Styria

Styria (Austrian German: Steiermark [ˈʃtaɪɐmark] ; Bavarian: Steiamårk; Slovene: Štajerska; Hungarian: Stájerország [ˈʃtaːjɛrorsaːɡ]) is an Austrian state in the southeast of the country. With an area of approximately 16,399 km2 (6,332 sq mi), it is Austria's second-largest state by area, after Lower Austria. Styria borders Slovenia to the south and, clockwise from the southwest, the Austrian states of Carinthia, Salzburg, Upper Austria, Lower Austria and Burgenland. Its capital and largest city is Graz, Austria's second-largest city after Vienna. The state had a population of 1,271,716 on 1 January 2025. Graz is the political, economic and educational centre of the state, while other important towns include Leoben, Kapfenberg, Bruck an der Mur, Judenburg, Knittelfeld, Weiz, Hartberg, Fürstenfeld and Leibnitz. Styria is geographically diverse. The northern and northwestern parts, commonly known as Upper Styria (German: Obersteiermark), are mountainous. The central and southern parts of the state include the Graz Basin, hill country, agricultural areas, vineyards and thermal-spring regions. Styria is popularly known as the "Green Heart of Austria". Historically, Styria developed from the March of Styria, which was named after Steyr in present-day Upper Austria. It became a margraviate in the 11th century and was raised to the Duchy of Styria in 1180. In 1192, under the terms of the Georgenberg Pact, Styria passed to the Babenberg dukes of Austria, linking its history closely with that of Austria. The region later became part of the Habsburg monarchy and, together with Carinthia and Carniola, formed a core part of Inner Austria. The historic duchy was larger than the modern Austrian state. After World War I, southern Styria, including the cities of Maribor, Celje and Ptuj, was separated from Austria and became part of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes, later Yugoslavia and now Slovenia. This region is commonly known in English as...