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Graz, 12 May 2025
Under the title of ‘Ambition & Illusion’, Schloss Eggenberg will turn into the venue of the third SHOWING STYRIA. Running until the beginning of November 2025, the show’s focus will be on the UNESCO World Heritage Site. A multimedia exhibition with unique loans encourages visitors to view the history of the palace and its inhabitants in a completely new way. All the museums on site will build upon this extraordinary show, immersing visitors this year in the world of the Eggenbergs. The show marks the 400th anniversary of the ambitious construction of the palace, commissioned by Hans Ulrich von Eggenberg in 1625.
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The UNESCO World Heritage Schloss Eggenberg is celebrating its 400th anniversary this year, photo: Universalmuseum Joanneum/J.J. Kucek
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Schloss Eggenberg and its princes
Schloss Eggenberg in Graz has its origins in the early 17th century and is indivisibly linked to the rise of the Eggenberg family. Hans Ulrich von Eggenberg, a close confidant and advisor to Emperor Ferdinand II, had the palace built in 1625. His aim was to create a symbolic ideal of order and harmony – as an alternative to the political, religious and social crises of his time. The architecture of the palace follows a precise symbolic programme: the building is laid out according to astronomical and calendrical principles, with 365 windows, 52 doors and 24 state rooms symbolising days, weeks and hours. The famous Planetary Room is an expression of this idea, depicting the concept popular at the time of an ordered world within the cosmos.
No less unusual than their residence is the history of the Eggenberg family, who owe their meteoric rise to their most outstanding talents – boldness, acumen and financial skill. At the beginning of the 17th century, the middle-class Eggenberg family produced one of the most important statesmen in Styrian history, Hans Ulrich. Originally provincial merchants, mint masters and city magistrates, the house of the Eggenbergs was led by Hans Ulrich to the highest princely honours, making them the richest and most respected family in the country. With the early dying-out of the Eggenbergs in the 18th century, their power and fame correspondingly faded.
In 2025, the State Rooms, including the Palace Church, slip back into their original role for the exhibition titled Schloss Eggenberg: The Staging of a World. Here, they become stages for the grand presentation of a princely family that managed to turn its failure into an eternal success story with the help of a work of art.
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The exhibition delves deep into the world of Eggenberger, photo: J. Luttikhuis, OPERA Amsterdam
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Schloss Eggenberg: The Staging of a World
The exhibition begins with a prologue that introduces the crisis-ridden period in Europe around 1600 and decodes the enigmatic architecture of the palace. Three acts in the State Rooms tell of the rise and fall of a family, starting with the first Prince Hans Ulrich von Eggenberg, his ambition and his actions as an ambitious arriviste. Insights are also offered into life at the princely court, which is characterised by ceremonial, strict hierarchy and fierce competition. Part of the exhibition is likewise dedicated to the ‘female side’ of the house: the stories of five princesses of Eggenberg and one empress reveal far more than the classic roles assigned to privileged women of the Baroque era. In the Planetary Room, the ceiling paintings are given a voice.
The highlight of the show: The Golden Carriage
The Palace Church presents the most valuable exhibits of the exhibition. The full splendour of a princely appearance in Baroque Rome is brought to life here. The ceremonial Golden Carriage of the imperial ambassador Johann Anton von Eggenberg and unique items of clothing from his wardrobe as well as original textiles from his staging in sumptuous Rome in 1638 bear witness to this. The Golden Carriage (on display until October 6th) has left Bohemia for the first time in 360 years and represents the highlight of the show.
Sounds of Eggenberg: Music as a central element
In addition, pieces of music play an important role as intangible exhibits. The artist collective ĀRT HOUSE 17 has rediscovered, reworked and recorded music from the Eggenberg environment – the ‘Sounds of Eggenberg’.
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The golden carriage, on display in the castle church until October 6, is the highlight of the exhibition, photo: J. Luttikhuis, OPERA Amsterdam
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Precious loans reunited in Schloss Eggenberg
For the first time, important family artifacts are on show together in the palace. Portraits, original documents, personal letters, books from the princely library, and precious textiles: all bring the Eggenberg world to life. The exhibition displays around 380 objects on an area covering almost 3,000 m². Around 190 objects on loan from 29 institutions in Germany and abroad reinforce the international dimension of the project.
The exhibition is based on a combination of precious loans and innovative media with the palace and its interior design, created by the internationally renowned studios OPERA Amsterdam, Studio Louter and Shosho.
Special exhibitions in the Coin Cabinet and the Archaeology Museum: Graz 1699 and The Eggenbergs and Money
All the museums at Schloss Eggenberg belong to this year’s SHOWING STYRIA: in addition to the main exhibition ‘Schloss Eggenberg: A Staging of the World’, the Coin Cabinet and Archaeology Museum are also showing special exhibitions as part of the show, while the Alte Galerie is guided tours on related themes.
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In this music pavilion, works by Erwin Wurm, Hubert Schmalix and Klaus Lang can be seen and heard, photo: Universalmuseum Joanneum/J.J. Kucek (c) Bildrecht, Vienna 2025
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The music pavilion as a companion in Schloss Eggenberg Park
One of the three pavilions framing SHOWING STYRIA this year will also be on display in Eggenberg Palace Park for the entire duration of the show. In this music pavilion, works by Erwin Wurm, Hubert Schmalix and Klaus Lang can be seen and heard.
The other two pavilions – the Styria Pavilion and the Alps-Adriatic Pavilion – will be on show in Mariazell, Leoben and Ljubljana.
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SHOWING STYRIA 2025
Ambition & Illusion
Duration: 26.04. – 02.11.2025
Location: Schloss Eggenberg, Eggenberger Allee 90, 8020 Graz
www.steiermarkschau.at
Picture material to download can be found at: SHOWING STYRIA 2025
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We look forward to your reports and are happy to answer any enquiries you may have.
With kind regards
Daniela Teuschler
+43/664/8017-9214, daniela.teuschler@museum-joanneum.at
Stephanie Liebmann
+43/664/8017-9213, stephanie.liebmann@museum-joanneum.at
Eva Sappl
+43/699/1780-9002, eva.sappl@museum-joanneum.at
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