Esterházy Palace
The most important cultural monument in Burgenland was the main residence of the royal family for more than 300 years. With their ceremonial furnishings, the magnificent rooms are a vivid reminder of the princely past and life at the court. A sightseeing visit through the Palace leads to the famous Haydn Hall (a concert hall that not only has one of the world's best acoustics but is also the original site of Joseph Haydn's works), the rooms of the Belle Etage with the Chinese salons, as well as the Hall of Mirrors and Empire Hall - the former dining salon of the royal family.

"Haydn explosive"
The trendy exhibition that was launched in the Palace's Sala Terrena to celebrate the Haydn year can still be enjoyed in 2010. It makes it clear that Haydn (1732 - 1809) is far from a dusty relic - he's a musical superstar. Visitors of the exhibition can experience Haydn and his period as a comprehensive artwork: Impressive sound and video animations, contemporary art and never previously shown exhibits from the Esterházy collections bring the royal cosmos and Haydn's musical world to life.

Wine Museum
The historic vaults of the Esterházy Palace house the Wine Museum, in which more than 700 objects communicate a historic and cultural overview of wine cultivation in Burgenland. On display, for example, is the largest preserved barrel along with the oldest Roman press in Burgenland. A special exhibition is dedicated to "Haydn and Wine".

"Royal Universe" at Burg Forchtenstein
The bulwark Burg Forchtenstein is erected on a spur of the Rosaliengebirge Mountains. Precious family objects , which had been collected over centuries and were never conquered during the Turkish wars, can still be viewed today: in the mysterious treasury, the exhibition of the ancestors, and the hunting exhibition "The Royal Halali", which displays four centuries of the hunting tradition at the house of Esterházy. In addition, precious silver and filigreed ivory demonstrate the princes' passion for collecting. Austria's largest private weapons collection , the former armory, is also on view.

Esterházy Palace

7000 Eisenstadt
www.esterhazy.at

Getting to Esterházy Palace
By car : Take the A2 towards Graz, exit at "Eisenstadt" on A3, exit at "Eisenstadt Mitte", continue on "Mattersburger Strasse" to the roundabout, take the first exit, "Ruster Strasse" to the Esterházy Palace (time: approx. 45-60 minutes). By bus from Vienna Südtirolerplatz to Eisenstadt.

Burg Forchtenstein

Melinda-Esterházy-Platz 1, 7212 Forchtenstein
www.esterhazy.at

Getting to Burg Forchtenstein
By car, via A2/A3 towards Eisenstadt (see above), continue on S31 to the Forchtenstein exit. By bus from Vienna Südtirolerplatz to Forchtenstein.