Page 575 - Lonely Planet Europe’s Best Trips (Travel Guide)

St Florian The beautiful pipe organ on display in the Stiftsbasilika
100,000 prisoners perished high octagonal dome.
or were executed in the 6 Melk The baroque-gone-barmy
camp between 1938 and Historically, Melk was of interior has regiments of
1945. The complex is now a great importance to the cherubs, gilt twirls and
memorial (www.mauthausen- Romans and later to the polished faux marble.
memorial.at; Erinnerungsstrasse Babenbergs, who built a The theatrical high-altar
1; admission incl guided tour €5, castle here. In 1089 the Ba- scene depicts St Peter and
audioguide €3; h9am-5.30pm benberg margrave Leopold St Paul (the church’s two
Mar-early Jul, 9am-5.30pm II donated the castle to patron saints).
Tue-Sun early Jul-Oct, 9am-3pm Benedictine monks, who
Tue-Sun Nov-Feb); English- converted it into the forti- The Drive » The Wachau is
the loveliest along the mighty
language audioguides fied Stift Melk (Benedictine river’s length: both banks here
relate its sobering history. Abbey of Melk; www.stiftmelk.at; are dotted with ruined castles
It’s not recommended for Abt Berthold Dietmayr Strasse 1; and terraced with vineyards.
under 14s. From Melk, follow the river
adult/child €10/5.50, with guided northeast along the nothern
The Drive » Travelling east for tour €12/7.50; h9am-5.30pm bank for 28km, passing medieval
76km brings you to Melk. Along May-Sep, tours 11am & 2pm villages Spitz, Wösendorf in der
the river at Grein, look out for Oct-Apr). Fire destroyed Wachau and Weissenkirchen, to
the dramatic castle Greinburg the original edifice; today reach Dürnstein.
rising to your left.
its monastery church
dominates the complex
with its twin spires and

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