The area of Eisenstadt has been host to settlements for many years and was settled by Germanic tribes in the great migration period.
Eisenstadt is a city in Austria, the state capital of Burgenland.
In the Habsburg Empire’s Kingdom of Hungary, Kismarton (Eisenstadt) was the seat of the Eszterházy Hungarian noble family. The composer Joseph Haydn lived there as Hofkapellmeister under Esterházy patronage.
Main sights
Eisenstadt is the capital of the Burgenland state in Eastern Austria and lies approximately an hour to the south of Vienna, and 30 minutes to the east of Wiener Neustadt. In later years and the middle ages, the town was ruled by the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick III but then destroyed during the Ottoman advances in the 1500’s.
Castles and palaces
- Schloss Esterházy and Schlosspark, the Esterházy castle and park.
- Gloriette, the former Esterházy hunting lodge.
Esterhazy Palace
The palace was constructed in the 13th century and was owned by the Esterhazy family in the 1600’s.
Throughout its history, the palace has had design changes – Initially it had a baroque design, then in the 18th century it changed to a classical design and in the 20th century it saw little change, just restoration.
Inside the palace there is the magnificent Haydnsaal which is one of the most beautiful concert halls in the world.
Religious edifices
- Bergkirche, housing Haydn’s tomb
- Eisenstadt Cathedral, late Gothic former military church, began in 1460
- Franziskanerkirche (Franciscan church), built in 1629, it contains the crypt of the Esterházy family
- Jewish quarter
- Jewish Community of Eisenstadt (1732–1938, 1945–)
- A private synagogue Österreichisches Jüdisches Museum, formerly Samson Wertheimer’s house
- Jewish cemetery of Eisenstadt
Bergkirche
The Bergkirche was built by the Esterhazy family who have a large historical presence in Eisenstadt and is an extremely unusually designed religious building.
The church stands out against its surrounding and its many levelled ceiling creates strange angles and shapes.
Whilst the exterior is fascinating enough, the interior features some amazing designs, especially the main ceiling fresco that depicts various biblical scenes
Buildings
- Haydn-Mausoleum
- Rathaus (City Hall)
- Pulverturm (lit. „Powder tower“)
Landesmuseum Burgenland
The Landesmuseum is located close to the Esterhazy Palace on the Museumgasse Street and features a large courtyard with a glass roof that opens up to the heavens.
The museum itself contains several sub-exhibition areas including a section on natural science and geology, and another section about the folklore, economy and political history of Burgenland.
Museums
- Haydnmuseum, a museum dedicated to Joseph Haydn, who lived in the building between 1766 and 1778.
- Landesmuseum (regional museum).
- Österreichisches Jüdisches Museum (Austrian Jewish Museum).
- Diözesanmuseum (museum of the local Roman Catholic diocese).
- Feuerwehrmuseum (fire department museum).
Haydn Museum
The musical composer Haydn is synonymous with Eisenstadt and it is here that he had a home.
This home has now been turned into the Haydn museum and it provides a personal and in-depth insight into the man, his life and his musical history.
The rooms of this legendary composer’s house have been faithfully recreated, and the exhibitions include private letters, musical sheets and other interesting objects from his life.
This really is a wonderful museum and for any classical music fan, it is a must see.
