Eisenstadt

Eisenstadt (German pronunciation: [ˈaɪzn̩ʃtat] ⓘ; Austro-Bavarian: Eisnstod; Hungarian: Kismarton; Croatian: Željezni grad or Željezno; Slovene: Železno) 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.

For other uses, see Eisenstadt (disambiguation).
Eisenstadt
Clockwise from top: aerial view of the city, state government building, Schloss Esterházy, calvary with Bergkirche
Flag of Eisenstadt
Flag
Coat of arms of Eisenstadt
Coat of arms
Eisenstadt is located in Burgenland
Eisenstadt
Eisenstadt
Location within Burgenland
Eisenstadt is located in Austria
Eisenstadt
Eisenstadt
Location within Austria
Coordinates: 47°51′N 16°31′E
Country Austria
StateBurgenland
DistrictStatutory city
Government
 • MayorThomas Steiner (ÖVP)
Area
[1]
 • Total42.88 km2 (16.56 sq mi)
Elevation
182 m (597 ft)
Population
 (2018-01-01)[2]
 • Total14,476
 • Density340/km2 (870/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
7000
Area code02682
Vehicle registrationE
Budget€42.256 million (2021)[3]
Expenditure€42.255 million (2021)[4]
Websitewww.eisenstadt.gv.at

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[5][6] and is the seat of three institutes of higher education.

Geography

Eisenstadt lies on a plain leading down to the river Wulka, at the southern foot of the Leitha Mountains, about 12 kilometres (7 miles) from the Hungarian border.

Subdivisions

Eisenstadt is divided into three districts (Ortsteile):

  • Eisenstadt-Stadt (Eisenstadt proper)
  • Kleinhöflein im Burgenland (Hungarian: Kishöflány; Croatian: Mala Holovajna) – 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 (Hungarian: Felsőkismartonhegy; Croatian: Željezno Brig) – 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).

