Donnerskirchen

The commune is located in northern Burgenland, 13 kilometers northeast of its capital, Eisenstadt, on the southeastern slopes of the Leith Mountains .

Neighboring Communes:

• Schutzen am Gebirge
• Purbach am Neusiedler See
• Auggau am Neusiedler See

The first Hungarian name for the settlement was Csákány , the current Hungarian name was first mentioned in 1641 as Feieregyhaz . It came from a white stone church.

The territory has been inhabited since prehistoric times. On Mount Schönleitenberg , the remains of a settlement and burial ground belonging to Hallstatt culture were discovered. A round marble altar of one of the oldest early Christian Austrian border churches was also discovered.

In a document of 1285, mention is made of the Dundeskürchen vineyard. In 1332, under the name Chakan , and in 1355 as Totchakan . In the XIV century, the owner of local lands was the noble family Gatal, and from 1410 became the property of the Kanizsai family. In 1437 a church was built in honor of St. Martin. Since the middle of the XV century , for almost 200 years, the area passes into the hands of the Habsburgs. The settlement was twice destroyed by the Turks in 1529 and 1683 . In the second half of the XVI century, local residents professed evangelism, the Catholic Church was rebuilt in 1638 . Metric records have been preserved since 1615 . In 1605, the settlement was devastated by the Bocskai guides . In 1622, local lands were bought by the family of Esterhazy . In 1651, defensive walls were built around the settlement. Market law Donnerskirchen was given in 1659 by Emperor Leopold I. The fair was held on Sunday after the celebration of St. Apostles Peter and Paul. In Donnerskirchen, material evidence of vesting the settlement with market law in the form of a shameful pillar established in 1660 has still been preserved. In 1809, the French army entered Donnerskirchen, with the advent of which the living conditions of the local population changed dramatically. In 1831, 31 people died from a cholera epidemic, and in 1866 the settlement was destroyed by fires. During the Hungarian Revolution in 1848 - 1849, the flag often changed from imperial to Hungarian and vice versa, on the spire of the church tower, depending on whose troops approached Donnerskirchen.

András Vályi ( Vályi András ) wrote: “... The German settlement of Sopron in Varmedia, a property of the Esterházy family, inhabited by Catholics, is located on a pleasant beach and named after the church.”

Since 1898, the Hungarian name of the commune Sopronfehéregyháza (Sopronfeheredjáhaza) has been used in connection with the government’s Magyarization policy in Budapest .

In 1910, the population of Donnerskirchen totaled 1,741 people. Of these, 1642 Germans and 72 Hungarians. This area, like the whole of Burgenland ( Deutsch-Westungarn ), until 1920/21 belonged to Hungary. After the end of World War I, after tough negotiations, according to the Saint Germain and Trianon treaties, Austria received Deutsch-Westungarn in 1919 . The area has been part of the Burgenland land since 1921 .

The burgomaster of the commune is Joseph Frippus ( SDPA ) based on the 2007 election results.

The council of representatives of the commune ( German: Gemeinderat ) consists of 21 seats.

• SDPA has 11 seats.
• ANP takes 10 places.

On a blue background is a shiny silver church with a red roof, three arched windows and a large bell tower .

• Baroque defense church of St. Martin : Parish, built in 1676 at the behest of Prince Esterhazy on the site of the previous one, the interior of the XVIII century . It served as the last refuge for the local population during the hostilities, for example, during the Turkish sieges . It was reconstructed in 1975 . Above the main entrance is a statue of the patron saint of the church, installed in 1739 . On the north side of the church is a two-story sacristy connected to the tower. Interior painting of the 19th century . On the northern wall depicts the baptism of Christ and King St. Vladislav, on the southern king St. Stephen. The cross was established in the 17th century . Since the 17th century, the church has been surrounded by city walls, which have a viewing window on the south-west side. The temple is a symbol of Donnerskirchen, rises above the settlement.

• Church of St. John of Nepomuk, built in 1783 in the late Baroque style and restored in 1960 , the Altar of the church was created in about 1600 .
• The pillory of 1660, the statue of the Holy Trinity in 1738 and the statue of Jan of Nepomuk of the 18th century.
• Donnerskirchen is mainly known for the victories of local premium wines at various international wine exhibitions.
• Many operating societies contribute to the cultural life and reputation of the commune: The First Music Society. Burgenland Trachtenkapella ( Musikverein 1. Bgld. Trachtenkapelle Donnerskirchen ), St. Martin's Choir, Gordon Highlanders of Austria , Donnerskirchen Wine Quartet ( Weinquartett Donnerskirchen ), D 'Original Sautanz-Musi, Tourism Association.

• Huber János is a canon, secretary in the Catholic League between 1908 and 1921 , editor of several German-language daily and weekly newspapers.
• Fülöp Steiner ( Steiner Fülöp ) - former bishop of Szekesfehervara .

• Gisela Auer (Red.): Heimatbuch der Marktgemeinde Donnerskirchen . Marktgemeinde Donnerskirchen, Donnerskirchen 1985
• Rudolf Kleiner: Chronik der Gemeinde Donnerskirchen . Selbstverlag, Donnerskirchen 1973

• Official Page (German)
• Donnerskirchen Church (Hungarian)
• Hungarian Catholic Encyclopedia (Hungarian)
• Hungarian Biographical Dictionary (Hungarian)
• Donnerskirchen in Statistics Austria (German)
• Wine quartet