Thrillseekers – grab your ticket… to slide.
This is the highest underground slide in the world – and the second-highest overall – a structure that is a staggering 210ft (64m) tall and 575ft (175m) long, with riders reaching speeds of up to 30kph (19mph) during the 40-second descent.
Intriguingly, the attraction, called the Schlossberg Slide, is completely hidden inside the tree-covered Schlossberg mountain, which lords it over Austria’s second-largest city, Graz, at a height of 473 metres (1,551ft).
The hill, referred to in German as ‘castle hill’, was once strongly fortified, but its defences were destroyed in the 19th century by Napoleon. It’s now a popular public park with extensive views of the city.
The Schlossberg Funicular is a popular way of reaching the top, along with a glass lift that the slide is partially wrapped around (visitors can also walk to the summit). The entrance to the lift – and the slide exit – are located in a system of tunnels that served as air raid shelters during WWII.
The Schlossberg Slide in Graz, Austria, is the highest underground slide in the world – and the second-highest overall
The slide is 210ft (64m) tall and 575ft (175m) long, with riders reaching speeds of up to 30kph (19mph) during the 40-second descent
Schlossberg Slide is completely hidden inside the tree-covered Schlossberg mountain, which lords it over Austria’s second-largest city, Graz, at a height of 473 metres (1,551ft)
Both adults and children can experience the slide, but before propelling themselves down, there are a few things to bear in mind.
According to the slide’s website, visitors must be over 1.3 metres (4.2ft) tall and must not be under the influence of alcohol when riding.
Each person is given a sliding mat and must position themselves with their feet facing down and their arms and elbows close to their body.
The Austrian slide has been well received on Tripadvisor, gaining a four out of five-star rating based on 45 reviews.
The slide has been well received on Tripadvisor, gaining a four out of five-star rating based on 45 reviews
One visitor dubbed it a ‘great way to go down the mountain’, while another person wrote: ‘It’s a great break from sightseeing and old European buildings.’
For those who don’t fancy the thrill, there are plenty of other attractions at the Schlossberg, including a 4D cinema experience.
The Flight Graz 4D takes visitors on a 10-minute virtual tour of Graz using 4D motion cinema. It’s described as a ‘scenic flight’ of the city with immersive effects, including movable chairs, wind and fog.
At the top of the hill, visitors can stroll the gardens, admire sensational views of the city and see the hill’s iconic clock tower, named the Uhrturm, which was built as part of the city’s fortifications in the 16th century.
Tickets for the slide are priced at €6 (£5.10) per person and can be bought online at www.schlossbergrutsche.at/?LNG=en.
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