Potzneusiedl Castle

The construction of the present-day castle began in 1796, partially utilizing existing Gothic foundations. The building was completed in 1808. Around 1850, the Batthyány family acquired the property, which experienced its heyday in the interwar period, when splendid festivities were celebrated here. Princess Louise Batthyany, the last noble owner, died in 1956. She bequeathed Potzneusiedl to her personal physician. He kept the agricultural land and sold the castle in 1966 to the Viennese businessman Ing. Gerhard Egermann, who in the following years had the already extremely dilapidated building restored. From 1966, the castle was revitalized as an art and antiques center. In 1970, he established the First Austrian Icon Museum here, whose showpiece is the "Mother of God of Kazan," through which Potzneusiedl became a place of pilgrimage for devout Russians.

Today (since 1966), the castle is run as a huge antiques center with an attached antiquarian bookshop, whose treasures fill all the rooms. In addition, special exhibitions are held regularly. For example, Bibles from five centuries will be on display here until the end of 2003.

Events such as the Potzneusiedl Theater Summer, concerts, and readings take place in the former coach garage, which has been converted into a theater and concert hall.

Since 1987, Potzneusiedl Castle has been the headquarters of the Austrian-Hungarian Cultural Institute and since 2001 also the headquarters of the Austrian-Romanian Cultural Institute.

The Potzneusiedl Castle Museum houses:

• Collection of Masterpieces from the 17th–20th Centuries: collections of Austrian and Hungarian art from the 17th to 20th centuries have been exhibited since 1975
• Icon Museum: founded as the First Austrian Icon Museum in 1970
• Bible Museum: since 2004; displays bibliophile treasures, such as an early Bible by Martin Luther, magnificent artist editions of the 21st century (e.g., by Ernst Fuchs), and baroque legends of saints
• Zsolnay Museum: a ceramic museum dedicated to the Hungarian ceramic artist Vilmos Zsolnay (1828–1900, who also founded the Zsolnay Manufactory in Pecs), showcasing approximately 500 pieces; museum founded in 1975
• Book Flea Market: antiquarian book market
• Antiques Trade: