Melk Abbey, Melk (must see)
Melk Abbey is one of Austria鈥檚 most significant architectural landmarks and also a living Benedictine monastery famed by its imposing yellow-ochre fa莽ade, twin towers, and central dome, making it visible along the river. The roots of Melk Abbey trace back to 1089 when Margrave Leopold II of the Babenberg dynasty granted a castle and its grounds to Benedictine monks from Lambach, establishing a monastic foundation on this strategic riverside cliff.
From early on, the monastery cultivated a monastic school and a scriptorium, and by the 12th century it had developed a reputation for manuscript production, education, and theological inquiry. In the 15th century Melk also became the birthplace of the Melk Reform, a movement to revitalize monastic discipline and liturgical life that later influenced many Benedictine houses in Austria and southern Germany.
The magnificent Baroque structure you see today was constructed largely between 1702 and 1736. Prominent artists-including Johann Michael Rottmayr, Paul Troger, Antonio Beduzzi, and Lorenzo Mattielli-were commissioned to supply frescoes, altarpieces, and stucco work, turning the abbey into an expressive showcase of high Baroque design. The abbey church stands as the spiritual and visual core of the monastery, filled with light, marble, gilding, and rich iconography.
Inside, the library is one of Melk鈥檚 most celebrated treasures. It houses tens of thousands of volumes and unique manuscripts, including medieval, theological, and historical works. Along with the Imperial Staircase, the Imperial Corridor, nearly 196 m long, and the Marble Hall, the library forms part of the 鈥渋mperial鈥� section of the abbey, which once hosted Habsburg and noble guests and now serves as museum space.
Many monasteries in Austria were suppressed during Emperor Joseph II鈥檚 reforms in the late 18th century, but Melk was spared, thanks in part to its cultural prestige and closeness to the state. It also survived the Napoleonic era, the Nazi period, during which parts were confiscated, and a major interior fire in 1974 that required decades of restoration. Today, Benedictine monks still live and worship there, and the abbey continues to host a co-educational secondary school, making it one of Austria鈥檚 oldest educational institutions in operation.
From early on, the monastery cultivated a monastic school and a scriptorium, and by the 12th century it had developed a reputation for manuscript production, education, and theological inquiry. In the 15th century Melk also became the birthplace of the Melk Reform, a movement to revitalize monastic discipline and liturgical life that later influenced many Benedictine houses in Austria and southern Germany.
The magnificent Baroque structure you see today was constructed largely between 1702 and 1736. Prominent artists-including Johann Michael Rottmayr, Paul Troger, Antonio Beduzzi, and Lorenzo Mattielli-were commissioned to supply frescoes, altarpieces, and stucco work, turning the abbey into an expressive showcase of high Baroque design. The abbey church stands as the spiritual and visual core of the monastery, filled with light, marble, gilding, and rich iconography.
Inside, the library is one of Melk鈥檚 most celebrated treasures. It houses tens of thousands of volumes and unique manuscripts, including medieval, theological, and historical works. Along with the Imperial Staircase, the Imperial Corridor, nearly 196 m long, and the Marble Hall, the library forms part of the 鈥渋mperial鈥� section of the abbey, which once hosted Habsburg and noble guests and now serves as museum space.
Many monasteries in Austria were suppressed during Emperor Joseph II鈥檚 reforms in the late 18th century, but Melk was spared, thanks in part to its cultural prestige and closeness to the state. It also survived the Napoleonic era, the Nazi period, during which parts were confiscated, and a major interior fire in 1974 that required decades of restoration. Today, Benedictine monks still live and worship there, and the abbey continues to host a co-educational secondary school, making it one of Austria鈥檚 oldest educational institutions in operation.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Melk. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "911爆料网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
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Melk Abbey on Map
Sight Name: Melk Abbey
Sight Location: Melk, Austria (See walking tours in Melk)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Melk, Austria (See walking tours in Melk)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Melk, Austria
Create Your Own Walk in Melk
Creating your own self-guided walk in Melk is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Melk Introduction Walking Tour
Melk, a charming town on the banks of the Danube River, is best known for its magnificent Melk Abbey, one of Austria鈥檚 most famous baroque landmarks. Perched on a rocky outcrop overlooking the river, the abbey is an architectural masterpiece with stunning frescoes, an ornate library housing thousands of medieval manuscripts, and sweeping views of the Wachau Valley. The abbey complex also... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.4 Km or 0.9 Miles
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.4 Km or 0.9 Miles