*WS 170 – The massive Melk Abbey in the small town of Melk, Austria*
Melk is a small town about 85 km west of Vienna, with some 5,200 residents. We took the train from Vienna for a day-visit in 2013. The 1st 3 photos show the picturesque setting of the farms near the town, the panoramic view of the town with the local parish church in the centre, and the setting of a side lane in town.
The town is famous for a massive baroque Benedictine monastery named Melk Abbey. The Abbey was founded in 1089. The existing buildings were built between 1702 and 1706. It was last renovated in 1987 after a fire damaged part of it in 1974. The Abbey has managed to escape major destruction during the many regional wars since its establishment. It has an impressive collection of old manuscripts, including medical writings. It now houses about 800 students.
The 6th photo shows one of the 16 wooden panels kept in the Abbey Museum dated to 1502 showcasing Christ from the Passion scene. The 7th shows the high altar dedicated to the martyrdom of the apostles St Peter and St Paul. The 8th shows part of the ceiling fresco painted by J M Rottmayr in the early 1700s.
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