Cruising Past Melk

As we cruised up the Danube from Vienna, Austria to Passau, Germany we passed several towns and abbeys. Stift Melk is a Benedictine abbey in the federal state of Lower Austria, next to the Wachau valley along the Danube. It was founded in 1089 and resides on a rock above the city of Melk. Today's impressive baroque ensemble was built in 1702-1736 by architect Jakob Prandtauer.

In the castle above the town of Dürnstein, King Richard the Lion-Hearted of England was held captive by Duke Leopold V after their dispute during the Third Crusade in 1192.