Eisenstadt, Burgenland, Austria

🇦🇹 Eisenstadt is a city in Austria, the state capital of Burgenland. In the Habsburg Empire's Kingdom of Hungary, Kismarton (Eisenstadt) was the seat of the Eszterházy Hungarian noble family. The composer Joseph Haydn lived there as Hofkapellmeister under Esterházy patronage.

Geography Eisenstadt lies on a plain leading down to the river Wulka, at the south foot of the Leitha Mountains, about 12 km (7 miles) from the Hungarian border.

It is the 38st largest city in Austria.

Kleinhöflein im Burgenland at the foot of the Leitha Mountains

Subdivisions Eisenstadt is divided into three districts (Stadtbezirke): • Eisenstadt-Stadt • Kleinhöflein im Burgenland (Hungarian: Kishöflány; Croatian: Mala Holovajna) – a town that lies to the west of Eisenstadt proper • St. Georgen am Leithagebirge (Lajtaszentgyörgy; Svetojurje) – a town that lies to the east of Eisenstadt proper

The city is divided into five Katastralgemeinden: • Eisenstadt-Stadt • Oberberg, or Oberberg-Eisenstadt (Hungarian: Felsőkismartonhegy; Croatian: Željezno Brig) – the northern area of Eisenstadt from the Jewish quarter, Jewish cemetery • Unterberg, or Unterberg-Eisenstadt (Alsókismartonhegy; Željezno Donji Brig) – the southern area of Eisenstadt from Kalvarienbergplatz, Ruster Strasse • Kleinhöflein im Burgenland • St. Georgen am Leithagebirge

Other informal areas of the city include Wiesäcker and Lobäcker, which lie south of the Eisbach, a tributary of the Wulka. The city is surrounded by the district (Bezirk) of Eisenstadt-Umgebung.

The city previously included the districts (Ortsteile) of Eisenstadt-Stadt, Eisenstadt-Oberberg, Eisenstadt-Unterberg, and Eisenstadt-Schloßgrund (Kismartonváralja).

Nearby municipalities • Großhöflein, Müllendorf, Steinbrunn, Neufeld/Leitha and Ebenfurth • Hornstein • Wulkaprodersdorf, Trausdorf/Wulka (on the Wulka and Eisbach).

History Archeological finds prove that the Eisenstadt area was already settled in the Hallstatt period. Celts and Romans settled somewhat later. During the Migration Period, the area was settled by different Germanic tribes and the Huns. Around 800, during the reign of Charlemagne, settlement by the Bavarii began. The territory became part of the Kingdom of Hungary in the 11th century.

The fortress built on the original earth works was destroyed by the troops of Margrave Leopold III of Austria. In 1241, it was destroyed by the Mongol invaders. In 1373, the town came into the possession of the Kanizsai family, who rebuilt the walls surrounding the town and built a fortress at the site of the present day castle between 1388 and 1392. In 1388, Eisenstadt was given the right to hold markets by Emperor Sigismund.

From 1440 Archduke Albert VI of Austria held the town as collateral for a loan. In 1451, Matthias Corvinus ceded it to Frederick III, Holy Roman Emperor in return for the Holy Crown of Hungary. Matthias Corvinus reconquered it by force in 1482, but Maximilian I acquired it again in 1490. It remained under Habsburg rule until 1622; however, the Ottoman Empire briefly conquered Kismarton in 1529 and 1532 during their advances on the city of Vienna. It was destroyed by fire in 1589.

In 1648, it passed under the rule of the Esterházy family. These Hungarian princes permanently changed the face of the city due to their extensive construction, especially on their castle, Schloss Esterházy. During this period, the city was captured by the army of Imre Thököly in 1683, and it saw the defeat of the rebel kuruc army of Sándor Károlyi by the Habsburgs in 1704. It was again destroyed by fire in 1776.

The appointment of Joseph Haydn as the prince's Hofkapellmeister (court orchestra director, composing and performing music) began the great artistic period in the city's history. In 1809, Eisenstadt was occupied by French troops during the Napoleonic Wars; in 1897, it was joined to the railway network.

Until the end of World War I, it was the seat of Kismarton district in Sopron county in the Kingdom of Hungary. Without plebiscite, the city and the entire Hungarian territory of Burgenland (with the exception of the city of Sopron and 11 other villages in which referendums were held) was annexed to Austria by the Saint-Germain and Treaties of Trianon in 1921. Since 30 April 1925, Eisenstadt has been the seat of the Burgenland state government and thus the state capital. During World War II, Eisenstadt was heavily bombarded. On 2 April 1945, it was captured by Soviet troops of the 3rd Ukrainian Front in the course of the Vienna Offensive, and the city remained under Soviet occupation until 1955. In 1960, it became the see of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Eisenstadt.

Castles and palaces • Schloss Esterházy and Schlosspark, the Esterházy castle and park. ◦ Orangerie • Gloriette, the former Esterházy hunting lodge.

Religious edifices • Bergkirche, housing Haydn's tomb • Eisenstadt Cathedral, late Gothic former military church, began in 1460 • Franziskanerkirche (Franciscan church), built in 1629, it contains the crypt of the Esterházy family • Jewish quarter ◦ Jewish Community of Eisenstadt (1732–1938, 1945–) ◦ A private synagogue Österreichisches Jüdisches Museum, formerly Samson Wertheimer's house ◦ Jewish cemetery of Eisenstadt

Buildings • Haydn-Mausoleum • Rathaus (City Hall) • Pulverturm (lit. "Powder tower")

Museums • Haydnmuseum, a museum dedicated to Joseph Haydn, who lived in the building between 1766 and 1778. • Landesmuseum (regional museum). • Österreichisches Jüdisches Museum (Austrian Jewish Museum). • Diözesanmuseum (museum of the local Roman Catholic diocese). • Feuerwehrmuseum (fire department museum).