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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Aerial view of the Melk Abbey and its park

Melk Abbey (German: Stift Melk) is a famous Benedictine monastery in Austria. It stands on a rocky hill overlooking the Danube river, next to the beautiful Wachau valley. This historic abbey is home to the tomb of Saint Coloman of Stockerau. It also holds the remains of some members of the House of Babenberg, who were Austria's first ruling family.

History of Melk Abbey
Restoring Melk Abbey
Melk Abbey on a Coin
Images for kids
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 Lambach Abbey.

Growth and Learning

A school for monks was started at Melk in the 1100s. This school was an early version of the Stiftsgymnasium Melk that exists today. The abbey's library quickly became well-known. It had a huge collection of old books and manuscripts. Many of these old writings even contained musical compositions!

In the 1400s, Melk Abbey became a center for a movement called the Melk Reform. This movement helped to make monastic life stronger in Austria and Southern Germany.

The Beautiful Baroque Building

The amazing Baroque abbey you see today was built between 1702 and 1736. It was designed by a famous architect named Jakob Prandtauer. Inside, the abbey church is especially impressive. It has beautiful frescos (wall paintings) by artists like Johann Michael Rottmayr and Paul Troger.

In the late 1700s, Melk Abbey was a place where new ideas were discussed. This was during a time known as the Enlightenment. Some monks at the abbey were even Freemasons, which was a social group.

Surviving Tough Times

Melk Abbey was very famous and respected for its learning. Because of this, it managed to avoid being shut down by Emperor Joseph II. Many other Austrian abbeys were closed between 1780 and 1790, but Melk survived.

The abbey also faced challenges during the Napoleonic Wars. Later, after 1938, during a time called the Anschluss, the school and a large part of the abbey were taken over by the state. However, the school was given back to the abbey after the Second World War. Today, nearly 900 students, both boys and girls, attend the school.

Since 1625, Melk Abbey has been part of the Austrian Congregation. This group is now part of the larger 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, Patrick Leigh Fermor described Melk Abbey as a "peak in a mountain range of discovery" during his walk across Europe.

The abbey is also part of the Wachau Cultural Landscape. This area is recognized as a World Heritage Site.

Restoring Melk Abbey

Past Damages and Repairs

Melk Abbey has faced fires and damage over the centuries. The first fire happened in 1297. It destroyed some buildings and damaged the valuable library. Luckily, the monks saved most of the famous manuscripts. In 1683, during a Turkish invasion, Melk Abbey also suffered serious damage.

Modern Restoration Work

The abbey building that stands today was built in 1702. In 1974, this building caught fire. The fire damaged the beautiful rooms and artwork inside. Because of this, a big restoration project took place from 1978 to 1995.

During this restoration, the main part of the abbey church was repaired. Workers used eight pounds of gold to restore the statues and altars! The Marble Hall, which is a popular place for visitors, was also restored during this time.

A Recent Discovery

In July 2019, a researcher found something amazing in the abbey's old papers. Christine Glaßner, from the Austrian Academy of Sciences, discovered a piece of parchment. This parchment had 60 lines of a poem called Der Rosendorn. The parchment had been reused as part of a book binding. It was found to be from around 1300. This means the poem was written almost 200 years earlier than people thought!

Melk Abbey on a Coin

Jesus of Nazareth on the Cross, Stift Melk

Melk Abbey was chosen to be the main image on a special 10 euro collector's coin. This coin, the Melk Abbey commemorative coin, was made on April 18, 2007.

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