Rohrau Things to Do

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The entrance-hall of Schloss Rohrau gives you a first impression of the great paintings you may see as a part of the Graf Harrach'sche Familiensammlung. The Harrach-family was one of the most important noble families at the court of the Austrian empire, they were diplomats, conseillors at the court and bishops, one of them became even the Vice-king of Neapel / Napoli in Italy.
Their various residences all over the empire were decorated with the most precious paintings by famous painters and that way the rich Harrach-collection comprises works of art of more than the last 450 years. Hundreds of paintings were taken from Spain, Neapel and the Netherlands to Austria, just in order to be part of the collections.
You may see the Graf Harrach'sche Familiensammlung
daily except monday between 10.00a.m. and 05.00p.m.
between Easter and November 1st
entrance-fee is 7 Euros
You may book a guided tour at the tel. below !
A private guided tour through the palace is 20 Euros !

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There is a small chapel as well in Schloss Rohrau, a rather small room with great and ornate stucco-works and an altar with beautiful paintings.
b.t.w. you may rent parts of the palace of Rohrau for private festivities or weddings - just make sure to reserve a long time in advance - the telephone-numbers are listed below !
The palace includes also a big ballroom for your private festivities !

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The Graf Harrach'sche Familiensammlung in Schloss Rohrau is not only a great collection of precious paintings, but also of ornate and beautifully decorated furniture, chandeliers, mirrors and other works of art such as precious ivory sculptures. All of this furniture is so perfectely arranged around the beautiful paintings, that you get the feeling, someone of the noble family von Harrach is still living there every day.

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The Harrach collection / Graf Harrach'sche Familiensammlung in Schloss Rohrau is the biggest and most precious private collection of paintings in the world. For more than 450 years the Earls of Harrach had bought precious paintings from all over Europe and took them to Rohrau, their family-seat.
You may visit that collection during summer
each day except mondays from 10.00a.m. till 05.00p.m.
...and sometimes even a bit longer, because I rushed in shortly before 05.00p.m. and the nice lady at the desk told me, she would be there for 30 more minutes anyway, so I could just as well see the famous collection and would not have to return another day.

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The bedroom of the duke of Harrach is another highlight of the tour that you may take through the palace and museum in Rohrau. Enlarge my pictures in order to see the ornate details of the lovely furniture.
The noble family of Harrach had various palaces all over the empire, but the palace of Rohrau had been their home and the main-seat for the family for more than 500 years, untill 1945. The old palace was destroyed during the siege of the Turques and it was rebuilt in baroque-style the way you may see it today.

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On my 1st picture you may see a vase, made of ruby-glass and beautifully decorated. It was a gift by count Johann Harrach von Rohrau for emperor Franz Joseph for his coronation-anniversary in 1898.
My 2nd picture shows a part of the silver cutlery that was taken to Austria at the end of WW II, when the Harrach-family had to leave their palace Hradek in Czechia.
On my 3rd and 4th picture you may see great sculptures made of ivory and a precious ornate clock on my last picture.

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Rohrau is the birthplace of Joseph Hayden (1732 - 1809)
and the house, where he was born is a museum today. In order to see the interior of that typical farmouse, that is still straw-thatched, take a look at the Rohrau-page of MEdelmann !
It is a pity, the museum was already closed, when I was there.
The museum is open all of the year
daily except mondays 10.00a.m.-04.00p.m.
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In 1732 Hayden is born as the son of a Cartwright and was raised in Hainburg by a relative who was a teacher and choir-master.
1740-1749 he is singing in the choir of Stephansdom in Vienna
1753 - 1757 he gets an education by the musician and composer Nicola Porpora
1759 Hayden becomes musical director for Graf Morzin
1761 2nd conductor at the court of Fuerst Esterházy
1766 Haydn becomes 1st conductor for Fuerst Esterhazy and so he had to make several compositions for the court and the guests of his master
1785 Hayden meets Mozart in Vienna
1794 - 1795 Hayden is travelling to London and has very sucessful performances there
1809 death of Haydn

A story tells as follows: When Haydn came back from his triumphant journey to England, he should have kissed the gate of this birthplace. Although he left this house with 6 years, he never forget its roots.