6-21-2016 - Melk and the Melk Abbey

6-21-16 - Tuesday

We arrived in Melk this morning around 0800 hours and began our tour at 0900 h.  The plan was to ride up the to the Abbey by bus and then meet our tour guide for our tour of the abbey.  The abbey is a magnificent building and is beyond description in it barouque opulence.  The abbey was active in the 11th century and has been pretty much in place (with ups and downs) every since.

We took a bus up to the abbey at 0900 h and began the tour.  The tour guide was very good and conveyed a huge amount of information about the history and contents of the abbey.  It is truely an amazing place!  Below are some pictures of the abbey and our stroll through the town of Melk, our trip down the Wachau valley, stop at Krems for a visit.  We were to depart to Vienna at 2300 h.

The Abbey, the Wachau valley trip were really amazing but the stop at Krems was not as good.  We think that it would probably have been good if we went on the optional wine tour as people who did go reported that it was fun.

Melk Abbey from a distance of 15 km.

Looking up at one side of the Abbey.  The twin towers are where the chapel is located.

Walking in to the entrance and the main courtyard (I believe they said there are 8 courtyards in total).

Looking into the main couryart.

The inner wing in the main courtyard.  Each of the four wings has a painting over just below the dome.  They represent the four cardinal rules- prudence, temperance,fortitude, justice

A little discussion as to what is what.  Fortunately we didn't have to decide what was where because we had a guide.

This is one half of the main and longest hallway- the total hallway or corridor is 196 meters long.

They have set up 5 or 6 rooms as museum rooms where they display the philosophy of the abbey and the historical relics and events in chronological order from the beginning of the abbey in the 11th century up to the present.  There are 30 monks that live in the abbey today.

One of the artifacts is a "portable" altar that clergy took with them on their travels so they could say mass.  It is about 12" long and is enlayed with beautiful ivory carvings depicting the life of Christ.

This abbey has been rebuilt many times and the latest time was during the baroque period between 1702-1736.  The amount of gold used in the architecture and decorations during this period is just a bit over-the-top!

Gold Chalice on Display

An example of the ceramic heaters found in many rooms of the abbey.  They were heated from a fire that was tended by servants from a door in the outside hall.

Black bishops vestments used during funerals... it took 5 years to weave this silk robe.

A Bishops uniform for celebrations.. includs gloves, shoes and the cape.  It is apparently still used today.  The robe itself weighs 8 kgs.

Because of a shortage of caskets in the old times, one emperor (Leopold II, I think) developed this reusable one.  The service was completed with the corpse inside and after everyone left, the lever on the end was pulled, the bottom opened and the corpse dropped into the grave.  The casket was retrieved for reuse!  It was only used for 1 year because of the public disapproval.

Part of a portable altar that was taken around to the countryside.  The pictures detail the life of christ and were particularly important because most people could not read the bible in those days.

The top of a 400 year old treasure chest with a 14 bold mechanical lock that still works today.

The treasure chest was made of iron.

The spiral staircase that leads from the Kings wing down to the entrance of the church.

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The interior of the church from the back.  Gold, Gold, Gold. 

Looking at the altar and a bit of the ceiling.

Some more of the Cathedral ceiling.

Looking toward the rear of the Cathedral with the pipe organ in the upper area.

One of the side chapels.

The pulpit found about mid way towards the Altar.  It is entered through a door in the back.

Here we are.

We were amazed at the beauty of the place.

Out in the Garden of the Abbey with what is now a restaurant in the background.

A panorama of the view from the terrace in the garden.

After we cam down near the ship, we were able to get a good view back up the hell to the Abbey.

We stopped along the way to buy some locally produced.

A cafe setting in Melk.

Walking back toward our ship along the main street of Melk.

Our ship the Bestla.  Once boarded we started our trip down the Danube through the Wachau valley.

One of the many castles found along the UNESCO designated valley.

We stopped at Krems, and entered the little city for a brief stroll.

The main street of Krems.  It wasn't very exciting or interesting.

One of the castles along the Wachau valley.

A closeup of the same castle.  It is literally pearched on a big rock!

A fortified chapel on the slopes of vinyard covered hills.

Another little village, church and it protective castle above.

After traveling for two hours on the Bestla we realized that we were looking at the back side of the Melk Abbey.  We had made a big loop as we passed through the Wachau Valley..

Showing you how close the bridges can come to the top of the ship.

The wheel house has been lowered to the level of the deck of the ship.

The bridge comes within about 5 feet of the railing.

It is about 2100 hours and we are up on the deck to cool down after dinner.  The AC had  not been working but they got it going again later in the evening.

A little different view of the same villains.  We are moored at Krems.