On his way from Eisenstadt to Eszterháza, Count Estherházy’s Hungarian version of Versailles palace, Count Nikolaus often stopped over in Sopron. Traveling with him was his Kapellmeister Joseph Haydn.
The city of Sopron is located in the geographic center of the region in which
Joseph Haydn used to work for the Esterhazy’s for nearly 30 years. Even Empress Maria Theresia was so impressed by this grand palace in rural Hungary that she loved to accept concert invitations by Count Nikolaus. Haydn often performed at the count’s house or in the music pavilion in the baroque palace garden. For Haydn, Sopron was part of his home throughout the largest part of his career.
The
Esterházy Palace, which is also known as Haydn House, is still reminiscent of those times. Today the palace accommodates a mining museum and changing exhibitions. The times of Haydn are being revived in the old halls where you can still find one wall with its original painting. A memorial plaque on the exterior reminds of the famous composer.