Esterházy Locations

Located in the heart of Eisenstadt, the capital of Burgenland, Esterházy Palace is one of Austria’s most beautiful Baroque landmarks. Nearly 400 years ago, the medieval fortress came into the possession of the Esterházy family under Nikolaus Esterházy de Galantha, later Viceroy of Hungary. For centuries, the palace has been far more than Eisenstadt’s cultural centre. Once the workplace of Joseph Haydn and the venue for magnificent concerts and celebrations, it now welcomes visitors with a wide range of exhibitions and events.

The mighty walls of Forchtenstein Castle once withstood the advances of the Ottoman Empire. It was therefore no coincidence that the Esterházy princes chose it to store their military equipment and large parts of their legendary collections. Today, visitors can explore one of Europe’s oldest museum sites, featuring an extensive armoury as well as impressive rarities and works of art.

The St Margarethen Quarry is considered one of the largest and oldest quarries of its kind in Europe. Fossils discovered here, dating back millions of years, provide fascinating insights into prehistoric times. Since antiquity, the distinctive colours of the sandstone extracted here have captivated visitors. This stone was used in the construction of notable buildings, including St Stephen’s Cathedral in Vienna. Today, the quarry forms part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The Esterházy Winery combines centuries-old winemaking tradition with state-of-the-art vinification and contemporary architecture. The connection between Esterházy and wine stretches back hundreds of years. Since August 2018, the winery has been managed according to organic principles, with organic certification completed in 2023. Under modern conditions, elegant, contemporary wines true to the character of the region are produced and can be tasted and purchased on site.