Tata and Sopron

Tata's Old Castle, with a restored tower and wing

Our target for tonight was Sopron, near the border with Austria.  We noticed the town of Tata which was on our way and seemed to be interesting enough to warrant a stop.  Two lakes--large and small--provide the centerpiece of the town.  The ruins of the Oregvar (Old Castle) dominate the large lake and date from the 12th century, with one tower and a wing restored in the 19th c.  A small palace built by the Esterhazy family (much more about them later) in the mid 1700s is nearby.  The small lake is bounded by the Anglo Garden, built by the E. family.  We walked through the castle grounds and then made our way through town to the small lake and gardens, getting our exercise with a 30 minute walk around the lake.  

Esterhazy Palace in Fertod

A stop at the local Spar Market provided lunch fixings which we ate next to the large lake.  Then 90 minutes on the autoroute and a back road to Fertod and another, grander Esterhazy Palace, built by Nicholas in the mid-1700s.  We had not intended to try for a tour here (hoping instead to see the prime palace in Eisenstadt tomorrow), so we arrived about 6 and walked through the grounds.  The palace looked to be in prime condition, and includes a hotel in one wing.  Thirty minutes later we were in Sopron.  Our first hotel choice, a Great Western, was fully booked with a conference, so we headed to the second **** hotel in town and are comfortable and satisfied after a beer in the courtyard.  This hotel is apparently a restored Baroque building.  We'll judge it by the breakfast.