First day and presentation of the commemorative stamp honoring the 100-year anniversary of Eisenstadt as state capital

100 years as state capital: Eisenstadt

"The world's smallest big city"

Eisenstadt, Austria’s smallest state capital, is the seat of the federal state of Burgenland. To mark its 100th anniversary as capital, Austrian Post is issuing a commemorative stamp.

Burgenland only became part of the newly formed Republic of Austria in 1921, making it the last federal state to join. Initially, the city of Ödenburg (Sopron) was designated to become the capital. However, following a controversial referendum in December 1921, the majority of the population voted to remain with Hungary. As a result, the small town of Bad Sauerbrunn in northern Burgenland served as the provisional seat of the regional government and administration from 1921 to 1925. On April 30, 1925, a formal decision established Eisenstadt as the official seat of the Burgenland government, beating out other candidates such as Pinkafeld, Mattersburg, and Bad Sauerbrunn. Still, it was not until 1981 that Eisenstadt was officially recognized as the state capital in Burgenland’s constitution.

The city owes its name—Eisenstadt translates to “Iron City”—to its former fortification walls, which once made it nearly impenetrable. Today, Eisenstadt is best known for Esterházy Palace and the Bergkirche (Mountain Church), also called Haydn Church. Composer Joseph Haydn spent much of his life in Eisenstadt as the director of music of the Esterházy family. The stamp design features Eisenstadt’s historic 17th-century town hall, a listed building protected as a cultural monument.

When? 
2 May 2025, 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. 

Presentation at 10:00 a.m.

Where? 
At the pavilion of Stadtvilla Eisenstadt, Pfarrgasse 20, 7000 Eisenstadt

Group picture 1, left to right: 
Picture of presentation: © Österreichische Post AG

Thomas Steiner (Mayor of the Burgenland state capital Eisenstadt), Alois Mondschein (Head of Central Partner Management, Austrian Post)