Rohrau (Austria)
Encyclopedia
Rohrau is a village
in Lower Austria
, Austria
. The name Rohrau comes from two single German words, "Rohr" which means reed and "Au" which means a riparian forest - the name of the village tells its location - south of the village there is a riparian forest and a swamp covered with reed. Rohrau is located in the "industrial quarter" (Industrieviertel) of Lower Austria. 8.66% of the land is forested; the rest used for farming; there are a Kindergarten and a primary school (Volksschule
).
"Village Secretary" (Gemeindesekratär) is Josef Rössler.
The Mandates at village council are (in seats) 14 ÖVP (conservative), 4 SPÖ (socialists/labour), 1 FPÖ (right)(Election 2010).
Traditionally the conservative Party (Österreichische Volkspartei) has a stronghold in lower austria - caused by the population. There are many Farmers, Crafters and bureau employees.
. It lies in the heartland of Lower Austria.
In Roman Times
the Region around Rohrau was part of Roman Province Pannonia, the village is settled next to Carnuntum (a former Roman settlement an Fort) nowadays village Petronell/Carnuntum. The village grew along an old road next to river "Leitha" connecting Carnuntum to the next Bridge crossing the river at Bruck/Leitha nowadays district capital. In the middle ages a Castle was built, sourrounded by water ditches - later it was made a chateau
its Facade as today can be seen is in "Josephinian Style" a late and very rare Baroque Style that only was used during the reign of Emperor Joseph II. in the late 18th century. The chateau is owned by the counts of Harrach since 1524 and contains the biggest private collection of dutch oil-paintings in Austria.
In the 16th century Rohrau was given the right to hold Market - the village was since then titled a "Marktgemeinde"
Rohrau is also the lower austrian village where classical composer Joseph Haydn
was born in 1732. He is famous for his piano sonata
s, symphonies and string quartets and his Trumpet concertos. Joseph Haydn is also called "father of string quartets"
Rohrau, situated at River Leitha, is a former Border-village, neighbouring Burgenland
, which was part of Hungary until 1921. Rohrau once had a Border Checkpiont at the bridge crossing the river to what was then Hungary (this checkpoint is now a Farmhouse). This border was not international, since Austria and Hungary where both part of the same Empire of Austria-Hungary
and in fact the local noble family Harrach owned the Land on both sides.
Local catholic priest at the church of St. Vitus is Dr. Norbert Mendecki, Rohrau is part of catholic Arch-Diocese of Vienna. (See: Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Vienna.)
Local Agricultural Products: Sugar beet, Wheat, Maize/Corn, Potatoes, Sheep
Village
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...
in Lower Austria
Lower Austria
Lower Austria is the northeasternmost state of the nine states in Austria. The capital of Lower Austria since 1986 is Sankt Pölten, the most recently designated capital town in Austria. The capital of Lower Austria had formerly been Vienna, even though Vienna is not officially part of Lower Austria...
, Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
. The name Rohrau comes from two single German words, "Rohr" which means reed and "Au" which means a riparian forest - the name of the village tells its location - south of the village there is a riparian forest and a swamp covered with reed. Rohrau is located in the "industrial quarter" (Industrieviertel) of Lower Austria. 8.66% of the land is forested; the rest used for farming; there are a Kindergarten and a primary school (Volksschule
Volksschule
A Volksschule was an 18th century system of state-supported primary schools established in the Habsburg Austrian Empire and Prussia . Attendance was supposedly compulsory, but a 1781 census reveals that only one fourth of school-age children attended. At the time, this was one of the few examples...
).
Local politics
The villages Mayor (Bürgermeister) is Herbert Speckl, a conservative."Village Secretary" (Gemeindesekratär) is Josef Rössler.
The Mandates at village council are (in seats) 14 ÖVP (conservative), 4 SPÖ (socialists/labour), 1 FPÖ (right)(Election 2010).
Traditionally the conservative Party (Österreichische Volkspartei) has a stronghold in lower austria - caused by the population. There are many Farmers, Crafters and bureau employees.
Famous persons
- (Franz) Joseph HaydnJoseph HaydnFranz Joseph Haydn , known as Joseph Haydn , was an Austrian composer, one of the most prolific and prominent composers of the Classical period. He is often called the "Father of the Symphony" and "Father of the String Quartet" because of his important contributions to these forms...
