On September 6, young American singer Melanie Martinez released the album K-12, which she composed and directed herself, immediately creating a wave of excitement among those who love her unique voice and musical style. K-12 is a musical film that is more than an hour and a half long, in which, not only are Melanie's fans impressed by the lyrics and music that are full of her own personality, but also quickly overwhelmed by the film's beautiful and "fairytale" setting: a large, magnificent castle surrounded by a giant, lush green garden.
Esterházy Castle in Melanie Martinez's K-12 album poster
Located in the city of Fertőd (Hungary), 7 km from the Austrian border, the magnificent castle and beautiful park Esterházy (or Esterháza) is the residence of Hungary's richest and most powerful family - the Esterházy family. This is also the place Melanie Martinez chose as the location to record her second album in her career.
Esterházy Castle from the front
Built by Prince Nikolaus Esterházy and completed in 1784, this magnificent architectural heritage is often compared to the Palace of Versailles due to its grandeur and grandeur. The mansion was built in the Baroque and Rococo styles and is considered the greatest Rococo castle in Hungary.
In addition to the 126 rooms in the main palace, the grounds of Eszterházy Castle included an opera house, a puppet theater, horse racing tracks, separate servants' quarters, and beautiful gardens. It's no wonder this Hungarian Versailles was called the Summer Palace and became Prince Nikolaus Eszterházy's favorite country retreat.
In 1761, the brilliant composer Joseph Haydn became the director of operas, symphonies and theatrical performances held at Esterházy Castle. He lived here for 29 years, composing and directly in charge of entertainment for the owner and guests of the Castle.
A small corner in a room of Esterházy Castle
During World War II and the period after, due to lack of proper maintenance, the place was looted and damaged quite a lot. However, to this day, Esterházy is considered one of the most wonderful heritages of Baroque architecture in Hungary and attracts more than 20,000 visitors every year. Many people comment that this is the most beautiful Esterházy among the castles of the Esterházy family and also the most beautiful castle in Hungary.
The World Monuments Fund organized a conference on the restoration and reuse of Esterházy Castle in 1993 with the aim of opening it up while maintaining its historical value. This has transformed Esterházy Castle into the center of cultural life here, hosting vibrant summer music festivals and displaying contemporary art. Esterházy is an invaluable representative of Hungary's architectural heritage.
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Address: Fertőd–Eszterháza, Joseph Haydn utca 2, 9431 Hungary
Opening hours: 9:00 to 18:00 every day of the week
