Enjoy up to 4 hours stop in Melk to visit the historical town center and the UNESCO heritage site the Melk Abbey.
Melk is quaint little town by the Danube and located in the Wachau Valley. This town is famous for its Benedictine Abbey, which dates back to the 18th century in its current version (actually, the Abbey’s history can be traced back all the way to the 11th century). Melk’s Old Town offers tourists a beautiful stroll along its narrow streets as well as several restaurants, cafes and gift shops. Your 4-hour stop will allow you to see most of the city itself and the Melk Abbey. Should the alotted time not be enough, we can extend the stop in Melk for a little extra.
Melk Benedictine Abbey
The Melk Benedictine Abbey is one of the most exquisite Baroque churches in Austria. This enormous abbey has several buildings and a total of seven courtyards. Its west-end features the church with the famous twin towers. Since 1089, Benedictine monks have continually been living and working in Melk Abbey. Following the rules laid down by St. Benedict, they try to translate into action the words ORA et LABORA et LEGE (pray and work and learn) by working in pastoral care and education (Melk Abbey Secondary School) as well as organizing cultural events. The Benedictine monastery with its unique Baroque architecture, combined with contemporary accents, is a must see.