2013-7-17 - Melk Abbey - Austria

"Landlocked Austria, located in central Europe, is bordered by eight countries: Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, Italy, Liechtenstein, Switzerland & Germany. It covers around 32,000 sq. miles, making it slightly smaller than Maine & slightly larger than Scotland with a population of about 8 million...Forests & meadows cover much of the country & more than half is mountainous. The currency is the Euro & German is the main language... Austria is a member of the European Union, the United Nations as well as most UN organizations." 

 

We boarded buses & local guides walked & talked us through the Abbey. It was jaw-dropping.



 

"The abbey was founded in 1089 when Leopold II, Margrave of Austria gave one of his castles to Benedictine monks from Lambach Abbey. A monastic school, the Stiftsgymnasium Melk, was founded in the 12th century, & the monastic library soon became renowned for its extensive manuscript collection. The monastery's scriptorium was also a major site for the production of manuscripts. In the 15th century the abbey became the centre of the Melk Reform movement which reinvigorated the monastic life of Austria and Southern Germany.
Today's impressive Baroque abbey was built between 1702 and 1736 to designs by Jakob Prandtauer. Particularly noteworthy is the abbey church with frescos by Johann Michael Rottmayr & the impressive library with countless medieval manuscripts, including a famed collection of musical manuscripts & frescos by Paul Troger...The monastic community of Melk is over 900 years old & black-robed Benedictine monks still stroll amidst the marble sculpures & frescoed walls. These days, t is also a prestigious monastery school with more than 700 students."



 

 

 

 

 

I'm shocked they didn't hand-cuff  him & take him away

 

 

 

 

 



800 year-old cross

 

That's me!

 

 

 

 

St. Benedict's Alter - Church of the Abbey

 

Church of the Abbey

 

View from the top & the 'original' Danube

 

It was suggested we walk down from the Abbey, through the town & woods to return to the boat instead of taking the bus. I'm really glad we did...a wonderful little town with shops & delightful little cafes.

Below, this restaurant near the river,shows water levels from floods - on the left of the building:  (1899-17.9;    1501-15.8; 2002-14.8;    1954-12.7;    1862-4.2;     1991-2.8)

 

 

 

Little town of Melk

 

 

 

The look like Key's bikes - only nicer

 

 

We tried to remember the exact directions while winding our way down & through the little town but there was so much to see & photograph I took the wrong route several times. I found members of our group & they pointed the way...soon, I found the bridge that led to the wooded area that took me to the boat.

 

 

This is the 'old' Danube that used to flow in front of the Abbey & town

 

  

I was glad it was daylight

 

 WAHOO!!

I MADE IT !! but Wayne took a wrong turn in the woods & was lost for a bit...I'm not quite sure how he figured it out -we met for happy hour. Somehow we missed the Apple Strudel demonstration held in the lounge.

 

We left Melk for Passau at 4 pm.

 

As with everyday on the boat, there was cocktail hour, daily briefing with George about the next day's events & excursions, another perfect dinner with as much wine & beer as you want (complimentary-with lunch too) & evening entertainment of music & dancing. Tonight, however, we did have a 'nautical talk' - Q&A with the staff.

 

One thing I didn't know is that Viking has their own winemaker, Erhard Morwald is a fifth generation winemaker with a vineyard in Austria's Wachau Valley. "Here, the rich soil stony slopes & unusual microclimate create the ideal conditions to create some of Austria's most sophisticated wines."

 

They actually encouraged us to purchase wine, liquor, beer etc. on shore & have it in our cabin...which we often did.