Rohrau: Haydn's Birthplace and the Harrach Gallery
Where the father of the symphony grew up
TopicNiederösterreichPhoto: Dguendel, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Duration
- 1.5 hours
- Languages
- German, English
This private tour in Rohrau takes you to the birthplace of Joseph Haydn, one of the great composers of the Classical era. In nearby Rohrau Palace a private picture gallery shows masterpieces from several centuries.
Joseph Haydn was born in 1732 in Rohrau, a small village on the Leitha river between Vienna and Lake Neusiedl. His father was a wheelwright, his mother a cook at the palace. Haydn's younger brother Michael, later a well-known composer in Salzburg, was also born here.
The birthplace is a thatched farmhouse that now serves as a museum recalling the brothers' childhood. Haydn later became music director to the Esterházy princes, wrote more than a hundred symphonies and is known as the father of the symphony and the string quartet.
Rohrau Palace, owned by the Counts Harrach, houses an important private painting collection with Spanish, Italian and Dutch works among others. Your guide links both places and tells how a village boy became a world star.
Highlights
- Joseph Haydn's thatched birthplace
- Michael Haydn, the younger brother
- Haydn as father of the symphony
- The Harrach picture gallery
- Rural Lower Austria on the Leitha
The route
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1Rohrau village
Start in the village on the Leitha.
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2Haydn's birthplace
Childhood, family and first music.
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3Parish church
Where the Haydn brothers were baptized.
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4Rohrau Palace
The Counts Harrach and their collection.
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5Palace park
Finish with Haydn's path into the world.
Who this tour is for
For music lovers and art fans, and easy to combine with Carnuntum or Hainburg.
Frequently asked questions
Are entrance fees included?
No, entrance fees are never included in the tour price. When you book, we are happy to tell you which admissions apply to your group.
How is the price calculated?
This is a private tour for your group only. The price is per group, not per person, which makes it great value for families and friends traveling together.
Are the birthplace and gallery open all year?
Both are mainly open in the warmer months. We check current opening times when planning and agree the date with you.
