Melanie Martinez and her "fairy tale castle"

On September 6th, young American singer Melanie Martinez released her self-composed and directed album, K-12, immediately creating a wave of excitement among fans of her unique voice and musical style. K-12 is a musical film over an hour and a half long, impressive not only for its distinctive lyrics and music, but also for its stunning and "fairytale" setting: a vast, magnificent castle surrounded by a huge, lush green garden.

Lâu đài Esterházy trong poster quảng bá album K-12 của Melanie Martinez — Esterházy Castle in the promotional poster for Melanie Martinez's album K-12.

Located in the city of Fertőd (Hungary), 7 km from the Austrian border, the magnificent castle and beautiful Esterházy (or Esterháza) park are the residences of Hungary's wealthiest and most powerful family – the Esterházy family. This is also where Melanie Martinez chose to film her second album.

Lâu đài Esterházy nhìn từ chính diện — Esterházy Castle viewed from the front.

Built by Prince Nikolaus Esterházy and completed in 1784, this magnificent architectural heritage site is often compared to the Palace of Versailles due to its vast grounds and opulent, regal atmosphere. The mansion, constructed in the Baroque and Rococo styles, is considered Hungary's greatest Rococo castle.

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In addition to the 126 rooms in the main palace, the grounds of Eszterházy Castle include an opera house, a puppet theater, racetracks, separate quarters for servants, and beautiful gardens. It's no wonder this Hungarian Versailles is known as the Summer Palace and became the favorite suburban retreat of Prince Nikolaus Eszterházy.

In 1761, the brilliant composer Joseph Haydn became the director of operas, symphonies, and theatrical performances held at Esterházy Castle. He lived there for 29 years, composing and directly providing entertainment for the owner and visitors to the castle.

Góc nhỏ trong một căn phòng của Lâu đài Esterházy — A small corner in a room of Esterházy Castle.

During World War II and the period that followed, due to a lack of proper preservation, it suffered considerable looting and damage. However, to this day, Esterházy remains considered one of the finest examples of Baroque architecture in Hungary and attracts over 20,000 visitors annually. Many consider it the most beautiful of the Esterházy castles and the most beautiful castle in Hungary.

The World Heritage Foundation organized a conference in 1993 on the restoration and reuse of Esterházy Castle with the aim of reopening it while preserving its historical value. This transformed Esterházy Castle into a center of local cultural life, hosting vibrant summer music festivals and showcasing contemporary art. Esterházy can be considered an invaluable representation of Hungarian architectural heritage.