The largest Baroque palace in Hungary includes 126 rooms and a grand French garden. Home to the famous Esterházy family and frequent host to composer Joseph Haydn.
Fertőd, a small town near the Austrian border, is home to the Esterházy Palace, an 18th-century baroque mansion. Walk through its 126 rooms decorated with gold-leaf ornaments and ceiling frescoes, or step into the Marionette Theatre where Joseph Haydn conducted his orchestra. In the palace gardens, you'll find 8,000 rose varieties blooming alongside geometric French-style pathways and fountains.
The Esterházy Palace Complex
Built over 20 years in the late 18th century, this baroque palace spans three stories with a U-shaped layout. The central section connects to two horseshoe-shaped wings, containing 126 rooms with Rococo decorations. In the upstairs banquet hall, you'll see ionic half-pillars along the walls and a ceiling painting of Apollo's Triumph. The summer dining room on the ground floor leads directly to the baroque gardens through glass doors.
Palace Gardens and Rose Garden
Three main paths, called the "goose feet" alleys, stretch across the 300-hectare garden. Your walk takes you through the Lés Forest, past a pheasant garden, and into areas of wild vegetation. The Rose Garden, rebuilt in 2005, includes a 220-meter cross-shaped trellis supporting more than 8,000 rose varieties. Time your visit for June to see both roses and lavender in full bloom.
Musical Legacy and Events
From June to September, musicians perform classical concerts in the restored Marionette Theatre. You can explore Haydn's former home, now the House of Music, where he worked from 1766 to 1790. Inside the music hall, you'll find an exhibition displaying his original manuscripts and instruments from the 1700s.
Planning Your Visit
The palace opens Tuesday through Sunday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Enter through the main wrought-iron gate to reach the courtyard. Join a guided tour to see the main ceremonial rooms, including the sala terrena with its detailed stuccoes and wall paintings. During summer evenings, you can listen to classical concerts in the same banquet halls where Haydn's music first echoed more than 200 years ago.
