New Castle Kittsee

The New Castle was built as a manor farm at the beginning of the 17th century. In 1668, under Johann Graf Listy, it was expanded into a horseshoe-shaped Renaissance complex with an open staircase and an onion dome above it.

In 1676, the lordship passed to Paul Graf Esterházy. He initiated the Baroque-style renovation between 1730 and 1740. A Viennese master builder was commissioned for this. Lukas von Hildebrandt is occasionally mentioned, but it seems more likely to have been one of his pupils. The exterior staircase was replaced by two interior staircases.

Emperor Karl VI and Emperor Franz I were prominent hunting guests of the Esterházy family. Maria Theresia also enjoyed their hospitality.

In 1870, Kittsee came into the possession of the Batthyány-Strattmann family. The most prominent castle owner was Dr. Dr. Ladislaus Fürst Batthyány-Strattmann. He inherited Kittsee from his father in 1897. As a prominent ophthalmologist who used to treat indigent patients free of charge, he was known as the "Doctor of the Poor." He founded the hospital in Kittsee with his own funds. Dr. Ladislaus Fürst Batthyány Strattmann died in 1931 and was later beatified by the Pope.

At the beginning of the 20th century, the castle was partially altered in the Historicist style, both externally and internally. The post-war period brought severe damage to the New Castle. The Batthyány-Strattmann family sold the castle. The new owner used the castle as a chicken farm and sold everything usable.

In 1969, the market town of Kittsee acquired it. A general renovation took place between 1969 and 1974. During this time, the previously enclosed arcades on the ground floor were reopened.

After the completion of the restoration work, a folklore museum with close ties to the Austrian Museum of Folk Life and Art in Vienna was established in the castle, specializing in the Eastern and Southeastern European region. However, the museum had to close in October 2008.