Eisenstadt

Sister cities

• Lignano Sabbiadoro
• Sanuki
• Bad Kissingen
• Sopron
• Colmar

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 (see Ottoman wars in Europe). 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…

Geography

Eisenstadt lies on a plain leading down to the river Wulka, at the southern foot of the Leitha Mountains, about from the Hungarian border. Eisenstadt is divided into three districts (Ortsteile): *Eisenstadt-Stadt (Eisenstadt proper) * Kleinhöflein im Burgenland (; ) – 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 Furthermore, Eisenstadt is divided into five Katastralgemeinden: * Eisenstadt-Stadt * Oberberg, or Oberberg-Eisenstadt (; ) – the northern area of Eisenstadt starting beyond the Jewish quarter * Unterberg, or Unterberg-Eisenstadt (Alsókismartonhegy; Željezno Donji Brig) – the southern area of Eisenstadt starting beyond the Kalvarienbergplatz & the Ruster Straße and including the Jewish quarter * 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). * Großhöflein, Müllendorf, Steinbrunn, Neufeld/Leitha and Ebenfurth * Hornstein * Wulkaprodersdorf, Trausdorf/Wulka (on the Wulka and Eisbach)