The Austrian Railway, OBB, offers a combo ticket which includes train fare from Vienna to Melk, admission to the Melk Abbey, a Danube River cruise to the village of Krems and then a return train ticket back to Vienna. The Danube River cruise is through the Wachau Valley which is one of the most scenic regions in all of Austria. The riverside is dotted with vineyards, small wineries, castles and quaint villages. Unfortunately the boat does not stop at any of the villages but we had plans to stay in the Valley on our last day in Austria.
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| OBB Train Station in Melk |
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| Walk through the village to the Abbey |
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| Village of Melk |
The Abbey is an imposing structure on top of the hill overlooking the village. The Abbey survived at this location since it was built in the 17th Century. The Abbey was established in 1000 BC but it was 7 centuries later that the existing structure was constructed. It was spared bombing by the Allies but instead served as an aerial landmark for the bombers following the Danube and then turning South. Melk itself served as a sub branch of the Mauthausen concentration camp system. This system of concentration camps was for producing weapons and munitions for the Nazis by forced labor. The camp at Melk contained over 10,000 prisoners by the end of WW II.
