Segment: Melk Abbey
Episode: Grand European ep 10
Air Date: 16th February 2020
Presenter: Trevor Cochrane

The beautiful town of Melk is best known for its massive Benedictine Abbey – one of the most splendid monastic houses in all of Austria.

• Overlooking the Danube Valley, Melk Abbey offers one of Europe’s best views – a view you’ll get to enjoy on Viking cruises.
• Looking more like an imperial palace than a monastery, the Abbey’s splendid architecture is famous worldwide, and is part of UNESCO’s world cultural heritage.
• The Abbey was founded in 1089 when Leopold II, Margrave of Austria, gave one of his castles to the Benedictine monks.
• Austria’s first ruling dynasty, the Babnbergers, used to live in this castle, turned into a fortified abbey by the monks. It was later a monastic school, with a library renowned for its extensive manuscript collection.
• In the 15th Century, the Abbey became the centre of the Melk Reform Movement, which reinvigorated the monastic life of Austria and South Germany.
• For 900 years, the monks of St Benedict have lived and worked in Melk Abbey – during the reformation in the 1500s, occupation by Napoleon in the 1800s and occupation by the Nazis.
• The library is one of the highlights of Melk Abbey, with its beautiful ceiling paintings and rare manuscripts – there are 100,000 books spanning across 12 rooms, with the oldest book dating back to the 12th century.
• The Abbey Museum offers a unique exhibition of art and multimedia illustrating the monastery’s 900-year history – the relics on display are truly incredible.
• The Abbey church is considered to be the finest Baroque church north of the Alps, and is famous for its twin towers, and its stunning interior with 18th century ceiling paintings, ornate choir stalls, the confessional chair and the high altar with figures of St Peter and St Paul.