A Family Day Out at an Impressive Farm
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Ask parents what they really want from a family outing and you’ll usually hear three things: the kids should have fun, the food should be good, and ideally it should have something to do with nature rather than feeling like a compromise. That’s exactly the sweet spot occupied by Seehof in Donnerskirchen, better known as Bio-Landgut Esterhazy. A place that’s simultaneously a farm, a restaurant, a market hall and an adventure world — and one that shows what happens when someone with a genuine commitment to sustainability brings a historic farm estate into the present.
What we appreciated most about a family day at the organic estate: everything here just fits together. While the kids conquer the playground with its gravel diggers, seesaw animals and a brand-new lookout tower, parents can find a table in the historic courtyard where the world is allowed to stand still for an hour.
Between rounds at the playground, there are animals to visit. Organic Angus cattle graze peacefully in the meadows. Free-ranging hens strut about in style, and at the viewing beehives, older children can watch the bees at work through the glass.
A farm with 350 years of history & an organic present
1675. That’s how long Seehof has stood between the Leitha Hills and the western reed belt of Lake Neusiedl. Over the centuries it served the Esterhazy family as a manor farm, a gathering place, and a home for up to 300 people who lived and worked here. Today, Pannatura, the Esterhazy family’s agricultural company, runs one of Austria’s largest showcase organic projects here.
What does that actually mean in practice? Closed nutrient cycles instead of industrial production. Their own herd of organic Angus cattle, visibly out grazing on the meadows. Hens that move across the fields in mobile coops, from one pasture to the next. Their own meat manufactory, refining regional specialities from the estate’s own game and Angus cattle since 2020.
At Restaurant Zum Gogosch, what grazed outside ends up on your plate
The organic estate’s restaurant has had a new home since September 2024: an elaborately restored farm building with a shady courtyard and a menu that would turn heads at any restaurant in the city. Organic Angus raised on-site. Game dishes from the estate’s own hunting. Vegetables and herbs the chef picks straight from the farm. An outstanding restaurant that surprises plenty of parents by being on a farm at all.
In plain terms: you don’t eat “family-friendly” here, you eat well. That said, the children’s menu is still thoughtfully put together, drawing on the same organic ingredients as the adult menu. With a bit of luck, you’ll get a table in the courtyard under the old trees. Reservations are essential at weekends and recommended on weekdays. Phone: +43 2683 30100.
Right next door is the Kulinarium Burgenland market hall. A small farm shop where you can take home whatever you enjoyed on the menu: sausages from the estate’s own manufactory, cheese from regional producers, honey from the beehives on site, fine oils, organic eggs, game and juices. If you’d like to turn a family outing into your grocery shop for the coming week, you’ll find everything here that the supermarket doesn’t stock.
Discovery walk: organic farming explained in 60 minutes
Anyone who really wants to understand how the farm concept works should join the discovery walk (booking recommended). Over 60 minutes, it takes you across the grounds, past the Angus cattle, the free-ranging hens and the viewing beehives. Unlike many farm programmes, this tour isn’t aimed exclusively at children but at everyone. The kids listen because their parents are listening, and they’re often the ones asking the best questions by the end. A lovely idea for families who don’t just want an outing, but genuinely want to understand what’s going on here.
Four weekends a year worth marking in the calendar
Four times a year, once each season, Seehof transforms into a large farmers’ and craft market with a family festival. Exhibitors from the region bring their produce, alongside live music, workshops, tastings and a dedicated children’s programme.
The summer edition is especially charming: the estate’s white Baroque donkeys get saddled up and children get to ride them. A tradition that delights not only the kids but also parents who find themselves recalling their own first pony rides. The autumn market centres on the theme of harvest time; winter is all about smoking, pickling and the cold season on the farm; and spring brings bees, new animals and the start of the season.
Good to know:
The organic estate sits in a handy spot right on the Lake Neusiedl cycle path. If you’re planning an active cycling holiday, Seehof makes a great lunch stop or afternoon leg. There are even e-bike charging stations right on site — a very clever touch.
By car, Donnerskirchen is around 45 minutes from Vienna, about 15 minutes from Eisenstadt, and 4 to 5 hours from Munich. Plenty of parking is available.
If you’d like to discover more lovely family outings and favourite spots in Northern Burgenland, you’re bound to find plenty more in this article.
