In the city of Melk is best known for the Baroque Benedictine monastery named Melk Abbey, Lower Austria

 Melk is a town that offers a rich experience for travelers of all interests and seasons.

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(in the Austrian state of Lower Austria, next to the Wachau valley along the Danube River) The city of Melk is best known as the site of a Baroque Benedictine monastery named Melk Abbey. Melk was first mentioned as Medilica in 831 in a donation of Louis the German (the name is from a Slavic word for "border." The area around Melk was given to Leopold I, Margrave of Austria, in the year 976 to serve as a buffer between the Magyars to the east and Bavaria to the west. In 996 mention was first made of an area known as Ostarrîchi, which is the origin of the word Österreich (German for Austria). The bluff that holds the current monastery held a Babenberger castle until the site was given to Benedictine monks from nearby Lambach by Leopold II, in 1089. Melk received market rights in 1227 and became a municipality in 1898.

+ Here you can marvel at the impressive Melk Abbey, a masterpiece of Baroque architecture that dominates the skyline and houses a museum, a library, and a church. You can also explore the quaint streets and squares of Melk, where you can find cozy cafes, shops, and cultural events. For a taste of nature and history, you can visit the nearby Schloss Schallaburg, a Renaissance castle with a museum and a garden, or take a cruise along the Danube River and enjoy the views of the vineyards, castles, and villages.

+ The Forsthaus, which accommodates the city archives and the tourist information office, is the starting point of most tours. Beside the Forsthaus the Zaglauergasse meets with the Wiener Straße. After several meters, the Wiener Straße opens to the affectionately restored Rathausplatz, which got its name from the Rathaus (Town Hall) built in 1575. The facade of the Town Hall was redesigned 150 years ago and the highly elaborate entrance door, made of wood and copper, is the Town Hall's most outstanding feature. To its left is the former Lebzelterhaus, which dates back to 1657 and is now a pharmacy. The Kolomanbrunnen market fountain, which is a gift from the abbey to the city, is in the center of the Rathausplatz. On the top of the fountain the statue of St. Koloman can be seen.

+ The hidden Haus am Stein ("house at the rock") is the oldest building of Melk, built during the 15th century. Its facade is covered by a protected ancient vine. At the arm of the Danube river, parts of the former city walls and the Round Tower can be recognized. Following the Nibelungenlände and passing the Salzhof, visitors reach the Schiffsmeisterhaus (ship master's house) with its high water level marks on the facade. (The Danube reached 15.8 meters above the usual water level in 1501. The Haus auf dem Stein ('house on the rock') was built less than 50 years after this high water disaster.

+ The church court is dominated by the Gothic Pfarrkirche (parish church). About five kilometers (3.1 mi.) south of the city is the renowned Renaissance castle Schallaburg.