The distinctive gold and white towers of Melk Abbey top a landmark on the Danube River, on the outskirts of the town of Melk.

The distinctive gold and white towers of Melk Abbey top a landmark on the Danube River, on the outskirts of the town of Melk. Stock Photo
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Image details

Contributor:

Carol Barrington / Alamy Stock Photo

Image ID:

CWKMB8

File size:

50.1 MB (2 MB Compressed download)

Releases:

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Dimensions:

3418 x 5128 px | 28.9 x 43.4 cm | 11.4 x 17.1 inches | 300dpi

Date taken:

23 October 2009

Location:

Melk, Danube, Wachau Valley, Lower Austria, Europe

More information:

The ornate twin towers of Melk Abbey are landmarks on a Danube transit. From Wikikpedia: "Melk Abbey or Stift Melk is an Austrian Benedictine abbey, and one of the world's most famous monastic sites. It is located above the town of Melk on a rocky outcrop overlooking the river Danube in Lower Austria, adjoining the Wachau valley. The abbey was founded in 1089 when Leopold II, Margrave of Austria gave one of his castles to Benedictine monks from Lambach Abbey. A school was founded in the 12th century, and the monastic library soon became renowned for its extensive manuscript collection. The monastery's scriptorium was also a major site for the production of manuscripts. In the 15th century the abbey became the centre of the Melk Reform movement which reinvigorated the monastic life of Austria and Southern Germany. Today's impressive Baroque abbey was built between 1702 and 1736 to designs by Jakob Prandtauer. Particularly noteworthy is the abbey church with frescos by Johann Michael Rottmayr and the impressive library with countless medieval manuscripts, including a famed collection of musical manuscripts and frescos by Paul Troger."