2013-7-17 - Cruise the Wachau Valley to Melk - Austria

Another exquisite day, sunny about 80 degrees as we cruised along the Danube through the Wachau Valley. George, our Program Director, provided interesting & informative commentary from the bridge.
The Wachau (German pronunciation: [vaˈxaʊ]) is an Austrian valley with a picturesque landscape formed by the Danube river. It is one of the most prominent tourist destinations of Lower Austria, located midway between the towns of Melk and Krems that also attracts "connoisseurs and epicureans". It is 40 kilometres (25 mi) in length and was already settled in prehistoric times."

Some sights along the way:

 



A go-fast & slow trawler - we were surprised to see the trawler

As we passed by, villagers set off fireworks to say "Hello"

Old Monastery on the hill

 

yet another fortress &/or castle - one of these is where Richard the Lionheart was detained  I thought it was this one ?

 Below: Schloss Schönbühel is a castle in the Lower Austrian town of Schönbühel-Aggsbach, below Melk on the right bank of the Danube. The origins of the castle go back to the early 12th century. The castle is built on rock approximately 40 metres above the level of the river Danube. A Roman fortress may have stood there before. The castle was begun in the early 12th century by Marchwardus de Schoenbuchele as a defensive fortress. When his descendant Ulrich von Schonpihel died at the beginning of the 14th century, the family was extinguished. The castle was briefly owned by Conrad von Eisenbeutel, and then by the Abbey of Melk. In 1396 it was sold to the brothers Caspar and Gundaker von Starhemberg. It remained in the Starhemberg family for more than 400 years, but fell into disrepair.

In 1819 Ludwig Josef Gregor von Starhemberk sold it to Count Franz von Beroldingen, who had it renovated and partially rebuilt, so that by 1821 it was again habitable.
In 1930 the Schönbühel estate was sold to Count Oswald von Seilern und Aspang."

 



 

I wish we could have stopped in this little village

 

 

We never expected to see a bulbous bow on a river boat

 

Beautiful view of Melk Abby from the Danube

 

We arrived & docked in Melk about 11 am..and, as usual, we had lunch on the boat while the crew tied us off.

We were told that the Lock Tenders were on strike & there may be changes in our future cruise & tours.