The beautiful Wachau Valley is a region in Lower Austria, located along the Danube River between the towns of Melk and Krems. Tucked into its rolling hills and greenery is the Göttweig Abbey, an almost 1,000 year old Benedictine monastery. As part of a UNESCO World Heritage landscape, the abbey draws in visitors from around the world. Today, the abbey is a spiritual center run by a community of about 30 monks. Göttweig Abbey was founded in 1083 as a proprietary monastery and became a Benedictine monastery in 1094. Its current baroque form was designed in the early 18th century after a fire.
Fog rolled through the hills as we explored the grounds of the ancient abbey, creating a mystical atmosphere. On the southside of the abbey, the highest apricot orchard in Wachau is visible. There is also a breathtaking view of the Danube Valley that can be seen from the abbey restaurant terrace. Some areas of the abbey were decorated with pine trees and garland for Advent, a religious holiday celebrated in wait for the birth of Jesus. At the main cathedral, a wreath with Advent candles served as a testament to the practicing monks.
In the imperial wing, a museum has been set up where visitors can learn the history and admire the baroque architecture. The famous imperial staircase is breathtaking with an angelic fresco by Paul Troger from 1739 is in the museum section. It is one of the largest and most beautiful baroque staircases in all of Europe. The grand fresco is a heavenly depiction of the Holy Roman Emperor Charles VI as the Greek/Roman deity, Apollo.
In the abbey church, the high altar stands out in gold with the painting of the Assumption into Heaven (1694) by Andreas Wolff as its centerpiece. The high altar forms an ensemble with the pulpit and parts of the large organ. The church houses the largest chimes of any church in Austria. Underneath the church is the main crypt. A 15th century wooden sculpture of Jesus on the cross is located on the altar of mercy within the crypt.
The abbey is home to a large library and archive as well as an impressive amount of visual art and a comprehensive music collection. The art collections are displayed in annual exhibitions in the adjoining royal and imperial rooms. A wing of the abbey is also used as a private getaway where guests can rent rooms and embark on their spiritual journeys.
Admission to the abbey is between $5.00 and $8.00. Tours are offered on weekdays at 11:00, 2:00, and 3:00 and on weekends at noon. The Abbey is open March 21st to November 1st daily during specific times based on the location. The opening hours are listed below:
Church:
Daily 8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Museum:
Daily 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Stiftsrestaurant Göttweig:
Daily 10 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Reception and Monastery Shop:
Mon. – Fri. 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Sat. – Sun. 8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.