Renovated just recently, the Bergkirche Rodaun stands before us. Imagine the skilled hands that laid nearly 20,000 roof tiles. Each tile shaped like “engobe antik” and weighing 40 tons. This baroque jewel shines anew.
The Bergkirche Rodaun is a Roman Catholic church. It sits in Vienna’s 23rd district, Liesing. The church is dedicated to John the Baptist. It is perched on a hill overlooking the Liesingbach valley.
Let’s step back in time. In 1683, the old Rodaun church was destroyed. This happened during the Second Turkish Siege. It was soon rebuilt modestly. From 1739 to 1745, the Bergkirche Rodaun was erected in its place.
Eleonore von Sauberskirchen funded the Bergkirche Rodaun. She was the owner of Rodaun. This fulfilled her mother’s will. Johann Enzenhofer, a Viennese master builder, designed it. The baroque central building is near Rodaun Castle. It features a 35-meter-high tower.
In 1783, Rodaun became an independent parish. This was part of Josephinian reforms. Before that, Perchtoldsdorf managed Rodaun. Richard Merz designed the vestibule in 1905. The tower facade was also altered then.
The Bergkirche Rodaun miraculously survived World War II’s air raids. In 1954, a new parish church was consecrated. It replaced the Bergkirche as Rodaun’s parish church in 1964.
Notice the coat of arms above the vestibule. It belongs to Philipp Ritter von Rödderstahl. Two large stone figures stand on the roof near the tower. Saint Catherine is on the left. Saint Barbara is on the right.
Inside the Bergkirche Rodaun, the baroque decor is largely intact. Michelangelo Unterberger created the high altar painting. It depicts the Baptism of Jesus. He also painted the side altar images. These show the Holy Family and Joachim, Anna, and Maria.
The Bergkirche Rodaun’s organ dates back to 1905-1906. Johann M. Kauffmann built it in Vienna. It has twelve registers on two manuals and a pedal.
Outside the Bergkirche Rodaun, sandstone statues greet visitors. Saint Joseph and Saint Florian stand near Willergasse. These date back to the mid-18th century.
The Bergkirche Rodaun stands as a testament to faith. Its history is interwoven with Vienna. It is a landmark that has witnessed centuries of change.