a city of Austria, capital of Styria, as well as of the circle of Gratz, occupies a commanding position on both sides of the river Mur, an affluent of the Drave, 1094 feet above the level of the sea, and 96 miles S. by W. of Vienna. It consists of the city proper or inner town, which stands on the eastern bank of the river, and four extensive suburbs, having altogether a circuit of about seven miles. The suburb Murstadt is on the western bank, and is connected with the opposite bank, on which are the three others, by two bridges. The inner town occupies little more than a seventh part of the entire area, and is separated from the suburbs by ramparts and a glacis. It has a gloomy and antique appearance, and the streets are narrow and irregular. The suburbs are much more regularly built than the town itself, and contain many elegant edifices. That of Murstadt is the largest and finest. The vicinity abounds with beautiful gardens and villas. On the Schlossberg, a rocky eminence in the centre of the town, rising to the height of 300 feet, stand the ruins of the citadel, destroyed by the French in 1809. The cathedral or church of St Egid is a Gothic structure, erected by Frederick IV. in 1456, and contains many handsome marble monuments. Near it is St Catherine's chapel, erected as a mausoleum by Ferdinand II., who lies interred here, together with his consort, mother, &c. Gratz possesses in all ten parish churches, twelve other churches and chapels, five monasteries, and two nunneries. The Landhaus, where the estates hold their sittings, is a very ancient edifice, in which is preserved the ducal hat of Styria, worn by the Emperor of Austria when he receives the allegiance of the Styrians. It also contains numerous suits of old armour. The university, founded by Charles Francis, Duke of Styria, in 1586, is one of the second order, having faculties of theology, law, and philosophy. Lectures are given in medicine, but no degrees are conferred. It has a library of about 100,000 vols. and 7500 MSS., a natural history museum, Granden &c. In 1850 it had 866 students. The convicte, the largest building in the town, and formerly a college of the Jesuits, is now used as a school in connection with the university. The Johanneum institution was founded in 1811 by Archduke John (Johann), from whom it takes its name. Its object is the encouragement of the arts, sciences, and manufactures of Styria by the formation of collections of various natural and artificial productions, by a library, and by gratuitous lectures delivered by professors attached to the institution. It has a reading-room, library of 32,000 vols., collections of animals, minerals, antiquities, coins, plans, &c., a botanic garden, and chemical laboratory. Gratz possesses also a gymnasium, episcopal seminary, deaf-mute institution, lunatic, foundling, and orphan asylums, a general hospital and lying-in institution, theatre, &c. It is the seat of the highest civil authorities for the duchy of Styria, and the residence of the prince bishop of Seckau. Its chief manufactures are cotton, woollen, and silk goods, iron and steel wares, leather, paper, hats, earthenware, and rosoglio. Being in the line of railway from Vienna to Trieste, it carries on a considerable trade with these places, as also with Hungary, Croatia, Transylvania, and Turkey. It is the seat of two great fairs, each of which lasts for three weeks. Gratz was taken by the French in 1809, after a siege of seven days. Pop. (1851) 55,421.