Melk Abbey Park combines Baroque influences with those of the English landscape garden. This contrast offers a special way to discover Melk: alongside the grand Baroque complex, the town’s historic traces and the Danube landscape also shape its character. Exploring Melk brings you face to face with different chapters in its history and design.

Gardens and Baroque architecture

A walk through the Abbey Park takes you, among other places, to the Baroque pavilion, the Jardin oriental, the Benediktusweg and the Walahfrid-Strabo-Garten. These different stops form part of a park circuit that reveals more than a single garden view.

The abbey itself also brings together remarkable rooms and views. The Imperial Rooms now house the museum. The Abbey Library is a highlight of the tour, which takes you through the two state rooms. From the observation terrace on the second floor, the view stretches from the Alpine foothills to the Waldviertel and across the abbey grounds. Melk Abbey is one of the most impressive unified Baroque buildings north of the Alps; the abbey church is considered the crowning glory of the Baroque monastic complex.

Town history and remembrance

Melk’s historic old town is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Haus am Stein is the oldest house in Melk to have survived in its original form. The history of the parish church also goes back a long way: it originated as a chapel built around 1400, which was expanded into a church in the 15th century.

The Melk Concentration Camp Memorial Site provides a different focus on contemporary history. The former crematorium building was declared a public memorial in 1962 and has housed the memorial site ever since. An exhibition offering an overview of contemporary history provides insights into the period.

Walking routes, art and green spaces

The 1.5-kilometre “Der Rote Faden” (“The Red Thread”) circular route leads through Melk to historic sights. At steles and information boards, you can use your smartphone to access audio tracks via QR codes. The route combines a walk through town with historic stops and audio content. By contrast, hiking trails around Melk pass through flat terrain, hills and forests, as well as along the Danube. This means you can choose between a route with a stated distance and historic focus, and trails through varied landscapes.

The Green Art Mile is also evolving: existing artworks along the mile are gradually being joined by works by living artists. Melk Town Park offers another green space. It covers just over one hectare and opened in May 1886.

Coffee, the Wachau and events

Fresh coffee is roasted daily at Café zum Fürsten. Visitors can learn about the roasting technique and sample freshly roasted coffee. It’s a chance to discover Melk beyond its architectural and urban history.

The UNESCO World Heritage Cultural Landscape of the Wachau provides a wider scenic setting, stretching along the Danube Valley between Melk and Krems. Its landscape features the free-flowing Danube, vineyard terraces, forests and historic settlements. Cultural events add further highlights throughout the year: the International Baroque Days at Melk Abbey take place every year at Whitsun, while the Melk Summer Plays are held each summer at the Wachauarena. If you would like to plan your trip around an event, check the specific dates in advance.

Getting there and finding your way

Melk is located directly on the Western Railway line and can be reached by train. From Melk station, it takes about 10 to 15 minutes to walk to the abbey through the town centre. The abbey is just a few minutes away from the Danube Cycle Path. Regular boat services operate on the Danube; most run through the Wachau between Krems and Melk. If you’re planning to travel by boat, it’s worth checking the timetable.

Discover more destinations

Loosdorf, Schönbühel An Der Donau, Melk, Marbach An Der Donau, Emmersdorf An Der Donau, Sankt Oswald, Persenbeug, Artstetten, Weiten, Pöggstall, Hofamt Priel, Ruprechtshofen, Kilb, Maria Taferl, Dorfstetten, Ybbs An Der Donau, Pöchlarn, Texing, Zelking, Laimbach Am Ostrong, Blindenmarkt, Nächst Altenmarkt, Kottingburgstall, Mank, Kemmelbach, Bergland, Dunkelsteinerwald, Leiben, Yspertal, Hessendorf, Sankt Leonhard am Forst, Aggsbach Dorf, Braunegg

For the main travel overview: Lower Austria.