FERTOD

formerly Eszterhza, agricultural commune, Gyor-Sopron megye (county), western Hungary. It lies near the south end of Ferto (German: Neusiedler) Lake on the Austrian frontier. It was a seat of the Esterhzy princes, who were among the leading landed gentry of Hungary. At Fertod they built the great Esterhza, or Esterhzy Palace, called the Hungarian Versailles, which was completed in 1766. This U-shaped palace has 126 rooms and is built in a style blending late Baroque with Rococo. The composer Joseph Haydn, long in the service of the Esterhzy family (176190), was responsible for the elaborate musical productions staged at the palace. An annual music festival is held at the palace in his memory. Pop. (1983 est.) 2,824.