Esterházy Palace is one of the most beautiful and largest Baroque castles in Hungary — a magnificent golden palace in the town of Fertőd near the Austrian border, nicknamed the “Hungarian Versailles,” that served as the seat of the fabulously wealthy Esterházy family and was the workplace of Joseph Haydn for nearly 30 years. The palace, with its 126 rooms, its lavishly frescoed Music Room, and its French formal gardens, was the setting for some of the most important musical premieres of the 18th century — Haydn composed and conducted dozens of his symphonies and operas right here, in the service of Prince Nikolaus Esterházy, “the Magnificent.”
Quick Facts: Esterházy Palace
- Best time to visit: Year-round; summer for the Haydn Festival (concerts in the historic halls where the music was originally performed); the palace gardens are at their most beautiful in late spring and summer
- How to get there: ~1.5 hours from Vienna by car; ~2 hours from Budapest; the palace is near the town of Sopron (20 min) and the Lake Fertő (Neusiedler See) UNESCO World Heritage area
- Entry fee: ~€10 (adult)
- Combine with: Sopron (one of Hungary’s most beautiful medieval towns) and the Fertő-Hanság National Park around Lake Neusiedl
Esterházy Palace is one of the largest and most beautiful castles of Hungary. The castle is located in the village Fertőd at the western part of the country, close to the Austrian borders. In the mid 18th century, Miklós Esterházy rebuilt a hunting lodge to the Baroque – Rococo palace. The castle is called also the Hungarian Versailles.
The complex consists of the palace with 126 rooms, opera house, Diana’s Temple, the Temple of Venus, the Hermitage, the Chinese pavilion, dance hall, puppet theatre and a large French garden. The castle was a home of the Austrian composer Joseph Haydn for almost thirty years. Even Empress Maria Theresa lived here in 1773.
After the death of Count Esterházy, the family left and the castle remained empty for nearly a whole century. During the Second World War, the chateau served as a hospital and was damaged. In the past few years the castle has been partially renovated and rebuilt into a hotel. Today there are 26 rooms available.
There is a museum and music hall. Every year it hosts International Music Festival and Weeks of music.
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Have you visited the Hungarian Versailles or listened to Haydn in Esterházy Palace? Share your Hungarian castle experiences in the comments! 🎵
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