The Chapel
Central Europe.
Burgenland, Austria.
Eisenstadt is the capital city of the Austrian state of Burgenland. With a population of 15,074 (as of 2023), it is the smallest state capital and the 38th-largest city in Austria overall. It lies at the foot of the Leitha Mountains hill range.
From 1648 to 1921, Kismarton/Eisenstadt was part of the Habsburg Empire's Kingdom of Hungary and the seat of the Hungarian noble family Eszterházy. During this time, the composer Joseph Haydn lived and worked in Eisenstadt as a court musician under the patronage of the Esterházy family. After the cessation of Burgenland to Austria in 1921, the city became the province's capital in 1925. As the state capital of Burgenland, it functions as a center of public administration and services and is the seat of three institutes of higher education.
Schloss Esterházy (Hungarian: Esterházy-kastély) is a palace in Eisenstadt, Austria, the capital of the Burgenland state. It was constructed in the late 13th century, and came under ownership of the Hungarian Esterházy family in 1622. Under Paul I, 1st Prince Esterházy of Galántha the estate was converted into a baroque castle which remained the principal residence and center of administration of the family for over 300 years. The famous composer Joseph Haydn worked here for most of his life.
And the last room open to visitors is the palace chapel. It was built under Prince Paul the First. In 1660, the palace chapel was consecrated by Count Georg Szechenyi. By this time, the chapel already had an organ built by Georg Winkler from Wiener Neustadt. In 1664 the organ was replaced with a new one. And in 1685, a relic appeared in the chapel - Pope Innocent the Eleventh donated part of the body of the saint from the catacombs - Constantine. These relics are kept in a glass reliquary.
Already at the time of the opening of the chapel, church music was performed in it, and a local orchestra played. In the 18th century, under Paul II Anton, the chapel was slightly rebuilt, a font, a rococo lamp and three paintings of the Holy Trinity appeared. In the 19th century, a pulpit was added, and in 1823 the organ was enlarged (master from Vienna Christoph Erler).
It was here that Joseph Haydn's talent was fully revealed. It was here that he celebrated his first mass in the presence of Lord Nelson. The recordings are played for us while we are sitting there.
The Chapel
Central Europe.
Burgenland, Austria.
Eisenstadt is the capital city of the Austrian state of Burgenland. With a population of 15,074 (as of 2023), it is the smallest state capital and the 38th-largest city in Austria overall. It lies at the foot of the Leitha Mountains hill range.
From 1648 to 1921, Kismarton/Eisenstadt was part of the Habsburg Empire's Kingdom of Hungary and the seat of the Hungarian noble family Eszterházy. During this time, the composer Joseph Haydn lived and worked in Eisenstadt as a court musician under the patronage of the Esterházy family. After the cessation of Burgenland to Austria in 1921, the city became the province's capital in 1925. As the state capital of Burgenland, it functions as a center of public administration and services and is the seat of three institutes of higher education.
Schloss Esterházy (Hungarian: Esterházy-kastély) is a palace in Eisenstadt, Austria, the capital of the Burgenland state. It was constructed in the late 13th century, and came under ownership of the Hungarian Esterházy family in 1622. Under Paul I, 1st Prince Esterházy of Galántha the estate was converted into a baroque castle which remained the principal residence and center of administration of the family for over 300 years. The famous composer Joseph Haydn worked here for most of his life.
And the last room open to visitors is the palace chapel. It was built under Prince Paul the First. In 1660, the palace chapel was consecrated by Count Georg Szechenyi. By this time, the chapel already had an organ built by Georg Winkler from Wiener Neustadt. In 1664 the organ was replaced with a new one. And in 1685, a relic appeared in the chapel - Pope Innocent the Eleventh donated part of the body of the saint from the catacombs - Constantine. These relics are kept in a glass reliquary.
Already at the time of the opening of the chapel, church music was performed in it, and a local orchestra played. In the 18th century, under Paul II Anton, the chapel was slightly rebuilt, a font, a rococo lamp and three paintings of the Holy Trinity appeared. In the 19th century, a pulpit was added, and in 1823 the organ was enlarged (master from Vienna Christoph Erler).
It was here that Joseph Haydn's talent was fully revealed. It was here that he celebrated his first mass in the presence of Lord Nelson. The recordings are played for us while we are sitting there.