As we were gently cruising the river, out of the trees appeared a vision: An incredible abbey!
The architecture, the detail and the embellishments were absolutely beautiful - and that was just from the river! We took the included excursion to visit the abbey - its exterior paled in comparison to the interior. This Benedictine Abbey, a retreat for the monks (sworn to poverty and simple living), highlights all that the Baroque style is: ornate, ornate and more ornate. Part of the abbey is a museum featuring relics, chalices and vestments. The dining hall rivaled any great hall of the castles of the time, and the church was so rich in detail that it was difficult to appreciate every bit of it. We were overwhelmed upon entering the library with over 2,000 manuscripts and approximately 85,000 printed books. (No photos were permitted!) There was a wealth of information, of history contained in those two library rooms...
(The abbey began construction in 1089 and completed in 1746.)
The warm August sun made for a spectacular day as we walked the gardens before heading back to the ship for another relaxing afternoon cruise - and a wine tasting featuring locally made wines. A local vinter would join the ship and introduce us to delicious red and white wines as well as a delicious apricot liqueurs! Tonight's evening meal would feature a selection of fine Austrian wines.
Enjoy the short video of the Abbey tour!
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