Page 156 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Austria

154  A USTRIA REGION B Y REGION

s Burg
Forchtenstein
Road map G3. £ Mattersburg. @
n Hauptstrasse 31, (02626) 631 23.
Castle: Tel (02626) 81212. Open Apr–
Oct: 10am–6pm daily; Nov–Mar:
groups by appointment. 8
∑ esterhazy.at
Perched unassailably on the
rocky slopes of Rosaliengebirge
stands Forchtenstein Castle,
built in the 14th century by
the Mattersdorfer family.
Bought and extended by the
Esterházys, it now houses a
magnificent and extensive The birthplace of Franz Liszt in Raiding, near Forchtenstein
private collec tion of arms. The
castle armoury exhibits arms today. In summer the castle g Bruck an
and war trophies dating from hosts a popular festival. der Leitha
the 16th to the 19th centuries
as well as memorabilia and Environs: In the village of Road map G3. * 7,500. £ @
pictures from the wars with Raiding, 24 km (15 miles) to n Hauptplatz 16, (02162) 622 21.
Turkey, France and Prussia. the south of Forchtenstein, is a
Forchtenstein Castle was one of lovely cottage, the birthplace This small town, situated 30 km
the fortresses that defended of the composer Franz Liszt. (19 miles) east of Vienna, was
the Habsburg state during the The house is now a museum, established as a Babenberg
Turkish raids of 1529 and 1683. the Liszt-Haus. Every March, fortress in 1230, and formed
Other trophies from that period Raiding hosts the Liszt Festival, the main border point between
include a captured Turkish tent, a celebration of Liszt’s music. Austria and Hungary. Its present
one of the most interesting form dates mainly from the turn
exhibits, and a tank, dug 142 m E Liszt-Haus of the 17th century, but the
(466 ft) deep into the castle Lisztstrasse 46. Tel (02619) 510 47-16. remains of the medieval
court yard by the captive Turks. Open mid-Mar–May: 9am–5pm Tue– fortifications from the 13th
There are also vast paintings Sat; Jun–mid-Nov: 9am–5pm Mon– century, as well as several old
of battle scenes. Having played Sat, 10am–5pm Sun & hols. houses, remain in the main
its part in repell ing the Turkish square today.
threat, the heavily fortified d Neusiedler See In this square, the Hauptplatz,
castle became a museum there is an attractive town hall
in 1815. See pp156–7. with a Rococo balcony and an
The equestrian statue in the arcaded courtyard. Also here is
courtyard is of Paul, the first f Eisenstadt the Baroque Pfarrkirche, built by
prince of the Esterházy family, Heinrich Hoffmann. In Friedrich-
which still owns the castle See pp158–9. Schiller-Gasse stands the

The imposing 14th-century Burg Forchtenstein on the slopes of Rosaliengebirge
The tranquil waters of Neusiedler See, in Burgenland

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