If you are visiting Austria, then you should consider visiting Melk Abbey which sits near the river Danube close to the Austrian German border. The Abbey was built on the original foundations of a medieval monastery by the architects Jacob Prandtauer and Jospeh Munggenast between 1701 and 1736.
Melk Abbey is famous because it is a wonderfully situated monument with an external terrace overlooking the Wachau Valley and the river Danube. At its heart, the abbey has a magnificent library which boasts 16,000 volumes and a ceiling fresco by Paul Troger. The centerpiece of the Baroque complex is the barrel-vaulted Abbey Church with its lavishly adorned interior.
Where is Melk Abbey Located?
Melk is a city in Austria which sits next to the Wachau valley along the river Danube. Vienna is sixty miles east of Melk and if you are staying in the capital, you can easily visit Melk on a day trip which takes under one hour by train. Several river cruise lines stop at Melk and provide coach transport to the Abbey and guided tours.
Is Melk Abbey Still in Use?
Although the Abbey has around half a million visitors a year it remains a place of spirituality and Christian faith. Around thirty Monks still live in and maintain the Abbey. They live in accordance with the rules of St Benedict and daily prayers and worship services are held.
How Much Does a Tour of Melk Abbey Cost
Melk Abbey is open daily from 09:00 to 17:00 between April and October and tours take around one hour. The entrance fee including a tour is 16 Euro, but family and discounted tickets are available. The latest information can be found here.
Parking at Melk Abbey
The Abbey parking space is just outside the complex and a few minute's walk to the main entrance via a small garden area complete with a fountain and gift shop.
A Tour of Melk Abbey
On entering the Abbey, you will come into a wonderful Baroque courtyard which is very impressive. From here you enter the main building where the tours begin.
The tour starts in the Abbey Museum. There are several rooms containing artwork, relics, and information on the Abbey and buildings.
The library at Melk Abbey has several rooms and thousands of books and manuscripts. It's an impressive room/s
The frescoes on the library ceiling are an example of the baroque style that is represented throughout the Abbey
The last stop on the tour is the beautiful church. The church is barrel-vaulted and has a sixty-four-meter-high dome. And it is richly decorated in gold leaf.
The Abbey terrace leads to views over the valley.
Views from the abbey terrace look over the town of Melk and the beautiful Stadtpfarrkirche Maria Himmelfahrt church.
A walk around Abbey gardens and park concluded our visit.
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