Eisenstadt, capital of the province of Burgenland, on the south-east fringes of the Leithagebirge, some 15km/9mi west of the Neusiedler See, has aristocratic traditions. In the 17th and 18th century this was the principal seat of the great Esterházy family, who left a distinctive imprint on the town and helped it to prosper. Prince Nikolaus
Esterházy patronized Josef Haydn (1732-1809), who was Kapellmeister here for 30 years. Haydn's house, now a museum, is open to visitors, and he is buried in the Bergkirche above the town. Eisenstadt is mentioned in a chronicle of 1118 and in a document of 1264. It was granted a municipal charter in 1373. From 1445-1648 it was in pledge to the Habsburgs; thereafter it became a royal free city within Hungary and the residence of the Esterházys. In 1921 the town became reunited with Austria, and in 1925 was made the capital of Burgenland; it is the smallest of the Austrian provincial capitals and since 1960 has also been the see of a bishop.
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