Esterházy Palace ranks as the most prominent cultural monument and landmark in the Province of Burgenland. Its origins can be traced back to a 13th-century gothic fortress which passed into the ownership of the Esterházy family in 1649. Under Prince Esterházy Paul I the estate was converted into a baroque castle which remained the principal residence and centre of administration of the family for over 300 years. Its historical significance as the hub of social, cultural and political affairs may be ascribed to its geographical situation, forming a point of intersection between Eastern and Western Europe.
