Underwhelming until

The guided tour of the Abbey at Melk was borderline boring. And then the tour ended in the library. I honestly don't remember the number of volumes or the age of the oldest. I could Google it but that isn't the important part. It was a visually stunning room. From floor to ceiling in that room with unusually high ceilings each of the fours walls was covered in beautifully bound books. It was worth the price of admission.

And it only got better. From there we went into the church. It was as breathtaking as a space could be. Even though the fortress was given to the monks in 1089, I don't think the church was built until the 18th century. I just cannot imagine a peasant of that time entering that space and not falling to his knees. If that didn't convince you that there was a God, nothing could. It is so grand and so ornate and so impressive I was in awe. If the library was worth the price of admission I am at a loss for words to describe the church.

The Abbey also had a wonderful little park. The walk down the hill and through the quaint little town of Melk was worth the time and energy.