Rohr Abbey

 

Assumption of Our Lady   Egid Quirin Asam, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

A monastery at Rohr populated by Augustinian canons was founded in 1133 and by 1450 five pariashe5s were incorporated into it. After a trying time in the first half of the 16th century, the foundation picked up and the church got a Baroque makeover in 1618. Alas the Thirty Years War led to complete destruction by the Swedes in 1632 - including a  magnificent library. In 1648 the Imperial troops burned it again. The 24 inmates were now down to 6. The monastic income fell due to population  loss and only in 1661 could there be rebuilding.

Rohr in 1687

Patritiuis von Heydon was Provost 1682-1730 and he began building work with a higher church tower in 1696, a new mill in 1701 and new collegiate church in 1717. In his heyday there were 23 canons and 48 employees. The church was initially to be designed by Joseph Bader a master mason and plasterer from Wessobrunn. As construction got under way it is clear that Egid Quirin Asam is involved in the design but it is impossible to tell how far. He was the interior designer too. He completed the high altar after the inauguration of the church in 1722 and the sculptured figures 1723. The church was largely finished in 1725 and there were no 19th century updates.

The high altar 1722-3 is Egid Assam's masterpiece. This Theatrum sacrum demonstrates the knowledge he gained from the work of Bernini and Andrea Pozzo in Rome. Rather than try to describe this trully amazing sculptural masterpiece Take a look at the photo. It is one of the most amazing things I have ever seen.The stucco work is very rich in the transepts, crossing and choir. 

Building work continued under a number of Provosts throughout the rest of the 18th century. Secularisation and closure came in 1803. The church became the parish church of the town of Rohr. Most convent buildings are sold and demolished. Only the east wing housing the rectory and school survive. 

The model for the church can be traced back to San Andrea della Valle in Rome, without the dome. Instead the crossing has what is called a Bohemian cap.

After the Second World War 29 monks from Broumov Monastery in what is now eastern Czech Republic came to Rohr after their own monastery had been expropriated. They opened a High School and founded a new community : Braunau Abbey in Rohr. The land taken up by demolished monastic buildings is repurchased. Apparently the number of monks there is declining. I can remember being served by one in the bookshop back in  1989.