Discover Eisenstadt: Haydn, the Palace and Trails in the Leitha Mountains

Eisenstadt combines impressive cultural history with trails through the landscape of the Leitha Mountains. Those planning a trip can choose between the history of the palace, sites associated with Haydn, Jewish history, viticulture and scenic routes. When looking for a holiday apartment, the key question is therefore whether you want to spend most of your days exploring cultural attractions or also plan time for hikes and experiences in the landscape.

Cultural history around the palace and Haydn

The Austrian Jewish Museum has been located in the Wertheimerhaus in Eisenstadt's former Jewish quarter since 1978. The largely preserved ensemble of this quarter is considered an exceptional monument to social and settlement history. Samson Wertheimer's synagogue can be visited as part of a museum visit and is also Austria's oldest synagogue preserved in its original function. Eisenstadt thus offers special access to an important part of its urban history.

The Landesgalerie Burgenland also places a cultural emphasis. Its permanent exhibition presents a condensed art history of the region. Another focus is Joseph Haydn: the Haydn House is his former home, where he lived for twelve years. The rooms are furnished with original furniture from Haydn's era. Haydn's mausoleum, his burial place, is located beneath the north tower of the Bergkirche.

The Haydnkirche, the pilgrimage church of “Maria Heimsuchung” on Eisenstadt's Oberberg, was built from 1715 to 1803 according to the plans of Prince Paul I Esterházy. Several masses by Joseph Haydn were premiered there under his direction. The church is also home to the famous Haydn organ, which was built in the gallery according to Haydn's specifications. These places can be combined into a journey that conveys music history not only through names, but also through buildings, rooms and instruments.

Esterházy Palace is considered one of Austria's most beautiful Baroque palaces. The Haydn Hall is the centerpiece of the palace. The wine museum is located in the 330-year-old vaulted cellars; its exhibition comprises more than 700 objects and provides an overview of the cultural history and rich traditions of viticulture in Burgenland. The palace park contains a significant 19th-century landscaped garden covering almost 50 hectares. Its special features include the historic greenhouses of the orangery, which are among the most significant of their kind due to their size, variety and number. A rotunda also houses a copy of the statue of Princess Leopoldine Esterházy, created by the Italian sculptor Antonio Canova.

Trails, views and your own travel rhythm

For active days, the Eisenstadt section of the ÖTK maintains around 150 km of marked trails in the western Leitha Mountains. One hiking route leads in 1.5 hours to the 443-meter-high Buchkogel, with its observation tower. Shorter and more closely connected with the cultural program is the somewhat steep path from Esterházy Palace to the Gloriette: on foot, it takes around 20 minutes. From the Gloriette, the view stretches across the Wulka Plain to Lake Neusiedl. Those who prefer to include nature observation rather than sightseeing in their daily itinerary will find the largest contiguous meadow area in the intensively farmed Wulka Valley in the nature reserve in St. Georgen; the area covers around 18 hectares.

Travel arrangements can also be incorporated into your planning. The fastest train connection from Vienna Central Station to Eisenstadt on the REX 65 takes 1 hour and 3 minutes. The bus parking area in Eisenstadt is located directly next to the cathedral and just a few steps from the pedestrian zone, Esterházy Palace and the Kultur Kongress Zentrum Eisenstadt. When choosing your holiday apartment, you can therefore use your preferred daily rhythm as a starting point: cultural attractions, the palace park and the city's history favor a focus on Eisenstadt, while marked trails, Buchkogel and the Gloriette provide different accents.

Other places for your search

The following places are also available for further travel planning: Hornstein, Klingenbach, Donnerskirchen, Mörbisch Am See, Purbach Am Neusiedler See, Eisenstadt, Breitenbrunn, Neufeld An Der Leitha, Trausdorf An Der Wulka, Schützen Am Gebirge, Loretto, Sankt Margarethen Im Burgenland, Oslip, Zagersdorf and Wulkaprodersdorf.

For the higher-level travel overview: Burgenland.