Palais Saurau: Guardian of Graz

Palais Saurau, prominently situated on Sporgasse in Graz, is a captivating landmark steeped in history and architectural significance. Constructed in the 16th century, this Renaissance palace has witnessed centuries of Graz's evolution. The palace's origins trace back to Pankraz von Windisch-Graetz, who received the land from Emperor Ferdinand I in 1564. In 1629, Friedrich von Windisch-Graetz sold the building to Karl Graf von Saurau, the governor of Styria at the time, who gave the building its current name. The architecture of Palais Saurau is a testament to the Renaissance style, featuring a three-story structure with four wings enclosing a rectangular courtyard. The south side of the building once featured open colonnades, but these were later enclosed to create a staircase. The decorated portal is particularly noteworthy, featuring a rusticated round-arched stone portal with the coat of arms of Count von Saurau, added in 1630. The spandrels of the arch display the coats of arms of Count Karl von Saurau and his wife. However, the most iconic feature of Palais Saurau is undoubtedly the 'Türkenfigur,' a half-figure of a Turk adorning the facade. This wooden figure, depicting a man with a beard, turban, and dagger, has become a symbol of the palace and a source of local legends.One popular tale connects the Türkenfigur to the siege of Graz by the Turks in 1532. According to the legend, a cannonball fired from Schlossberg (Graz's castle hill) landed on the plate of a Turkish pasha dining in the palace, causing him to withdraw his troops in anger. However, historical records indicate that the Turks never actually occupied Graz, suggesting that the story is apocryphal. The original Türkenfigur is now housed in the Graz Museum, with a copy displayed on the Palais Saurau facade. Today, Palais Saurau stands as a protected historical monument, a reminder of Graz's rich past and architectural heritage.