Melk Abbey

Melk has been a spiritual and cultural center of the region for more than 900 years.

The imposing Benedictine Abbey of Melk is a top destination in the Wachau region. The library, marble hall, collegiate church and collegiate park still impress today.

An eventful history and a vibrant present: Since its foundation in 1089, the baroque Melk Abbey has been inhabited and run by Benedictine monks. Today it is known worldwide as a spiritual meeting place - with plenty of space for art, culture, nature and science. Thanks to an active monastery high school and numerous educational activities and events throughout the year, there is a constant breeze of fresh air blowing through the historic premises.

A wide range of guided tours is offered to visitors from all over the world - with different thematic focuses. Guided and individual tours show, among other things, the Marble Hall, the Imperial Corridor, the Abbey Library and Museum. The Altane - the connecting balcony between the Marble Hall and the library - offers a magnificent view of the Danube valley.

The collegiate church, which can also be visited without a guided tour, is considered a masterpiece of the High Baroque. Here, precious frescoes and paintings as well as the magnificent high altar invite you to linger.

The "Wachaulabor" in the northern bastion of the monastery is used by students of the monastery high school and is a critical, artistic-experimental examination of a wide variety of topics. The "Wachaulabor" can be visited daily as part of the admission to the monastery.

Relaxation & enjoyment - in the paradisiacal park of Melk Abbey

In the open air, Stiftspark invites visitors to look, marvel and relax. The revitalized garden is characterized by Baroque trends and the model of the English landscape garden. Frescoes by the Bohemian painter Johann Wenzel Bergl can be seen in the Baroque pavilion.

Modern garden accents await with the meditative Benedictine Path and the "Talking Stones," which tell the story of creation with children's voices. Finally, the lovingly planted little garden of paradise can be discovered a little hidden away. The excursion experience is rounded off with pleasure at Melk Abbey with its restaurant, café and souvenir store.

Parking:
Free parking for buses of tour groups and for vehicles of visitors to the monastery who purchase an admission ticket to Melk Abbey. The parking ticket must be validated at the ticket office (first courtyard) when purchasing the ticket. Within 15 minutes after drawing an entry ticket, the parking lot can be left without paying/validating the entry ticket.

Arrival by train and bus
From Vienna and Salzburg: Take the trains that run on the Westbahn line to Melk station.
Melk Abbey is about a 10-minute walk from the station.
With the VOR bus lines 715 (Krems-Spitz-Melk), 720 (Krems-Rossatz-Melk) and 721 (Emmersdorf-Melk-Schallaburg). You can find the exact timetable at www.vor.at.