Germany and Austria 2015: Melk Abbey 4/6/15

For our last day in Vienna, we decided to go to a small town called Melk. It is a 70 minute train ride west of Vienna. We bought a one day train pass that entitles you to go on any train there and back. The Melk Abbey is a famous Unesco site built in the late 1700's and early 1800's. It was severely damaged by fire and reconstructed by 1749 in the Austrian Baroque style. The monks of St Benedict have lived and worked here for 900 years. They presently run a secondary school for about 860 boys and girls. After a very crowded tour of the Abbey, we did a walkabout in the extensive gardens. The gardens are divided into various sections dependent on the artist responsible for the theme. There are parts that are used for planting vegetables and herbs and peaceful area of trees and flowers used for prayer and contemplation. The abbey stands on a hill above the Danube. After another delicious lunch we walked back to catch train home.