Forchtenstein Castle (Burg Forchtenstein) is located on a bare hill at an altitude of 511 meters, south of the town of Mattersburg. The fortified castle, which overlooks the Wulka Valley, is the only one in the entire region that did not fall into the hands of the Turkish invaders when they besieged the city of Vienna in the 17th century. Due to its strength, the castle served as a safe haven and storage place for the treasures of the Esterházy family, which can be seen today in the castle’s exhibitions. The castle and the Esterházy Palace in Eisenstadt are still owned by the family today.
The Story of Forchtenstein Castle
The castle was built at the beginning of the 15th century by the Lords of Mattersburg. In 1450, the dynasty of the Lords of Mattersburg disappeared from the world as there were no sons to continue it.
For this reason, the castle passed to the House of Habsburg, which held it for 170 years.
In 1622, the Esterházy family received the castle as a gift from Emperor Ferdinand II of the House of Habsburg. The family members invested their fortune to expand, renovate, and fortify the castle even more, turning it into a fortified and protected stronghold. At the end of the 17th century, the castle was transformed from the residence of the Esterházy family into a storage place for their treasures. The site stored weapons, ancient machines, exotic animals, ancient writings, and other treasures owned by the family. The only entrance to the treasure chamber was through a secret entrance with a sophisticated lock that required two different keys simultaneously.
The treasure chamber remained hidden and protected even during World War II and is now on display for visitors to the castle.
This is what the castle looks like
Click to book tickets for a tour of the castle and armoury
Tours and Exhibitions in the Castle
Every day from March to the beginning of November, guided tours are held through the rooms of the ancient castle. You can see the ancient murals in the castle courtyard, the antique furniture, and the interior design of the building. The tour also includes a visit to the castle’s armoury, which contains a large number of ancient weapons.
In addition, there is a most impressive exhibition of the Esterházy family’s treasure chamber with ancient and extraordinary collections. A visit to the treasure chamber is possible as part of a guided tour.
Essential Information for Visiting Forchtenstein Castle
Opening Times:
- April, June – August: Every day from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
- May, September, October: Tuesday to Sunday and on holidays from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
- From November and throughout the winter: Entry as part of a guided tour only. Tours are in German.
Entrance Costs:
Visit to the castle and armoury:
- Adult – €19
- Reduced price – €15
- Family ticket – €44
Visit to the treasure chamber:
- Adult – €19
- Reduced price – €16
- Family ticket – €41
Combined ticket:
- Adult – €39
- Reduced price – €34
- Family ticket – €89
Entrance and guided tour:
- Adult – €24
- Reduced price – €20
- Family ticket – €54
Click to book tickets for a tour of the castle and armoury
Address: Melinda Esterhazy-Platz 1, 7212 Forchtenstein
How to Get to the Castle from Vienna?
If you wish to arrive by public transport from Vienna, you can take a regional bus from the bus platform next to Vienna’s main train station. The station is called Wien Hbf (Busbahnhof Wiedner Gürtel). You need to take bus line number 7941 in the direction of Rosalienhäuser Hochwolkersdorfer Straße. The bus stops at the Forchtenstein Burg station, which is adjacent to the castle. The direct bus journey takes one hour and twenty minutes.
You can search for public transport options and plan your route on this website.
Map:
If you want to see the main palace of the Esterházy family, you can visit the city of Eisenstadt. It is the capital of the state of Burgenland and is easily accessible by public transport from Vienna.