Nearby municipalities

Climate
Climate data for Eisenstadt (1981–2010)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 20.5
(68.9)		 21.1
(70.0)		 24.1
(75.4)		 27.2
(81.0)		 33.2
(91.8)		 36.1
(97.0)		 38.7
(101.7)		 38.4
(101.1)		 33.7
(92.7)		 28.0
(82.4)		 21.9
(71.4)		 19.8
(67.6)		 38.7
(101.7)
Average high °C (°F) 3.1
(37.6)		 5.3
(41.5)		 10.4
(50.7)		 16.1
(61.0)		 21.1
(70.0)		 24.0
(75.2)		 26.7
(80.1)		 26.1
(79.0)		 20.9
(69.6)		 15.0
(59.0)		 8.3
(46.9)		 3.5
(38.3)		 15.0
(59.0)
Daily mean °C (°F) −0.1
(31.8)		 1.3
(34.3)		 5.5
(41.9)		 10.7
(51.3)		 15.7
(60.3)		 18.8
(65.8)		 21.0
(69.8)		 20.2
(68.4)		 15.5
(59.9)		 10.2
(50.4)		 4.9
(40.8)		 0.8
(33.4)		 10.4
(50.7)
Average low °C (°F) −2.8
(27.0)		 −1.7
(28.9)		 1.8
(35.2)		 6.0
(42.8)		 10.5
(50.9)		 13.7
(56.7)		 15.7
(60.3)		 15.5
(59.9)		 11.5
(52.7)		 6.9
(44.4)		 2.3
(36.1)		 −1.6
(29.1)		 6.5
(43.7)
Record low °C (°F) −21.6
(−6.9)		 −19.8
(−3.6)		 −19.2
(−2.6)		 −2.8
(27.0)		 1.2
(34.2)		 3.7
(38.7)		 6.9
(44.4)		 6.8
(44.2)		 2.1
(35.8)		 −5.9
(21.4)		 −12.3
(9.9)		 −17.8
(0.0)		 −21.6
(−6.9)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 38
(1.5)		 34
(1.3)		 59
(2.3)		 52
(2.0)		 77
(3.0)		 90
(3.5)		 77
(3.0)		 91
(3.6)		 78
(3.1)		 53
(2.1)		 57
(2.2)		 51
(2.0)		 758
(29.8)
Average snowfall cm (inches) 13
(5.1)		 10
(3.9)		 6
(2.4)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 5
(2.0)		 12
(4.7)		 46
(18)
Average relative humidity (%) (at 14:00) 70.5 62.6 56.5 50.4 52.9 53.5 50.2 51.4 56.0 62.3 70.6 74.7 59.3
Mean monthly sunshine hours 73 107 145 204 246 245 272 254 188 139 72 53 1,999
Percent possible sunshine 27.7 38.3 41.0 51.8 55.2 54.4 59.7 60.1 51.8 42.7 26.6 21.1 44.2
Source: Central Institute for Meteorology and Geodynamics[7][8][9][10][11]
Climate data for Eisenstadt (1971–2000)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 18.8
(65.8)		 19.7
(67.5)		 27.4
(81.3)		 27.2
(81.0)		 30.8
(87.4)		 36.1
(97.0)		 36.4
(97.5)		 37.0
(98.6)		 33.7
(92.7)		 26.4
(79.5)		 21.9
(71.4)		 19.8
(67.6)		 37.0
(98.6)
Average high °C (°F) 2.8
(37.0)		 5.3
(41.5)		 10.4
(50.7)		 15.3
(59.5)		 20.6
(69.1)		 23.4
(74.1)		 25.9
(78.6)		 25.7
(78.3)		 20.9
(69.6)		 14.8
(58.6)		 7.7
(45.9)		 4.0
(39.2)		 14.7
(58.5)
Daily mean °C (°F) −0.4
(31.3)		 1.3
(34.3)		 5.5
(41.9)		 9.9
(49.8)		 15.1
(59.2)		 18.1
(64.6)		 20.2
(68.4)		 19.8
(67.6)		 15.3
(59.5)		 9.8
(49.6)		 4.3
(39.7)		 1.1
(34.0)		 10.0
(50.0)
Average low °C (°F) −2.9
(26.8)		 −1.6
(29.1)		 1.9
(35.4)		 5.5
(41.9)		 10.1
(50.2)		 13.2
(55.8)		 15.2
(59.4)		 15.1
(59.2)		 11.4
(52.5)		 6.5
(43.7)		 1.7
(35.1)		 −1.2
(29.8)		 6.2
(43.2)
Record low °C (°F) −21.6
(−6.9)		 −19.8
(−3.6)		 −19.2
(−2.6)		 −4.0
(24.8)		 −1.6
(29.1)		 3.7
(38.7)		 6.2
(43.2)		 3.8
(38.8)		 2.1
(35.8)		 −5.3
(22.5)		 −12.3
(9.9)		 −17.8
(0.0)		 −21.6
(−6.9)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 33.7
(1.33)		 29.7
(1.17)		 45.1
(1.78)		 51.9
(2.04)		 62.6
(2.46)		 71.2
(2.80)		 66.7
(2.63)		 59.8
(2.35)		 58.8
(2.31)		 43.7
(1.72)		 53.6
(2.11)		 41.2
(1.62)		 618.0
(24.33)
Average snowfall cm (inches) 12.0
(4.7)		 8.8
(3.5)		 6.4
(2.5)		 0.8
(0.3)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 5.0
(2.0)		 14.1
(5.6)		 47.1
(18.5)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) 6.1 5.9 8.1 7.7 8.5 9.3 8.5 8.2 7.0 5.9 7.8 6.9 89.9
Average relative humidity (%) (at 14:00) 72.8 65.1 57.0 51.7 52.8 53.4 50.7 51.1 56.2 61.8 71.2 74.5 59.9
Mean monthly sunshine hours 68.9 105.8 136.1 188.0 237.1 232.5 252.3 244.0 176.2 136.3 70.4 50.1 1,897.7
Percent possible sunshine 26.2 37.9 38.6 47.7 53.5 52.1 55.8 57.8 48.4 41.8 25.9 20.3 42.2
Source: Central Institute for Meteorology and Geodynamics[12]

Names and etymology
Kleinhöflein im Burgenland at the foot of the Leitha Mountains
See also: Names of Eisenstadt in different languages

The city's name means "Iron City" and was first recorded in 1118 as Castrum ferrum, referring to the history of iron mining and iron trade in the area. The first written mention of the town is from 1264 as "minor Mortin", matching the Hungarian name, Kismarton, which recalls Martin of Tours, the patron saint of the main church.

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 Hofkapellmeister (court orchestra director, composing and performing music) began the great artistic period in the city's history. In 1809, Eisenstadt was occupied by French troops during the Napoleonic Wars; in 1897, it was joined to the railway network.

