Wachau Valley and Melk

After cold and raw weather yesterday, we woke today to find a gorgeous day.  At times we saw the Blue Danube that Strauss made famous.










We spent the morning cruising through The UNESCO World Heritage site of the Wachau Valley.  This is one of Austria's premier wine growing areas and is protected from being developed.  For example, no bridges may be built across this stretch of the river.  There were vineyards, villages, churches and castles along both sides of the river.

 

We tied up in Melk around 11 am, and after lunch went up the hill to visit the Melk Abbey, a Byzantine-era Benedictine abbey.  There are 30 monks still living here, and they run a private school for around 900 students from around the region.  We toured the Imperial quarters (from the Hapsburg and Bamberg Dynasties), the library, and the church. 

Imperial Court

After the tour we went down more than 80 steps into the town of Melk.



Melk as seen from the abbey

Internet is incredibly slow tonight
I had more pics to send
Will try tomorrow