We woke up this morning in the town of Melk Austria. The weather is still cloudy and cool, but what else is new? Today we will be visiting 3 different sites. The Abbey here in Melk, cruise down the Wachau valley where some of the most famous white wines are made, ending up in village of Durnstein.
Melk Abbey is an absolutely
stunning Benedictine monastery perched on a rocky outcrop above the town, overlooking
the Danube River at the start of the Wachau Valley. Founded in 1089, when
Leopold II, Margrave of Austria, donated his castle to Benedictine monks, the
abbey quickly became a center of spiritual life, education, and culture. Its
current Baroque styled architecture and interiors were realized in the early 18th
century under the direction of architect Jakob Prandtauer.
Melk Abbey has played a
pivotal role in Austrian and European history During its history, it was a
leader in the Christian reformation movement of the 1500s. Today it remains a
vibrant monastery and school with resident 22 monks. It is internationally
recognized as part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Wachau Cultural
Landscape.
Inside the abbey, there
are 3 main locations that define the meaning of grandeur. 
Melk Abbey
The Marble Hall is one
of the most stunning examples of Baroque interior design. High
ceilings and large pillars dominate. Despite
its name, the hall is not made of solid marble. The walls and columns are
crafted from marbled stucco, a technique that imitates real marble with
astonishing realism. The ceiling is an optical illusion. It appears to be a domed
ceiling but in fact is totally flat.
Marble Hall
The Melk Abbey Library
is one of the most treasured libraries in Europe, renowned for its architecture and vast historical collection. Built in 1735 during the
abbey’s Baroque reconstruction, the library features two main rooms open to
visitors, adorned with ornate woodwork, gold accents, and a ceiling fresco by
Paul Troger that symbolizes the triumph of faith and reason. All these books
are in their original language, so you would need to able read Latin or Greek. The
library holds approximately 100,000 volumes, including 750 incunabula (books printed before 1500).
Library
Melk Abbey Church is the centerpiece of the abbey complex and a masterpiece of Baroque architecture. Originally planned as a renovation, the church was completely rebuilt starting in 1701. The interior is a visual masterpiece of gold, orange, grey, and green, featuring stucco marble, gold leaf, and ornate sculptures that overwhelm the senses in true Baroque fashion. Strangely two of the chapels contain the fully dressed skeletons of saints that are totally visible as you walk by. Despite this bizarre display In my opinion, this is the most beautiful church, I have ever been in and that includes St. Peter’s in the Vatican.
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| Church |
After visiting the Abbey, we cruised down the Wachau Valley. It is one of Austria’s most beautiful natural regions, a 36-kilometer stretch along the Danube River between Melk and Krems in Lower Austria. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site celebrated for its blend of natural beauty, historical architecture, and centuries-old wine culture. The valley features steep terraced vineyards, apricot orchards, thick forests, castle ruins, quaint villages along the shoreline and rolling hills that create picture-perfect settings.
Village along Wachau Valley
Later in the afternoon, we docked in the village of Durnstein. It is a pretty village with a narrow main street filled with bars and beer gardens. The blue tower of Stift Dürnstein Abbey is one of the most photographed landmarks in Austria. High above the village are the ruins of Dürnstein Castle where in 1192, King Richard the Lionheart of England was imprisoned after insulting Duke Leopold V of Austria during the Third Crusade. His captivity here is one of the most legendary episodes in medieval European history. There is a 600 step walkway up to the ruins, but I decided to skip it.
Dürnstein Castle
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