Until the end of World War I, it was the seat of Kismarton district in Sopron county in the Kingdom of Hungary. Without plebiscite, the city and the entire Hungarian territory of Burgenland (with the exception of the city of Sopron and 11 other villages in which referendums were held) was annexed to Austria by the Saint-Germain and Treaties of Trianon in 1921. Since 30 April 1925, Eisenstadt has been the seat of the Burgenland state government and thus the state capital. During World War II, Eisenstadt was heavily bombarded. On 2 April 1945, it was captured by Soviet troops of the 3rd Ukrainian Front in the course of the Vienna Offensive, and the city remained under Soviet occupation until 1955. In 1960, it became the see of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Eisenstadt.

Politics

The current mayor of Eisenstadt is Thomas Steiner (ÖVP).

The district council is composed as follows (as of 2022):

The total annual city budget of Eisenstadt in 2021 is €42.256.600 with total expenditure of €42.255.800.[13]

Main sights

Profane buildings
Gloriette
  • Schloss Esterházy
  • Gloriette, the former Esterházy hunting lodge.
  • City Hall
  • Cathedral Bastion and Powder tower
  • Martinkaserne, 19th-century military barracks

Religious buildings and districts
Eisenstadt Cathedral
City Hall

Museums
  • Haydnmuseum, a museum dedicated to Joseph Haydn, who lived in the building between 1766 and 1778.
  • Landesmuseum, regional museum
  • Austrian Jewish Museum
  • Diözesanmuseum, museum of the local Roman Catholic diocese
  • Feuerwehrmuseum, museum of the fire department

Education

Eisenstadt is the seat of the university of applied sciences FH Burgenland,[15] the college of education PH Burgenland,[16] and the music school Joseph-Haydn-Privathochschule Burgenland..[17]

Culture

Eisenstadt formerly hosted a Joseph Haydn festival, the Haydn Festspiele, a viniculture festival, the Fest der 1000 Weine, and a tournament of the World Athletics Continental Tour, the Austrian Open.

Twin towns — sister cities
See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in Austria

Eisenstadt is twinned with:

Notable people

Natives
Paul I in 1655
Joseph Weigl in 1829

Other residents
Joseph Haydn in 1791
Robert Musil around 1900

As a surname
Main articles: Eisenstadt (surname), Asch (disambiguation), and Ash (surname)

Eisenstadt (also Ajzenstat, Eisenstaedter, Asch, etc.), a Jewish surname, derives from this city.[18] Some people with this surname or its variants include:

References
  1. "Dauersiedlungsraum der Gemeinden Politischen Bezirke und Bundesländer - Gebietsstand 1.1.2018". Statistics Austria. Retrieved 10 March 2019.
  2. "Einwohnerzahl 1.1.2018 nach Gemeinden mit Status, Gebietsstand 1.1.2018". Statistics Austria. Retrieved 9 March 2019.
  3. "Eisenstadt Ergebnishaushalt". www.offenerhaushalt.at (in German). 2021. Retrieved 2021-04-02.
  4. "Eisenstadt Ergebnishaushalt". www.offenerhaushalt.at (in German). 2021. Retrieved 2021-04-02.
  5. https://www.britannica.com/place/Eisenstadt
  6. https://www.britannica.com/place/Burgenland
  7. "Klimamittel 1981–2010: Lufttemperatur" (in German). Central Institute for Meteorology and Geodynamics. Archived from the original on 21 October 2019. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
  8. "Klimamittel 1981–2010: Niederschlag" (in German). Central Institute for Meteorology and Geodynamics. Archived from the original on 29 December 2014. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
  9. "Klimamittel 1981–2010: Schnee" (in German). Central Institute for Meteorology and Geodynamics. Archived from the original on 29 December 2014. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
  10. "Klimamittel 1981–2010: Luftfeuchtigkeit" (in German). Central Institute for Meteorology and Geodynamics. Archived from the original on 21 October 2019. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
  11. "Klimamittel 1981–2010: Strahlung" (in German). Central Institute for Meteorology and Geodynamics. Archived from the original on 29 December 2014. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
  12. "Klimadaten von Österreich 1971–2000 – Burgenland-Eisenstadt" (in German). Central Institute for Meteorology and Geodynamics. Archived from the original on 12 October 2019. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
  13. "Eisenstadt Ergebnishaushalt". www.offenerhaushalt.at (in German). 2021. Retrieved 2021-04-02.
  14. Filckr photos: ,
  15. https://www.fh-burgenland.at/
  16. https://www.ph-burgenland.at/
  17. https://haydnkons.at/ueber-uns/aktuelles/artikel/joseph-haydn-konservatorium-feierte-zum-letzten-mal-unter-altem-namen/
  18. Asch and its variants are an abbreviation for Eisenstadt. see "Ash". Jewish Encyclopedia. 1906.
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