on Austrian, bmi or Lufthansa and save money on your ticket at ebookers. We have a great selection of hotels in Graz at special online rates through our partners Bookings. | |
THE LITTLE BLACK BOOK |