Melk Abbey is one of the most beautiful monasteries in the world. The impressive building stands majestically on a rocky ground overlooking Danube river. [Courtesy of Kwak, Min Jung / AJU Business Daily]
There are many monasteries and Catholic churches in Austria and most of them are beautiful architecturally. However, if you want to see the epitome of Austria Catholic architecture, you can go visit Melk Abbey stands on a rocky cliff majestically overlooking Danube river.
Melk Abbey in Melk, Austria [Courtesy of Kwak, Min Jung / AJU Business Daily]
The gate of Melk Abbey [Courtesy of Kwak, Min Jung / AJU Business Daily ]
The entrance of Melk Abbey [Courtesy of Kwak, Min Jung / AJU Business Daily ]
Melk Abbey is one of the most majestic, extravagant, and elaborate Catholic monasteries in Austria. From the moment, you walk up to the building, you are charmed with its Baroque architecture that has been carefully taken care of.
The Melk Monastery ground is pretty massive, so expect to walk a lot and wear a comfortable pair of shoes. [Courtesy of Kwak, Min Jung / AJU Business Daily]
After the Emperor's gallery that carries the important artifacts and treasures from distinguished saints, Archbishops, and monks, you enter into the Marble Hall which shows the glimpse of what to come. The Marble Hall and the library are impressive but they are not comparable to the lavishness of the church.
When you enter the church, it is hard not to be in awe of its size and the splendor. Every little detail was not overlooked and each decoration, sculpture, and frescoes tell a story of its own. On a sunny day, blazing sunlight comes through windows in the church and lights up the whole church that is adorned with gold. It is one of the most beautiful and biggest churches in Europe and is easy to see why when you enter the church.
The courtyard of Melk Monastery [Courtesy of Kwak, Min Jung / AJU Business Daily]
Melk's history goes back to 1089 when it was donated to Benedictines by Margrave Leopold II. Since then the abbey has been the spiritual, cultural, and intellectual center of Europe for nearly a thousand years. It is now a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site.
The original Melk Abbey was completely destroyed when Turkey invaded Austria in 1683. Jakob Prandtauer designed the new Melk Abbey in the current form in 1702 and was completely rebuilt by 1736.
The beautiful Baroque pavilion is the jewel of the park ground. There is a cute cafe inside for visitors. [Courtesy of Kwak, Min Jung / AJU Business Daily ]
After a tour inside, there is a monastery park for you to enjoy the view of the Danube and walk around to relax. In the beautiful Baroque pavilion in the center of the park, there is a cafe for visitors to grab a quick bite while enjoying the picturesque views.
You cannot take pictures inside of the Melk Abbey but on the ground outside, feel free to take pictures.
The downtown of Melk city. It is a cute and cozy village to stroll around. [Courtesy of Kwak, Min Jung / AJU Business Daily]
Give a good half a day to fully enjoy Melk Abbey. After the tour, you can spend some time in the downtown of Melk. It is a cozy and cute village to walk around in.
Kwak, Min Jung = abiel@ajunews.com
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