, (1732 - 1809) composerComposerA composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media... - (Johann) Michael HaydnMichael HaydnJohann Michael Haydn was an Austrian composer of the classical period, the younger brother of Joseph Haydn.-Life:...
, (1737 - 1806) Composer (for the Archbishop of Salzburg), Brother of Joseph Haydn - Karl von Harrach (1570–1628), Consultant to Emperor Ferdinand II.
- Johann Herbsthofer (1866–1932), Austrian Politician
- Andrew Molles (1907-1.6.1975), US-American Painting-Artist (Informel), settled down at Rohrau, died also there.
History of Rohrau
The area in pre Roman Times belonged to the celtic Kingdom of NoricumNoricum
Noricum, in ancient geography, was a Celtic kingdom stretching over the area of today's Austria and a part of Slovenia. It became a province of the Roman Empire...
. It lies in the heartland of Lower Austria.
In Roman Times
Roman Empire
The Roman Empire was the post-Republican period of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial holdings in Europe and around the Mediterranean....
the Region around Rohrau was part of Roman Province Pannonia, the village is settled next to Carnuntum (a former Roman settlement an Fort) nowadays village Petronell/Carnuntum. The village grew along an old road next to river "Leitha" connecting Carnuntum to the next Bridge crossing the river at Bruck/Leitha nowadays district capital. In the middle ages a Castle was built, sourrounded by water ditches - later it was made a chateau
its Facade as today can be seen is in "Josephinian Style" a late and very rare Baroque Style that only was used during the reign of Emperor Joseph II. in the late 18th century. The chateau is owned by the counts of Harrach since 1524 and contains the biggest private collection of dutch oil-paintings in Austria.
In the 16th century Rohrau was given the right to hold Market - the village was since then titled a "Marktgemeinde"
Rohrau is also the lower austrian village where classical composer Joseph Haydn
Joseph Haydn
Franz Joseph Haydn , known as Joseph Haydn , was an Austrian composer, one of the most prolific and prominent composers of the Classical period. He is often called the "Father of the Symphony" and "Father of the String Quartet" because of his important contributions to these forms...
was born in 1732. He is famous for his piano sonata
Sonata
Sonata , in music, literally means a piece played as opposed to a cantata , a piece sung. The term, being vague, naturally evolved through the history of music, designating a variety of forms prior to the Classical era...
s, symphonies and string quartets and his Trumpet concertos. Joseph Haydn is also called "father of string quartets"
Rohrau, situated at River Leitha, is a former Border-village, neighbouring Burgenland
Burgenland
Burgenland is the easternmost and least populous state or Land of Austria. It consists of two Statutarstädte and seven districts with in total 171 municipalities. It is 166 km long from north to south but much narrower from west to east...
, which was part of Hungary until 1921. Rohrau once had a Border Checkpiont at the bridge crossing the river to what was then Hungary (this checkpoint is now a Farmhouse). This border was not international, since Austria and Hungary where both part of the same Empire of Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary , more formally known as the Kingdoms and Lands Represented in the Imperial Council and the Lands of the Holy Hungarian Crown of Saint Stephen, was a constitutional monarchic union between the crowns of the Austrian Empire and the Kingdom of Hungary in...
and in fact the local noble family Harrach owned the Land on both sides.
Sights
- Schloß Harrach, Rohrau - Gallery http://harrach.nwy.at/
- Haydnhaus Museum (Birthhouse of composer Joseph Haydn)http://www.haydngeburtshaus.at/
- Pfarrkirche St. Vitus (St. Vitus church) containing the "Haydn-Orgel" a historic church organ, also the Baroque Grave of Haydns Parents situated at the church-yard, and the Chapel, that lies before the church.
- Worlds first (oldest) Joseph Haydn Monument in front of the city hall.
Other
There are 74 companies, 47 are related to agricultural and forestry. 633 persons are employed. The activity rate is 17.59%.Local catholic priest at the church of St. Vitus is Dr. Norbert Mendecki, Rohrau is part of catholic Arch-Diocese of Vienna. (See: Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Vienna.)
Local Agricultural Products: Sugar beet, Wheat, Maize/Corn, Potatoes, Sheep