Year-round cultural program at Esterházy

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) and to the "Highlights of Esterházy Palace - The return of the collections" with its valuable exhibits from the royal collections.

NEW: "The Apartment of the Princess"
The exhibition presents the women of the Esterházy princes - Apartment and Interior. Maria Josefa Hermenegilda, born Princess of Liechtenstein, Maria Theresia, born Princess of Thurn and Taxis and Lady Sarah Child-Villiers - three women with a different fate in their roles as princess and lady of the house in the castle in Eisenstadt. The recently restored rooms of the Beletage, furnished with historic furniture, will continue to house never before seen objects on the history of Empress "Sisi" and Emperor Franz Josef I.

"Haydn explosiv*2012"
This exhibit 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 work of art.  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. For the example, the oldest Roman press in Burgenland is on display. A special exhibit 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. One of Austria's largest private weapons collections, the former armory, is also worth a visit.

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.

2 May to 30 September 2012: Esterházy exhibition bus tour
From Thursday to Saturday (9.00 am), the "Esterházy-Bus" departs from opposite the Vienna State Opera to Esterházy Castle in Eisenstadt. Guided tour through the exhibition "The Apartment of the Princess" including viewing of the Haydnsaal and free viewing of the exhibitions "Highlights of Esterházy Castle" and "Haydn explosiv*2012".
Free time in Haydn's town of Eisenstadt. 12.30 pm Depart for Forchtenstein Castle, where an impressive castle tour awaits the guests. Arrival in Vienna at 2.30 pm.
Cost: €39 per person (incl. bus ride, exhibition admission fees and tours)
Reservation required: Tel. +43 2682 630 04 721 or e-mail: tourismus@esterhazy.at

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.