Quick Information:
- What is Benediktinerstift Melk? The Melk Ammey is an impressive Benedictine monastery and cultural center in Melk, Lower Austria
- Where is it located? Stiftsstraße 1 / 3390 Melk
- What can you see there? Magnificent architecture, library, monastery church, monastery museum, and breathtaking views of the Danube.
- How much is the entrance fee? Find all prices, discounts, and opening hours here. With the Lower Austria Card, admission is free.
- How much time should I plan for a visit? Allow at least 2-3 hours for a complete tour.
General Information about Benediktinerstift Melk
The Benediktinerstift Melk, an architectural masterpiece, majestically towers over the town of Melk in Austria. Originally founded in the 11th century, this monastery impresses with its Baroque grandeur and spiritual significance. It houses an impressive library, a grand monastery church, and the fascinating monastery museum. But the real gem is the breathtaking view of the Danube from the monastery terrace. As a symbol of the Wachau, it is part of the UNESCO World Heritage.
Entrance Area
Visitors typically arrive via the spacious parking lot on the eastern side of the complex. The portal of the monastery, built in 1718, is flanked by two bastions. One of these bastions originally served as a defensive structure from 1652. For the sake of symmetry, a second bastion was added on the right side of the portal during reconstruction. In front of the portal, there are statues of Saints Leopold and Koloman, designed by Lorenzo Mattielli in 1716. Angels on the gable of the portal complete the impressive appearance.
Once you pass through the portal, you reach the Torwartlhof. On the right side, one of the two Babenberg towers rises, remnants of an old fortification, while on the left is the reception and ticket area.
Tour of the Monastery Complex
At the ticket counter, we also book the guided tour, which we highly recommend. Although you visit the same rooms, this tour provides numerous additional and informative insights.
Kaiserstiege and Kaisergang
The entrance to the Imperial Wing is through the majestic Kaiserstiege, located at the southwestern end of the Prälatenhof. This ornate staircase impresses with columns made of Kaiserstein and richly decorated stucco work. The stucco ceiling features the image of the double eagle.
The Kaisergang on the first floor extends over an impressive 196 meters and runs through almost the entire southern wing of the building. Along the walls of the Kaisergang, you can admire depictions of Austrian rulers from the Babenberg and Habsburg houses.
Next, you will visit the Imperial Rooms, which now house the museum. Unfortunately, photography is not allowed in the interior. We thank the Stift Melk for providing these photos.
Kaiserzimmer – Museum
Each room is dedicated to a specific theme:
- The holy Benedict and the founding of the Benedictine Order
- The Babenbergs, Koloman, and the founding of Stift Melk
- Ups and downs in the history of the monastery and the church
- Romanesque and Gothic
- Baroque way of life
- Abbot Berthold Dietmayr and the monastery in the Baroque era
- Enlightened absolutism and Josephinism
- People and tasks in the monastery
- Breu Altar – Melk Altar from 1502
- Economy and building history of the monastery
- The Baroque building and its artistic furnishings – Model of the monastery complex
During the tour, you will hear fascinating stories about the Kolomani Monstrance and the Babenberg Tomb.
Marmorsaal: Symbolism and Grandeur
The next stop, the Marble Hall, impresses with inscriptions above the doors that welcome guests. The ceiling fresco by Paul Troger (1731) features Pallas Athena on a lion-drawn chariot as a symbol of wisdom. Hercules symbolizes the necessary strength to overcome challenges.
These figures represent Emperor Charles VI, who liked to be celebrated as Hercules. The inscriptions above the doors emphasize the importance of hospitality. The Marble Hall served as a dining and banquet hall, with door jambs made of Adneter and Untersberg marble and walls made of stucco marble. The ceiling painting is by Gaetano Fanti.
From the Marble Hall, you go out to the balcony.
The Viewing Terrace – A Panoramic View
The viewing terrace, also known as the Altane, connects the Marble Hall and the library. It is an essential part of the iconic appearance of the Baroque complex. From this terrace, you can enjoy breathtaking views of the Danube Valley, the town of Melk, and the magnificent west facade of the monastery church.
