Melk Abbey, the Danube Jewel of Austria

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I wake up far too early every day on this cruise … and it always starts the same way: with a peek around our blackout drapes to see what’s passing by our window.

The storybook scene that met my eyes this morning made me want to throw open the curtains. Worse, every half-timbered building and steepled church tempted me to shake Dan awake to share it with him!

Our ship was entering Austria’s 24-mile long picturesque Wachau Valley, a narrow gorge that’s blanketed with vineyards, woods and quaint little Austrian towns.

River cruise view of Spitz, Austria, a town along the Danube

Wachau from the Sun Deck

Unlike yesterday’s jam-packed day in Vienna, most of the today’s activities would be on board. We watched the passing river scenery over breakfast, savoring every view.

River cruise Wachau Valley scenery

We carried our second cups of coffee up to the Sun Deck. A good number of passengers were already there, happily soaking up the sun and scenery.

Who could blame them? Wachau Valley is known as a particularly beautiful part of Danube, so much so that the Wachau Cultural Landscape has earned UNESCO World Heritage Status.

The Wachau is a stretch of the Danube Valley between Melk and Krems, a landscape of high visual quality. It preserves in an intact and visible form many traces – in terms of architecture, (monasteries, castles, ruins), urban design, (towns and villages), and agricultural use, principally for the cultivation of vines – of its evolution since prehistoric times.

UNESCO

This area might as well be called Austria’s Napa Valley since it is such an exceptional wine producing area. (Not a cow in sight, though … so I will refrain from making any jokes about Melk and Krems’ odd names.)

Interesting facts about the Wachau Valley

Cruise director Dewi was on the Sun Deck as well, giving a very interesting narration. We learned fascinating facts about the passing landscape, the culture and history of the area, and more about the Danube itself.

  • Alexander the Great advanced his Macedonian empire to the Danube in 336 BC.
  • The Romans often used the Danube as a northern border for their empire. Many of their ancient vineyards can still be seen along the river.
  • The Danube later formed the northern border of the Ottoman Empire for centuries.
  • Durnstein Castle held Richard the Lionhearted prisoner in 1193.

She also shared anecdotes about some of the buildings, such as St.Michael’s church in Weissenkirchen that has seven little rabbits running along its roof.

melk abbey Austria, Destinations, Europe, Experiences, Itineraries

The sun was warm but it was very breezy and quite cool on the Sun Deck. My long sleeve shirt wasn’t enough and I found myself envying those who had brought a jacket.

If you go, don’t make my mistake. Europe can be cold, even in June!

View on river cruise of Wachau Valley

German lessons on board

There’s only so much scenery one can appreciate in one sitting. The lounge filled up around 11 am, as many of us gathered to hear Dewi offer a German language lesson.

If nothing else, it was good for a few laughs.

German language class in Viking lounge
Viking German language class 2

Melk and its abbey

The ship’s only stop today was in Melk, and the town is quite possibly the smallest of all the places we visited.

We could see Melk Abbey from our ship. The imposing 1000-year-old, Baroque complex towers over the pretty little town.

melk abbey Austria, Destinations, Europe, Experiences, Itineraries

Melk Abbey earned UNESCO status because of its remarkable frescoes and library, but its museum of treasures is notable as well. This is a sampling of some of the photos Dan captured. You can see the rest here.

Entrance gate and front of Melk Abbey
melk abbey Austria, Destinations, Europe, Experiences, Itineraries
melk abbey Austria, Destinations, Europe, Experiences, Itineraries
melk abbey Austria, Destinations, Europe, Experiences, Itineraries
Ceiling of Melk Abbey dining room

No photography allowed in the Melk Abbey library

Photos were allowed everywhere … until we got to the library and its 100,000 volumes of leather-bound books. The guide kept an eagle eye on Dan the whole time we were in there. I managed to quickly snap a random shot with my phone as we walked in, but out of respect for the rules I didn’t try to sneak any more while I was in the room.

Melk Abbey library aswesaw it.com photo

A spiral staircase connected the library to two upper floor reading rooms.

melk abbey Austria, Destinations, Europe, Experiences, Itineraries

Melk Abbey Church

The abbey’s sanctuary is over-the-top ornate, covered with gold leaf and stucco everywhere. Our guide explained that the goal of Baroque art was to demonstrate that heaven (up above) is so much better than our present life (where we were standing).

There was some significance to having a couple of saints’ bodies on display, but unless it was to remind us of our mortality, it escaped me.

Melk sanctuary ceiling fresco
melk abbey Austria, Destinations, Europe, Experiences, Itineraries
melk abbey Austria, Destinations, Europe, Experiences, Itineraries

At the end of our tour, we found an outdoor balcony with a lovely view of Melk and the surrounding countryside.

melk abbey Austria, Destinations, Europe, Experiences, Itineraries
View of Melk from the abbey.

Walking through the town of Melk

Then we walked down the hill, back to the ship through town. It was a cute little place and I’d have liked to spend some time meandering through the sleepy town’s streets.

Unfortunately, our short time in port meant we couldn’t linger. A few of us did find enough time to buy an ice cream before we boarded, though. Priorities!

melk abbey Austria, Destinations, Europe, Experiences, Itineraries
Melk’s abbey can be seen from many parts of the town.
melk abbey Austria, Destinations, Europe, Experiences, Itineraries

Apple strudel demonstration

as soon as Viking Bragi set sail, passengers gathered in the Lounge for lessons in how to make apple strudel.

Dan was chosen to help demonstrate how easy it is to make. He had bunches of fun and said it was one of the highlights of our cruise.

Preparing an apple strudel aboard a Viking river cruise

Evening entertainment was all dance and fun in the Lounge. We had a blast on the dance floor and stayed up far too late chatting with new friends.

Next stop, Passau.

ALSO READ:
What to Do With One Day in Passau, Germany
front of Melk Abbey. Text overlay says see melk abbey
Note: As is common in the travel industry, Dan and Linda were provided with a complimentary cruise package for the purpose of review. While it has not influenced coverage, AWSI believes in full disclosure of all potential conflicts of interest. For more information, see the Disclosure page.

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Written by Linda

Linda is multilingual and has been to over 50 countries. Her insatiable love of travel, cuisine, and foreign languages inspired her to create As We Saw It, where she documents her trips, shares practical itineraries, and offers insider tips. She’s passionate about helping fellow travelers save time, money, and hassle, and loves to discover new places to explore.

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6 thoughts on “Melk Abbey, the Danube Jewel of Austria”

  1. This looks amazing! I’ve always wondered about taking a river cruise. It appeals to me more than an ocean cruise, for some reason. The scenery here is stunning and Melk looks like something from another world. Thanks for sharing!

    • They can be pricey, Kacy, but there are great 2-for-1 and free airfare deals that make it affordable. And the memories are sooo worth it.

  2. I’ve never been on a river cruise. It’s something that I want to do one day with my husband. It’s the best way to see some of Europe’s cities along the way. The church and abbey in Melk are spectacular. The detail in the artwork in the ceilings and in the building are incredible. I would of stayed there for days staring at it.

    • You’re right, Carmen, it’s a great way to see some of Europe’s cities. I found so much detail to be quite overwhelming. Didn’t quite know where to look first!

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