Stephanienwarte

Basic information
Platte (651m) is a quite well known destination for people living in Graz that want to go out for a short walk on weekends; Stephanienwarte is located on the highest point.
The first wooden look-out tower at Platte was built in 1839, but todays brick-built tower was then constructed in 1880. It's 18 meters high and named after the wife of archduke Rudolf, Stéphanie Clotilde Louise Herminie Marie Charlotte, Princess of Belgium (May 21st, 1864 – August 23rd, 1945).
In 1977 a radio communications system was installed by the Styrian fire brigades. 1989 a meteorological station was added. Current data is available online. 1995 the fire brigade moved their radio communications station to the Plabutsch and the ARBOE took over the existing installations at the Stephanienwarte.
The tower offers a nice view over Graz and the surrounding area, but as it's locked the key has to be requested at the OEAV Section Graz, Sackstraße 16 (Phone +43-316-822266).
Update 2010-08-13: The tower is now open on holidays and weekends from 10-19h.
Update 2021-05-01: The tower was renovated in 2017 and the described radio communications installation was removed. The meteorological station delivered its last data set already back in 2010.
Approach
There are a lot of possibilities to reach the Stephanienwarte. Hikers can use one of the marked trails leading there such as 85 or 85a. Mountainbikers will hopefully know how to get there, the always existing legal possibility is to drive up on one of the paved roads. Drive-in cachers can leave their car at the given parking coordinates ( N47°06.943 E015°28.156). Even though available parking possibilites are already off-limits in a legal sense these are the usual parking coordinates for people visiting the Stephanienwarte (and also marked that way in local maps).
Update 2021-05-01: The parking spot has been closed however there is space for about two cars at the edge of the street.
From the parking coordinates follow the marked trail 85a on the street uphill. At N47°06.885 E015°28.155 it turns left and after a few minutes you reach the Stephanienwarte.
The cache
The cache is not hidden right next to the Stephanienwarte because the area is sometimes quite crowded. I suggest to have a look at the spoiler picture because it will definitely help in finding the cache!
I hope that it will remain at its current place, otherwise I'd have to look for a better hideout.
Afterwards..
.. go downhill to N47°06.680 E015°28.096 and enjoy the view. Then follow the street back to the parking coordinates.
If you're hungry or thirsty you can visit the nearby "Buschenschank Erart" ( N47°06.543 E015°27.799; Fri-Sun 14-22).