Eisenstadt Cathedral

St. Martin's Cathedral sits on a small rise in Eisenstadt's old town and has served as the cathedral of the Diocese of Eisenstadt since 1960, when the diocese itself was created. The late Gothic fortified church from the 15th century was built to withstand Ottoman raids, which explains its unusually heavy west facade. Joseph Haydn worked for decades as Kapellmeister to the Esterhazy court at the neighboring palace and premiered many of his masses here; his presence still hangs in the building. Inside, Gothic rib vaults meet Baroque altars and a notable organ. Anyone visiting Eisenstadt walks past almost automatically - the cathedral sits between the pedestrian zone and Esterhazy Palace. Summer brings regular church concerts.