The Wacchau Valley

We went to a concert in Vienna on Monday night where a small orchestra played Strauss and Mozart, a couple performed a few short ballets and another couple sang operetta. There is something about hearing this music in the place of it's birth that resonates. All very enjoyable.

orchestra

Sailed through the night - it was surprisingly quiet and hardly any rocking at all. We woke as we were docking in Durnstein. A most beautiful, small, medieval  town where Richard the Lionheart was imprisoned in the late 1100s.

 The original castle is in ruins but the chateau, established in 1630 is now a 5 star hotel. The cobblestoned streets were surrounded by all manor of ancient houses. There were even houses attached to the 800 year old town fortifications. The abbey has had a number of uses through the centuries but is now also a hotel.

      

The Wacchau valley is a famous wine growing region and there were heaps of vines growing in terraces in Durnstein and throughout the valley. 

In the afternoon we sailed to Melk - the site of the magnificent Benedictine Abbey. It is still an Abbey and has 30 monks living there. Other parts include a school for 10-18 year olds, a most amazing church, displays in the guest quarters where the Hapsburgs used to stay and a library like no other. There were so many ancient artifacts and relics, carefully protected. I'll let the pictures describe the splendour.

Our day finished with a wine tasting session with the local wines, the inevitable 5 course dinner (so delicious) and a few drinks in the bar.
Jane and Ellen are up early and off to Salzburg tomorrow while Alan and I are cruising along the Danube to Passau.