The sleepy town of Melk, Austria is a popular port of call for many river cruises sailing along the Danube River. Famous for its Benedictine Monastery perched high atop the hillside overlooking the town and valleys beyond, Melk is a must-see for any river cruiser.
Welcome to Melk, Austria! Photo © Aaron Saunders
Typically, calls here tend to be short, so if you’ve explored the monastery on a previous visit, take the time to visit the town of Melk proper. It’s an easy 4-minute walk down from the monastery, and the journey from the town to your river cruise ship can be completed in a pleasant, 20-minute stroll.
Some photographs from our time here this past December:
The main attraction in Melk is Stift Melk, the Benedictine Monastery. Photo © Aaron Saunders
Visitors entering Stift Melk for the first time are likely to be surprised (and wowed) by the monastery’s modern interpretive center. Photo © Aaron Saunders
The monastery’s classical interiors are spacious and imposing. As I discovered on my early December visit, they are also quite cold – be sure to bring a jacket! Photo © Aaron Saunders
Some Clever Deception: What looks like intricate moulding from a distance is actually a two dimensional painting made to look like it has depth. Photo © Aaron Saunders
Stift Melk overlooks the entire town of Melk, Austria and the Danube River. Photo © Aaron Saunders
More information on Melk can be found on our complete Port Profile.
[…] levels. Beginners may want to go for a cycle out in the countryside when docked in small towns like Melk or Durnstein, Austria; experienced riders, however, will want to hit the streets of Amsterdam or […]