Melk Abbey- A Jewel on the Danube
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Melk Abbey is one of those places I decided to visit solely because it was a UNESCO World Heritage Site. I wasn’t familiar with its history or what treasures we would see on a tour of Melk Abbey’s interior. I just knew it was close to Vienna and that Melk was the gateway to the Wachau Valley, which I had always wanted to explore.
Since we were going to be in Vienna, it would have been a shame to miss out on seeing Melk. So, onto our Europe itinerary it went! We would do a day trip, visiting Melk Abbey in the morning and cruising the Wachau Valley in the afternoon.
About Melk Abbey- History and Interesting Facts
Melk Benedictine Abbey dates back to 1089 but the Baroque abbey that stands today was built between 1702 and 1736 by Austrian architect Jakob Prandtauer.
Since the 12th century, Melk Abbey has been home to a monastic school whose alumni include notable Austrian composers, musicians, writers, and painters. Today it remains the oldest continuously operating school in Austria.
Melk Abbey’s academic stature was further elevated by the in-house scriptorium and extensive manuscript collection in the monastic library. This renowned collection and the school’s fame helped the abbey escape dissolution when Emperor Joseph II closed over 700 monasteries.
Melk Abbey is also known for containing the remains of several members of Austria’s first ruling dynasty, the House of Babenberg, as well as the tomb of St. Coloman of Stockerau.
The outstanding features of Melk Abbey led to it being inscribed as a World Heritage Site in 2000 (as part of the Wachau Cultural Landscape) and being named Best Historical Destination by National Geographic Traveler Magazine in 2008.
Our Visit to Melk Abbey
As we walked from the train station into Melk, the abbey quickly came into view. High on a bluff, the massive Baroque building dominates the skyline, overlooking both the town and the Danube River below.
“Wow!” was my initial reaction, a little taken aback by its size and opulence. The building is extremely long, its bright yellowy-orange trim making it even more eye catching. I had visited monasteries in Greece and they were not this extravagant!
We hurriedly weaved our way through town and up the abbey’s rocky pedestal. A beautiful courtyard, embraced by the abbey’s striking architecture, greeted us.
After buying our tickets for a guided tour, we had some time to wander the courtyard. I’m really glad we got there early so I could get some photos without a bunch of tourists in the frame!
Soon, our tour of Melk Abbey began and we were off to explore the interior of this historic, and still active, Benedictine abbey!
Melk Abbey Tour- What to See Inside Melk Abbey
Here are the highlights from our tour inside Melk Abbey.
Abbey Museum
Our visit began in the Abbey Museum, situated in the former Imperial Rooms (Austria’s first ruling dynasty, the Babenbergers, used to live here). We were taken through a rather unique exhibition of art and multi-media illustrating the monastery’s 900-year history.
It was a bit of information overload for me, but there were some really beautiful relics and other interesting objects on display.
Most memorable was the re-usable coffin. Yes, I said re-useable! The coffin had a bottom that would open up, dropping the body out as it was retrieved for another use. I can’t remember why this was invented in the first place but I don’t think it was very popular!
Another unique thing we saw was a highly complicated treasure chest. There were so many parts on the underside of the lid that had to move together (quite noisily) in order to lock the box.
Marble Hall
Once we entered into the Marble Hall, I really started to enjoy our visit. I appreciate exquisite, detailed architecture and this room was the first masterpiece of many we would see on our tour.
The hall’s showpiece is a remarkable ceiling fresco by Paul Troger (1731). I say it’s remarkable because the architectural painting framing it (done by Gaetano Fanti), creates an optical illusion making the ceiling look as though it rises and curves up, when in fact it is flat. Amazing!
The room doesn’t have much in the way of furniture these days, so you’ll have to use your imagination to picture it being used as a dining hall for the imperial family and distinguished guests.
Melk Abbey Library
Next up was the library, one of the most beautiful rooms I have ever seen! It literally pains me that I can’t show you a picture (photography was not allowed). Some people snuck photos, and as much as I wanted to, I decided it was more important to be respectful by following the rules.
So picture this: A long, elegant room, with shimmering gold and glistening wood, completely circled by books. From the floor to the ceiling, books on every wall! About 16,000, in fact, meticulously arranged between columns of decoratively carved wood. The antique, golden bindings blend almost seamlessly with the room’s golden architectural touches. On either side, are two giant globes, bathed in natural light seeping through the windows behind them.
I was awestruck. I hope nobody caught me in one of their forbidden photos because you’d see me standing there with my mouth wide open- not very flattering!
The artistic decoration reflects the high regard the monks have for their library. It is one of the most important rooms in a Benedictine monastery, second only to the church.
This marvelous room is actually only a small part of the Melk Abbey’s library. There are eleven other rooms housing approximately 100,000 volumes in total.
Coloman Courtyard
St. Coloman is the patron saint of Melk and the Melk Abbey, so this courtyard is dedicated to him.
Coloman was an Irish pilgrim en-route to Jerusalem, when he was accused of being a spy near Vienna. His strange clothing and different language made him look suspicious, so he was imprisoned and later hanged from a tree.
Soon after his death, miracles were reported at his grave. This led the locals to proclaim Coloman a saint and his corpse was brought to Melk for a ceremonial funeral in 1014. His body remains in a tomb in the abbey.
Coloman was also Austria’s first patron saint and there many other churches dedicated to him, including the Pilgrimage Church of St. Coloman in Bavaria.
Melk Abbey Church
The final stop on our tour was the church, the most important room in Melk Abbey.
The church is a textbook example of High Baroque architecture and is considered to be one of the most beautiful Baroque churches in the world.
Much like the rest of the abbey, frescoes and golden ornaments make the room dazzle. Beyond all the shine, the church portrays the theme of “Without a legitimate battle there is no victory.” This message can be seen inscribed on the high alter and portrayed in the ceiling frescoes.
The church also has two altars dedicated to Saints Coloman and Benedict. St. Coloman’s skeleton is actually kept in a sarcophagus at one of the altars.
Some of Austria’s first rulers are also buried in the abbey church, including several members from the House of Babenberg, the ruling noble family from 976 to 1246.
Final Thoughts About Our Melk Abbey Tour
We really enjoyed visiting Melk Abbey and would definitely recommend it as a day trip from Vienna. I wasn’t too interested in the museum portion, but loved visiting the different rooms and admiring the architecture.
The guided tour of Melk Abbey gave a lot of interesting information, but I still would have preferred to explore on my own, at my own pace. That’s just the way I am, nothing against the tour!
The only thing that would have made our visit better was if I could have taken pictures of the library!
Tips for Visiting Melk Abbey
Confirm current opening hours, admission fees, and tour times here.
Getting There: Melk Abbey can be reached by train from Vienna in a little over 1 hour.
Hours: Melk Abbey can be visited daily, year round.
- Depending on the time of year and day of the week, visits may be by guided tour only. At other times visits are possible without a guide.
Tours: English tours are offered two or three times a day, depending on the season. An additional fee applies. Guided tours are 50 minutes long.
Admission Prices: Admission is €16.00 without a guided tour or €19.50 with a guided tour. Tickets include admission to the Abbey Park, Garden Pavilion and Bastion.
Information was updated January 2024, but can change without notice. Please confirm directly with service providers.
Melk Abbey Tour From Vienna
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Accommodations in Melk
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