The capital of Burgenland has strong ties to composer Joseph Haydn, who lived here for 40 years. The 13th-century Esterházy Palace remains the city's landmark.
Eisenstadt, the capital of Austria’s Burgenland state, centers around Esterházy Palace, a baroque landmark where composer Joseph Haydn once conducted for royalty. Walk through the pedestrian old town’s cobblestone streets, past wine taverns and shops selling local crafts. Visit the Bergkirche to see Haydn’s tomb, or explore the Leitha Mountains’ hiking trails just outside the city. In September, the HERBSTGOLD festival fills churches and squares with classical music, and June brings wine tastings at the Fest der 1000 Weine on the palace grounds. With fewer than 15,000 residents, Eisenstadt mixes its role as a government center with influences from Roman, Hungarian, and Austrian history.
Esterházy Palace and Its Cultural Legacy
Esterházy Palace stands at the center of Eisenstadt, its yellow facade and symmetrical design reflecting the influence of the Esterházy family, who governed the region for centuries. The Haydnsaal concert hall inside retains 18th-century acoustics and a ceiling painted with frescoes, hosting regular performances of Haydn’s compositions. Guided tours lead visitors through rooms decorated with original furniture, porcelain tableware, and portraits of the family. A museum within the palace explains how the Esterházys supported artists and musicians, including Haydn’s three decades as their court composer. The gardens outside include geometrically arranged flower beds and the Gloriette, a neoclassical pavilion once used for hunting parties, with shaded paths winding past fountains.
Joseph Haydn’s Eisenstadt
Haydn’s former home on Joseph-Haydn-Gasse now serves as a museum displaying his handwritten scores, letters, and a fortepiano he played. The Bergkirche holds his remains in a crypt beneath its altar, and a small room along the church’s Calvary Path displays his original tombstone. At the Franziskanerkirche, marble sculptures and iron gates mark the Esterházy family crypt, where generations of nobles are buried. Each September, the HERBSTGOLD festival stages classical concerts in the palace, churches, and public squares, drawing musicians and audiences from across Europe.
The Bergkirche and Calvary Path
The Bergkirche, a pilgrimage site since the 1700s, includes Gothic vaulted ceilings and baroque altarpieces. A wooden altar inside depicts scenes of the Virgin Mary, and a pipe organ from Haydn’s time still accompanies services. Narrow stairs lead to a rooftop terrace overlooking Eisenstadt’s red-tiled roofs and the forested slopes of the Leitha Mountains. Next to the church, the Calvary Path passes 14 chapels illustrating events from Christ’s final days, ending at a chapel that once held Haydn’s remains. Visitors often pause here to read inscriptions on the original grave marker.
The Austrian Jewish Museum and Former Jewish Quarter
Eisenstadt’s Jewish community, established in the 1200s, maintained a synagogue and cemetery until World War II. The Austrian Jewish Museum occupies a restored 17th-century house, displaying Torah scrolls, ceremonial objects, and photographs of daily life before the Holocaust. The nearby synagogue, one of Austria’s few surviving pre-war Jewish prayer spaces, occasionally holds services for small congregations. On Unterbergstrasse, the cemetery contains over 1,000 graves, including those of rabbis and merchants with Hebrew and German inscriptions on weathered tombstones.
Annual Festivals and Events
In June, the Fest der 1000 Weine invites visitors to sample white wines from Burgenland’s vineyards and reds from the hillier regions near the Hungarian border. The Lovely Days festival in August attracts fans of 1960s–70s rock with outdoor concerts near the palace, featuring tribute bands and original acts. December transforms the main square into a Christmas market with stalls selling gingerbread, mulled wine, and hand-painted ornaments. Summer concerts in the Haydnsaal highlight Haydn’s symphonies, with tickets starting at €25 for balcony seats.
Day Trips and Nearby Attractions
Forchtenstein Castle, 15 km north, displays medieval weapons, suits of armor, and a tower built to withstand Ottoman invasions. Hikers can explore oak forests and ruins of watchtowers in the Rosalia-Kogelberg Nature Park, 10 km west. Lake Neusiedl, 20 km east, draws cyclists and birdwatchers to its reed-lined shores, part of a UNESCO-protected landscape. Sopron, a 30-minute drive into Hungary, retains medieval city walls and thermal baths fed by natural springs.
Practical Information for Visitors
Trains from Vienna’s Hauptbahnhof reach Eisenstadt in 50 minutes, with departures every hour. The Burgenland Card covers admission to Esterházy Palace, Forchtenstein Castle, and over 100 other sites. Many museums close on Mondays, so verify schedules online before visiting. Late April to May and September to October offer mild weather with fewer tourists, while July and August suit those planning outdoor activities. Wear sturdy shoes for walking the Bergkirche’s stone steps and the palace gardens’ gravel paths.
