Melk, Austria in 2010 – the Benedictine Abbey – Part 2, the Abbey Church
Nov 21, 2020 03:05:11 #
Melk, Austria in 2010 – the Benedictine Abbey – Part 2, the Abbey Church
In 2010 I took a 15-day cruise of European rivers, and one stop on the Danube River was Melk, Austria. On a hill above the town is a large Benedictine Abbey, and a tour of that facility was part of our stop. The Abbey was founded in 1089 when Leopold II, Margrave of Austria gave one of his castles to Benedictine monks from Lambach Abbey. In the fifteenth century the abbey became the center of the Melk Reform movement which reinvigorated the monastic life of Austria and Southern Germany. Today's Baroque abbey was built between 1702 and 1736 to designs by Jakob Prandtauer. Particularly noteworthy are the abbey church with frescos by Johann Michael Rottmayr and the library with countless medieval manuscripts. Over the centuries it has been the victim of several fires, and it underwent significant restoration between 1978 and 1995. The Abbey is a World Heritage Site and receives many visitors each year.
There are too many pictures for a single set. This set is of the Abbey Church; Part 1 is of the Abbey other than the church.
DSC_4862 by David Casteel, on Flickr (long view toward the Altar)
DSC_4866 by David Casteel, on Flickr (the Chancel and Altar)
DSC_4880 by David Casteel, on Flickr (detail of the Altar)
DSC_4863 by David Casteel, on Flickr (one of the Nave walls)
DSC_4865 by David Casteel, on Flickr (the Pulpit)
DSC_4868 by David Casteel, on Flickr (one of the side Altars)
DSC_4875 by David Casteel, on Flickr (the dome)
DSC_4877 by David Casteel, on Flickr (the ceiling)
DSC_4878 by David Casteel, on Flickr (looking up at the Organ)
DSC_4872 by David Casteel, on Flickr (full view of the Organ)
Link to Part 1: https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-674692-1.html#11759252
In 2010 I took a 15-day cruise of European rivers, and one stop on the Danube River was Melk, Austria. On a hill above the town is a large Benedictine Abbey, and a tour of that facility was part of our stop. The Abbey was founded in 1089 when Leopold II, Margrave of Austria gave one of his castles to Benedictine monks from Lambach Abbey. In the fifteenth century the abbey became the center of the Melk Reform movement which reinvigorated the monastic life of Austria and Southern Germany. Today's Baroque abbey was built between 1702 and 1736 to designs by Jakob Prandtauer. Particularly noteworthy are the abbey church with frescos by Johann Michael Rottmayr and the library with countless medieval manuscripts. Over the centuries it has been the victim of several fires, and it underwent significant restoration between 1978 and 1995. The Abbey is a World Heritage Site and receives many visitors each year.
There are too many pictures for a single set. This set is of the Abbey Church; Part 1 is of the Abbey other than the church.
DSC_4862 by David Casteel, on Flickr (long view toward the Altar)
DSC_4866 by David Casteel, on Flickr (the Chancel and Altar)
DSC_4880 by David Casteel, on Flickr (detail of the Altar)
DSC_4863 by David Casteel, on Flickr (one of the Nave walls)
DSC_4865 by David Casteel, on Flickr (the Pulpit)
DSC_4868 by David Casteel, on Flickr (one of the side Altars)
DSC_4875 by David Casteel, on Flickr (the dome)
DSC_4877 by David Casteel, on Flickr (the ceiling)
DSC_4878 by David Casteel, on Flickr (looking up at the Organ)
DSC_4872 by David Casteel, on Flickr (full view of the Organ)
Link to Part 1: https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-674692-1.html#11759252
Nov 21, 2020 06:08:24 #
Wow. David, you really captured the opulence of the Abbey. The Friary of your past posting is stark in comparison.
Nov 21, 2020 08:34:59 #
Nov 21, 2020 09:16:40 #
Nov 21, 2020 09:53:30 #
Nov 21, 2020 10:37:56 #
Magnificent photography in both posts, David, of the amazing opulence's found in this Abbey...the wealth of Ft. Knox couldn't couldn't recreate this Abbey today!! 
Nov 21, 2020 13:11:20 #
Hi, joehel2, nice to see you. Yes, this place was pretty opulent. Thanks.
Jay, I'm happy you liked them. Thank you very much.
Longshadow, thanks a lot. I'm pleased you enjoyed it.
Ouspolair, always happy to see you. Thanks a lot for your nice comment.
jederick, thank you very much. I'm glad you liked both sets.
Jay, I'm happy you liked them. Thank you very much.
Longshadow, thanks a lot. I'm pleased you enjoyed it.
Ouspolair, always happy to see you. Thanks a lot for your nice comment.
jederick, thank you very much. I'm glad you liked both sets.
Nov 22, 2020 06:53:00 #
steve49
Loc: massachusetts
Nice photos.
I remember a story about the Melk Monastary that may have interest.
They used to have a Gutenburg Bible there... Harvard University bought it and they used the substantial price
for the recent renovation.
I remember a story about the Melk Monastary that may have interest.
They used to have a Gutenburg Bible there... Harvard University bought it and they used the substantial price
for the recent renovation.
Nov 22, 2020 08:49:01 #
Nov 22, 2020 10:49:37 #
Nov 22, 2020 11:25:16 #
Hi, Steve. That is an interesting piece of information. Thanks very much.
blacks2, thanks for the 7 thumbs! I'm glad you liked it.
Earnest, thank you very much.
blacks2, thanks for the 7 thumbs! I'm glad you liked it.
Earnest, thank you very much.
Nov 22, 2020 11:59:12 #
Nov 22, 2020 12:03:35 #
Hereford wrote:
Thanks very much. Gold is where you find it.The gold was in your second post, I see. Beautiful.
Nov 22, 2020 15:27:33 #
Nov 22, 2020 15:55:58 #
DougS
Loc: Central Arkansas
That is a singularly spectacular interior! Beautiful doesn't do it justice! Wonderful captures, David.
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