CASTLES KITTSEE

Kittsee Castle is a Baroque masterpiece located on the edge of town, surrounded by an idyllic park overlooking the Neusiedler See region. Originally built as a meierhof in the early 17th century and later transformed into a palace, the castle was significantly rebuilt in Baroque style in the mid-18th century by Prince Paul Anton Esterhazy. In the late 19th century, it became home to Prince Ladislaus Batthyany-Strattmann, known as the 'doctor of the poor' for his philanthropic work. Today owned by the municipality of Kittsee since 1965, the castle serves as a cultural hub hosting concerts and concerts, while also accommodating the municipal office and a restaurant within its walls.

Old Kittsee Castle (Altes Schloss Kittsee) has medieval origins tracing to the 12th century, originally constructed as a moated border fortress in Kittsee, a municipality in northern Burgenland near the triple border of Austria, Hungary, and Slovakia. Though much of the original structure is now in ruins, visitors can still observe architectural remnants from 16th and 17th-century renovations, including a distinctive spiral staircase with heraldic coats of arms and an octagonal tower. These surviving elements offer glimpses into the castle's strategic past as a defensive stronghold guarding the frontier during centuries of regional tension.