Pfarre Rossau is a Servite church at Servitengasse 9 in Vienna’s 9th district. Its bright, recently restored interior pairs polished gilding and colourful altars, each with its own design. The church’s round central plan gives the space a distinctive feel. Look for the Pietà at the altar of Our Lady of Sorrows, with the tomb of General Ottavio Piccolomini beneath it. It is a calm stop for art and church history.
From Servite monastery to church
The history of Pfarre Rossau is connected to the Servite Order, which received permission from Emperor Ferdinand III to establish a monastery in Vienna on September 16, 1638.
The church was dedicated to the Annunciation to the Virgin. Its design was inspired by the Italian architect Andrea Palladio, and Martin Carlone built it. The foundation stone was laid on November 11, 1751. The church was consecrated in 1760, although work on its interior decoration continued after that ceremony.
These dates give the church several layers of history to look for: its beginnings as part of a Servite foundation, its later construction, and the decoration completed after consecration.
A round plan and individual altars
The church’s central plan is round, giving the interior a different layout from a long, single-aisle church. Its altars have varied designs and forms, so take a moment to look from one to the next rather than treating them as a matching set.
Restoration has refreshed the interior, with clean walls, bright colours and gilded details. Light catches the polished surfaces and the altars, adding to the church’s formal atmosphere. A small chapel sits along a corridor, apart from the main space.
Paintings in the administration area explain the history of the Servite community. They offer another way to understand the group’s presence here beyond the architecture and devotional art.
The Pietà and the church’s patrons
The Pietà is at the altar of Our Lady of Sorrows, the church’s most important artwork. General Ottavio Piccolomini, an active patron of the church, is buried beneath this altar. Seeing the sculpture and tomb together connects the church’s religious art with the people who supported it.
Baron Christoph of Abele was another patron. He donated the Liborius altar, one of the individual altars to notice as you move through the church. Together, these works and gifts point to the church’s history as a place shaped by both the Servite Order and its benefactors.
FAQ
Where is Pfarre Rossau?
It is at Servitengasse 9, 1090 Vienna.
What artwork should I look for?
The Pietà is at the altar of Our Lady of Sorrows. General Ottavio Piccolomini’s tomb is beneath the altar.
What is the church’s connection to the Servite Order?
Emperor Ferdinand III permitted the Servite Order to establish a monastery in Vienna in 1638. The church was built later and dedicated to the Annunciation to the Virgin.
