Melk Abbey Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Melk Abbey
Native name German: Stift Melk
Melk Abbey
Location	Austria
Area	Europe
Architect	Jakob Prandtauer
Architectural style(s)	Baroque
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Melk Abbey (German: Stift Melk) is a famous old building in Austria. It's a Benedictine abbey, which means it's a home for monks who follow the rules of Saint Benedict. The abbey sits high up on a rocky hill, looking over the Danube River and the beautiful Wachau valley. It's a very important place because it holds the tomb of Saint Coloman of Stockerau and the remains of some early Austrian rulers called the Babenbergs.

History of Melk Abbey
Restoration Efforts
Euro Commemorative Coin
Notable People
Gallery
See also

History of Melk Abbey

How the Abbey Started

Melk Abbey was founded in 1089. This happened when Leopold II, Margrave of Austria gave one of his castles to Benedictine monks. These monks came from another abbey called Lambach Abbey.

Learning and Books

A school for monks was started at Melk Abbey in the 1100s. This school was an early version of the Stiftsgymnasium Melk that exists today. The abbey's library quickly became very famous. It had a huge collection of old handwritten books, called manuscripts. Many of these manuscripts even contained musical compositions. In the 1400s, the abbey became the center of a movement called the Melk Reform. This movement helped to make monastic life stronger in Austria and Southern Germany.

Building the Baroque Abbey

The beautiful abbey you see today was built between 1702 and 1736. It was designed by a famous architect named Jakob Prandtauer. The style of the building is called Baroque, which means it has lots of fancy details and decorations. Inside, the abbey church is especially amazing. It has colorful paintings on the ceilings, called frescos, made by artists like Johann Michael Rottmayr and Paul Troger.

Surviving Through Time

In the late 1700s, Melk Abbey became a place for new ideas. People would gather there to discuss Enlightenment thoughts and share knowledge. The abbey was so well-known and respected that it avoided being closed down. Many other abbeys in Austria were shut down by Emperor Joseph II between 1780 and 1790.

Melk Abbey also survived big challenges during the Napoleonic Wars. Later, after 1938, when Austria became part of Germany, the school and a large part of the abbey were taken by the state. But after World War II, the school was given back to the abbey. Today, nearly 900 students, both boys and girls, attend the school.

Since 1625, the abbey has been part of a larger group of Benedictine monasteries. This group is now called the Benedictine Confederation.

Melk Abbey in Books

Melk Abbey is so famous that it has appeared in books. In the novel The Name of the Rose, author Umberto Eco named one of his characters "Adso of Melk." This was a way to honor the abbey. Also, in A Time of Gifts, a book about a walking tour across Europe, Patrick Leigh Fermor described Melk Abbey as a very important discovery.

The abbey is also part of the Wachau Cultural Landscape. This area is recognized as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, meaning it's very important to the world's history and culture.

Restoration Efforts

Aerial view of the Melk Abbey and its park

Melk Abbey has faced challenges over the centuries. In 1297, a fire damaged the abbey and its valuable library. Luckily, the monks managed to save most of the famous manuscripts. The abbey also suffered damage during the Turkish invasion in 1683.

The current abbey, built in 1702, also had a fire in 1974. This fire damaged the beautiful rooms and artwork inside. Because of this, a big restoration project took place from 1978 to 1995. During this time, the main part of the church, called the nave, was repaired. Even eight pounds of gold were used to restore the statues and altars! The Marble Hall, a popular room for visitors, was also restored during this period.

In July 2019, a researcher named Christine Glaßner made an exciting discovery. While looking through the abbey's old records, she found a piece of parchment. This parchment contained parts of a poem called Der Rosendorn. Experts believe this piece of parchment dates back to around 1300. This means the poem is much older than people previously thought, by almost 200 years!

Euro Commemorative Coin

Jesus of Nazareth on the Cross, Stift Melk

Melk Abbey was chosen to be featured on a special coin. It was the main design for a 10 euro collector's coin. This coin, called the Austrian Melk Abbey commemorative coin, was made on April 18, 2007.

One side of the coin shows a view of the abbey church's front and its two side wings. You can see the two Baroque towers and the large dome of the church behind them. In the bottom right corner, you can also see the coat-of-arms of Melk Abbey. This symbol shows the crossed keys of St. Peter.

Notable People

Johann Georg Albrechtsberger, who was the organist at the abbey from 1759 to 1766.
Franz Schneider, who was the organist at the abbey from 1766 to 1812.