Melk is a picturesque town on the edge of the Wachau Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its greatest attraction is the monumental Benedictine abbey, which dates back to the Middle Ages, standing on the bank of the Danube.
The city has been known since the 9th century and is mentioned in the Song of the Nibelungen. In the 10th century, it was the seat of Leopold I Babenberg, margrave of Austria, which was expanded by his successors. However, the most important event in the history of Melk at that time was the founding of the Benedictine monastery in 1089, which for centuries was one of the most important centers of Christian learning and culture in Austria.
The Melk Monastery, the city's greatest attraction and one of the most important monuments of art and religious architecture in Austria, stands on a slope above the Danube. In its present form, it was rebuilt in the 18th century, giving it a magnificent, late-baroque appearance. The tour of Melk Monastery includes, among others church of st. Peter and Paul, a huge library and Park Melk. The abbey was the inspiration for Umberto Eco in writing his most famous novel, "The Name of the Rose".
Visiting Melk, however, should not be limited to the monastery alone. The old town below is picturesque on the banks of the Danube. Its center is the Town Hall Square with historic tenement houses and numerous cafes. There is a Gothic parish church nearby. There are many wine bars and restaurants serving traditional Austrian cuisine in the center.
