Schloss Esterházy, Eisenstadt, Austria

Schloss Esterházy was constructed in the late 13th century, and came under ownership of the Hungarian Esterházy family in 1622. Under Paul I, 1st Prince Esterházy of Galántha the estate was converted into a baroque castle which remained the principal residence and center of administration of the family for over 300 years. The palace currently offers a wine museum, gift shop, guided tours, and concerts in the famous Haydnsaal as well as the large garden in the rear of the castle.

The Haydnsaal, originally the large multi-purpose festival and banquet room, is a piece of artwork in itself in the Schloss Esterházy. With its size and ornate splendor, it reflects the political, economic and cultural dominance of the Esterházy family. Today it ranks among the most beautiful and acoustically perfect concert halls of the world. Its name goes back to the famous composer Joseph Haydn, who worked for nearly forty years in the service of the Esterházy family. Many of his works composed and premiered in Eisenstadt and the Schloss Esterházy.

References:

Wikipedia

Palaces, manors and town halls in Austria

User Reviews

Daniel Julius Markus (9 months ago)
A must visit if in Eisenstadt. Didn't go in but attended the outdoor summer Butterfly Dance Festival in the gardens. This was an amazing experience to be at the concert with the Palace as a backdrop.

Elena Petersone (10 months ago)
Eisenstadt is a hidden (for tourists) gem and Schloss Esterhazy is it's crown jewel. I had a most pleasant time here, getting very helpful advice from the lovely saleslady at the ticket office/ shop. I also was very lucky to go on what turned out to be a private tour with English speaking artist-guide Frau Beate Schreiter-Radel, who told me a lot of fascinating things about the palace, its history, architecture and rich musical background - oh, Haydn! I enjoyed every moment here, the walk through the park was pure bliss and relaxation, I just wish I had more time. I would love to come back and I recommend anyone seeking a calm and beautiful retreat to visit this wonderful place.

Ewout (11 months ago)
This beautiful building from the end of 1300 Was an Hungarian castle.In Eisenstadt capital city of the province Burgenland. This beautiful Baroque style castle has an amazing interior With beautiful paintings on the walls and on the ceiling.

Sabin (2 years ago)
We took the guided tour in English and we really had an excellent experience. I highly recommend it. The guided tour takes 1 hour.

Liudmyla (2 years ago)
Amazing guided tour at 13:00 in English. Interesting facts about palace and its owners. Ticket is 19 eur for Adult. Alternative to come to concert to see the most beautiful part of the palace - Haydnsaal

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Photo from Flickr, copyright Klearchos Kapoutsis

Historic Site of the week

Beckov Castle

The Beckov castle stands on a steep 50 m tall rock in the village Beckov. The dominance of the rock and impression of invincibility it gaves, challenged our ancestors to make use of these assets. The result is a remarkable harmony between the natural setting and architecture.

The castle first mentioned in 1200 was originally owned by the King and later, at the end of the 13th century it fell in hands of Matúš Èák. Its owners alternated - at the end of the 14th century the family of Stibor of Stiborice bought it.

The next owners, the Bánffys who adapted the Gothic castle to the Renaissance residence, improved its fortifications preventing the Turks from conquering it at the end of the 16th century. When Bánffys died out, the castle was owned by several noble families. It fell in decay after fire in 1729.

The history of the castle is the subject of different legends.

Schloss Esterházy

Address

Details

More Information

Rating

Interesting Sites Nearby

User Reviews

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Finest Norman castles in Italy

Exploring the History of Northern Poland

Discovering Slovenia's Historic Wonders

Historic Site of the week

Beckov Castle