Melk: It Does a Soul Good

Melk only has a population of about 5,000 people, but it's been famous for nearly a millennium thanks to the Melk Abbey. The massive Benedictine monastery impresses all with its stunning view from the steep cliffs along the Danube River.

After hitting three capitals in three days, my riverboat cruise stopped in this tiny town in the Wachau Valley, the heart of Austrian wine country. The town has several fascinating sites, from the Rathausplatz town hall and Kolomanbrunnen fountain to the 600-year-old "House at the Rock" and a 400-year-old bread store with its original shingle roof. The area itself has such cultural allure that it's an official UNESCO World Heritage Site, but the baroque Abbey is, of course, the crown jewel.

The monastery started when Leopold II donated the land in 1089. A school was founded there about a century later, and a library followed that would become world renown. Today, the abbey library contains one of the largest collections of ancient manuscripts in the world, and back in the day, scholars would travel here from around the world to study. The current structure was built in the 18th century and many top artists of the time -- J.M. Rottmayr, P. Troger, L. Matielli, A. Beduzzi, J.W. Bergl, P. Widerin -- all participated. The abbey also especially excelled at music and the liberal arts during this time.

There are several monumental churches and cathedrals throughout Europe, but when it comes to monasteries, the Melk Abbey ranks among the most impressive and important. It was a gorgeous site to behold.