Stift Melk Abbey
Melk Abbey is a Benedictine monastery located in Melk, in the state of Lower Austria. Melk has long been the cultural and spiritual center of Austria. The abbey stands on a granite cliff overlooking the Danube.
- History
- Architecture
Marble Hall - Library
- Church
- Park
History
At the beginning of the 11th century, Melk belonged to the Babenbergs, the first princely dynasty in Austria. The town served as a tomb not only for the ruling Babenberg dynasty, but also for St. Coloman, the patron saint of Austria. Manuscripts from the monastery library indicate that already under Margrave Leopold I, Melk was a stronghold and a city that could accommodate a traveling monarch or the highest ecclesiastical ranks.
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In 1089, Margrave Leopold II gave the fortress in Melk to the monastic order of St. Benedict, and the monks finally settled in the monastery of Melk. In 1297, the monastery suffered a severe fire, which destroyed the existing buildings. Most of the manuscripts from the monastery library were also lost.
.The monastery was rebuilt in the Baroque style between 1702 and 1736 by architect Jakob Prandtauer during the reign of Abbot Berthold Dietmayr.
.Architecture
Since 1978, the monastery has undergone restoration work and now appears in all its splendor.
The portal of the monastery was built in 1718. It is surrounded by two bastion fortifications, to the right and left of the entrance are statues of St. Leopold and St. Koloman, and the entrance gate is crowned with a star. Through the portal you can enter the Gatekeeper’s Court, on the right is a tower, part of a fortification from the Babenberg period. Then you can enter the Prelate Court, which is 84 meters long and 42 meters wide. In the center of the courtyard there used to be the Koloman fountain, which was donated by the monastery to the town of Melk in 1722 and can now be seen in the town hall square. Since the 19th century there has been a fountain in the monastery courtyard, moved from the closed Waldhausen monastery.
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In the southeastern part of the courtyard is an archway through which one can pass to the church and the Imperial Staircase. The 196-meter-long Imperial Staircase begins on the second floor. Here are images of the Austrian emperors – the Babenbergs and Habsburgs, the tract was designed to house the imperial court. The emperor’s chambers are to the west of the staircase.
Marble Hall
On the ceiling of the hall are frescoes by Paul Troger (1731) depicting Athena Palladus in a chariot, a symbol of wisdom, to the left of Athena can be seen Hercules, symbolizing strength.
.The inscriptions above the doors are quotes from St. Benedict’s rules, “Hospites tamquam Christus suscipiantur” (Guests are to be received as Christos) and “Et omnibus congruus honor exhibeatur” (All are to be given appropriate honor). The hall served as a dining room for members of the imperial family, as well as for receiving guests during celebrations.
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The walls of the hall are decorated with plaster marble, but the door inserts and attachments above the doors are made of real Salzburg marble. The architectural painting around the ceiling frescoes of the Troger is by Gaetano Fanti.
The terrace (Altana) connects the Marble Hall and the library. From here you have a magnificent view of the Danube, the valley and the historic center of Melk: you can see the parish church, the post office built in the Classicist style, the remains of the city wall.
Library
The second most important room of the monastery after the church is the library. The beautiful artistic decoration of the library shows the great respect the monks had for this room. The ceiling frescoes by Paul Troger are a symbolic representation of faith – in contrast to the secular scenes of the Marble Hall. In the center is a female figure, an allegory of Faith, she is surrounded by four groups of angels representing the principal virtues: wisdom, courage, prudence, and justice. The four wooden sculptures placed on the sides of the doors are a representation of the four faculties: theology, philosophy, medicine, and law.
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Today, in the 12 rooms of the library there are 1888 manuscripts, 750 incunabula (first printed editions before 1500), 1700 works of the 16th century, 4500 of the 17th century, 1800 of the 18th century, which together with later editions amounts to 100 thousand volumes. The large room of the library contains about 16,000 editions, which are arranged by subject groups.
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The small room of the library contains mainly historical works of the 19th century. A spiral staircase with a Rococo lattice leads to the other rooms of the library. Paul Troger’s frescoes are allegorical depictions of science.
Church
A magnificently decorated spiral staircase leads from the library to the church. The monastery church is the highlight of the tour of the monastery, a most beautiful Baroque room. In 1701, at the insistence of Abbot Berthold Dietmeyr and according to the plans of Jacob Prandtayur, a complete renovation of the church was conceived. Famous masters participated in its artistic decoration. Antonio Beduzzi (interior architecture, designs for the frescoes), Johann Michael Rottmayr (frescoes, icons), Paul Troger (icons), Giuseppe Galli-Bibina (design of the pulpit and main altar), Lorenzo Mattilli (designs for the sculptures) and Peter Wiederin (sculptures).
The inscription on the main altar in marble and gilded wood reads “Non Coronabitur Nise Legitime Certaverit” (Without legitimate struggle there is no victory). A struggle that leads to victory, a struggling and victorious church, is the thought that runs throughout.
The monastery park and the garden pavilion with the famous frescoes by Johann Wenzel Bergl can be viewed from May 1 to October 31 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. hrs. The park was laid out in 1750 in the Baroque style and in 1822 it was largely redesigned in the English style. The park is home to ancient linden trees that are 250 years old! The park and the monastery form a magnificent unity!
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