This is what the Esterházy castle in Fertőd LOOKS LIKE
AFTER A 7 BILLION FORINT INVESTMENT
The reconstruction of the former building of the steward of estate of the Esterházy castle of Fertőd, the small castle has been completed, thereby a comprehensive development program has been finished, which has lasted six years.
The first stage of the renovation of the Esterházy caste and its surroundings started in 2009. Then, inter alia, the ornamental garden, the façade and the roof structure of the toy theatre were renewed. In the second stage, the Marionette Theatre and the orange house were renovated and the baroque water-tower was also rebuilt. In the recently finished third stage, the castle’s former service building, the building of the steward of estate, the so called small castle was renovated from EU-funds amounting to almost one and a half billion. Furthermore, a cortile was built, which creates a new venue for events in the castle. In addition, one has built a new wing to the castle, the Maria-Theresia-exhibition has acquired new pieces of art and an exhibition presenting baroque theatre history has opened.
László Anzelm Bodrogai, the director general of the Eszterháza Cultural, Research and Festival Centre said that the offices of the program centre, the rehearsal rooms and the changing rooms will be located in the small castle. Also, more than 30 pictures have been restored by the Museum of Fine Arts; they will gradually be transported back to Fertőd.
The construction works of the fourth phase have started too, whereby the western wing of the castle will be renovated exclusively from state funds. The treasure room will be returned to its original location and also the Esterházy-treasures will be taken back from the Museum of Fine Arts, as they will be presented in a new exhibition.
For the renovation of the Esterházy castle and its surroundings and for the implementation of the investments of the four development stages, a total of approx. 7 billion HUF in the form of state aid and EU-funds could be spent so far - summarized Bodrogai.
Similarly, the Széchenyi Castle in Nagycenk, which is administered by the Eszterháza Cultural Centre too, awaits restoration this year. On the occasion of the birth of István Széchenyi 225 ago, the castle chapel will be renovated and the present permanent exhibition will be expanded resp. renewed.