The Monastery Library – A Tour Highlight
The Melk Monastery Library is undoubtedly one of the highlights of the museum tour. The accessible area for visitors consists of the main room and a side room. These rooms once formed the main library of the monastery and were set up in 1735. Later, in 1768, the “Upper Library,” also known as the “Bergl Rooms,” was added. These additional rooms are reachable from the side room by a spiral staircase but are not part of the museum tour. Together, they make up the magnificent Melk Baroque Library.
What museum visitors see is the impressive representative side of the library, matching the original Baroque library. The library remains an active research library that attracts scholars from around the world and is frequently the subject of research projects. Special treasures from the library are always displayed in showcases in the main hall. Since 1996, ongoing research projects have been presented here, as well as special exhibitions on current events and topics.
The Stiftsbibliothek currently houses more than 100,000 volumes, including about 1,800 manuscripts and 750 incunabula. Approximately 16,000 volumes are on display in the rooms of the Great Hall and the Small Hall.
After about an hour, the actual tour ends. But you will still enter the beautiful monastery church.
The Monastery Church Melk
The centerpiece of the Baroque monastery complex of Stift Melk is undoubtedly the monastery church. Its main purpose was to emphasize the religious focus of the entire complex and to underscore the orientation toward God. The inscription “ABSIT GLORIARI NISI IN CRUCE” (Let there be no boasting except in the cross) above the entrance to the Benediktihalle at the beginning of the monastery tour connects as a common thread with the church, where the grandeur of the cross becomes evident.
Originally, only a Baroque transformation of the monastery church was planned. However, in 1701, on the initiative of Abbot Berthold Dietmayr and according to the plans of Jakob Prandtauer, an entirely new church was built. The best masters of their trade were enlisted for the artistic design.
In the monastery church, you will also find the remains of Saint Koloman in the left side altar of the transept, while the right side altar is dedicated to Saint Benedict, although his sarcophagus is empty.
The significance of the Melk Monastery Church is underscored by the inscription on the high altar: “NON CORONABITUR NISI LEGITIME CERTAVERIT” (There is no victory without lawful struggle). This struggle that leads to victory is embodied at the high altar through the martyrdom of the apostles Peter and Paul. It is reflected in the martyrdom of Saint Koloman (Koloman Altar) and the virtuous struggle of the monk, represented by Saint Benedict in the nave fresco. The victory in this spiritual battle is depicted by the large victory crown on the high altar, the frescoes on the dome, and the victory wreath in the nave fresco.
The interior decoration, designed according to the plans of architect Antonio Beduzzi, is impressive with abundant gold leaf, stucco, and marble. The predominant colors are gold, ocher, orange, green, and gray.
We exit the monastery through the Torwartlhof and want to see what the viewing platform on the North Bastion has to offer. You can access it through the shop.
Viewing Terrace
From the second floor (also accessible by elevator), the viewing terrace offers not only a splendid view of the surrounding area, from the Alpine foothills to the Waldviertel, but also of the monastery grounds itself. You can get a good overview of the garden pavilion and the monastery park. Unfortunately, the weather during our visit is rather dismal. A free staircase allows direct access from the viewpoint to the monastery park.
Monastery Park
Thanks to generous support, the Melk Monastery Park has been revitalized and made accessible to the public. The garden, complementing the majestic Stift Melk, was inspired by Baroque and English landscape gardens and has retained its character to this day. Over time, new ideas and concepts have been integrated into the park, including the “cabinet clairvoyée,” the Paradiesgärtlein, the “Walahfrid-Strabo Garden,” the “jardin méditerranéen,” and the “jardin oriental.”
The Monastery Park includes the Baroque pavilion with exotic frescoes by Johann W. Bergl, the Oriental Garden overlooking the Danube Valley, a meditative Benedictine path, a historic water basin, and the Walahfrid Strabo Garden.
Stift Melk is open year-round. Even in winter, the monastery can be visited. Here are the current opening hours.
By the way, in the vicinity, you will find the Burgruine Aggstein and the Schallaburg, both of which are worth a visit!