Melk (Austria)

Melk is a Danube River cruise port and small town in Lower Austria (Wachau Valley), with population around 5,000. As travel destination, Melk is best-known with Stift Melk (abbey) an 11th-century Benedictine monastery (founded in 1089) housed in a castle given by Leopold II (aka Leopold the Fair, 1050-1095), Margrave of Austria (1075-1095) from the House of Babenberg.

Other famous landmarks and popular tourist attractions include Forsthaus (tourist info center), Wiener Tor (gate), Linzer Tor (gate), Rathausplatz (square), Town Hall, Lebzelterhaus (pharmacy), Kolomanbrunnen (market), Sterngasse (main street), Haus am Stein (town's oldest building), Round Tower, Schiffsmeisterhaus, Old Post Office (convention center), Pfarrkirche (Gothic church), Schallaburg (renaissance castle).

Melk Abbey is famous for having the St Coloman's tomb, as well as the remains of Austria's first rullers - Babenberg. The settlement was first mentioned in 831 AD, receiving market rights in 1227.