Melk Travel Recommendations for 2024 (Updated in May)

Melk | There is a shade of yellow known as Theresian Yellow

Leaving Slovakia, the cruise ship heads towards the Wachau Valley in Austria. It just so happens to start drizzling during the cruise through the valley, making the small town appear even more tranquil and serene. The suitable climate has contributed to the Wachau Valley's renowned wines🍷 And here, it also boasts the 'Wachau Cultural Landscape,' a World Heritage site. Main Building Area🏠 Situated atop a rocky hill in the town of Melk in Lower Austria, Melk Abbey was built in the 17th century. With Theresian Yellow as its main color scheme, the abbey is elegant yet functional. This vibrant monastery, despite the passage of time, also houses a school with 900 local students. Melk Abbey is considered one of the representatives of Baroque architecture, with strong contrasts in color, light and shadow, and sculpturality. From the museum to the colorful frescoes on the dome, to the 'world's most beautiful library,' one can see medieval notes passed down to this day, encounter silverware inlaid with jewels, and collections still of scientific research value. It is said that there are 140,000 volumes of books here, but the precious editions and medieval manuscripts are all stored in the vaulted cellar of the library... The terrace offers a panoramic view of the Danube River and the town of Melk, don't miss it. Garden Area🌳 Due to the rain, the umbrellas brought down from the cruise ship unexpectedly match the yellow color. After visiting the main area of the abbey, the garden is also an essential part to visit (combined ticket). In the garden, both the trees and the lawns are neatly trimmed, some like umbrellas, some like rice balls🍙, and there is even a hint of Eastern symmetrical aesthetics. The garden pavilion is full of damp frescoes by Perg, and the garden behind it is like stepping into the Emerald City. It is recommended to walk down the hill, passing through this ancient and colorful town. If time allows, you can also choose a local restaurant to try Austrian schnitzel (recommended: Lupelius). No need to worry for those with a Chinese stomach, as there is a sizable Chinese restaurant (China House) right on the main street of the town.

The well-deserved Melk Abbey

Melk Abbey on the Danube, a Benedictine religious building with nearly a thousand years of history, its main structure adopts the Baroque style. Because it was sponsored by the Habsburg family during construction, the exterior wall adopted the warm yellow tone loved by Queen Theresa, and the interior decoration is mostly Rococo style. The stunning golden spiral staircase, the extremely luxurious church, and the mysterious library with more than 100,000 medieval religious manuscripts are all priceless treasures. This is a temple that combines religious culture, architectural art, and the natural scenery of the Danube. Therefore, Melk Abbey was selected as a World Cultural Heritage, which is indeed well-deserved!

A day trip to Melk Abbey in Austria.

Melk Abbey in Austria is located on the top of the town of Melk, overlooking the Wachau Valley of the Danube River. This exquisite Baroque-style abbey was built in the 17th century. Many monasteries were dissolved by Joseph II, but Melk Abbey was preserved and survived the Second World War. It still has over 500 rooms today. Once becoming a monk, it means dedicating one's entire life, including property, marriage, and devotion, to religious beliefs. Monks are ascetics, and they are self-sufficient in food and clothing. They pray six times a day. They wake up at one o'clock in the morning to pray, then go back to sleep, wake up again to pray, and pray before every meal. After breakfast, they work in the fields, and after lunch, they copy the Bible in the afternoon. In fact, some monks do not understand Latin, so there are inevitably some errors in later versions of the Bible.

Melk Abbey on the banks of the Danube River.

Visitors are not allowed to take photos inside the Melk Abbey, so I usually refrain from doing so out of respect. The most beautiful parts here are the library and the golden church. The Melk Abbey sits atop a mountain, overlooking the Danube River. This Benedictine monastery stands solemnly amidst the beautiful scenery of the region. Since the 12th century, the Melk Abbey established a theological school and built a library. The library houses over 100,000 medieval manuscripts, all of which are priceless treasures. It is the essence of the Melk Abbey and one of the ten most beautiful libraries in the world. The monastery is a masterpiece of Baroque architecture, and the magnificent view of the Danube River can be seen from the platform of the monastery. The Melk Abbey was founded in 1089. The breathtaking Baroque architecture was built from 1702 to 1736, featuring exquisite murals. The library houses countless medieval manuscripts. Due to its reputation and academic value, Melk Abbey was spared during the mass dissolution of Austrian monasteries by Joseph II from 1780 to 1790, and escaped the destruction of the Napoleonic Wars. In 1938, after the annexation of Austria by Germany, most of the school and monastery were nationalized by the Nazis. Visitors can reach the rooftop of the monastery after touring inside, where they can enjoy a panoramic view of the surrounding landscape, including rivers, bridges, and fairy tale-like rooftops, from all directions.

Staying in the Danube time, in the afternoon, watching the town on the other side. Colorful colors, as if watching a fairy tale world.

The Wachau Valley in Austria refers to the 30-kilometer Danube River valley from Melk to Krems, which has been included in the list of UNESCO's World Cultural Heritage. The Danube flows slowly from west to east, along the way to the old castles and ancient small villages, nestled among rolling vineyards. The Wachau region is Austria's main wine region, with taverns and wine cellars on the banks of the Danube. The local specialties are bacon, ham and sausage platters placed on wooden boards. This is the best companion for wine.

The town of Melk in Melk, Austria was originally the first castle in Austria with the exact history of the ruler Leopold I. When Leopold I was appointed by the Holy Roman Emperor as Austrian Minhou, Melk was the capital. It can be said that Austria also started from this. By 1089, the power of the Babenberg dynasty was growing, and the capital moved to Vienna. At that time, Austrian Minhou donated the castle that had lived in the Babenberg family for more than 100 years to the Catholic Benedictine Association. In the nearly a thousand years since then, it has been the place where the Benedictine monks lived and worked. Melk became the center of the region and became the spiritual and cultural center of Austria.

The monastery in the town of Melk is a group of yellow and white buildings on the outer wall. It is said that the Queen of Maria Teresia likes this yellow, so many palaces in Austria are such "tresia yellow". The architecture of the monastery is baroque and magnificent, and is known as the masterpiece of Baroque architecture. The interior of the monastery is splendid, and many details are amazing. The most memorable ones are the luxurious churches and the heavy library. The library can't take pictures as usual. So I have the opportunity to see it myself.