Stift Melk is a Benedictine abbey in the federal state of Lower Austria, next to the Wachau valley along the Danube. It was founded in 1089 and resides on a rock above the city of Melk.
Today's impressive baroque ensemble was built in 1702-1736 by architect Jakob Prandtauer. Noteworthy is the Church with frescos by Johann Michael Rottmayr and the impressive library with countless medieval handwritings. The library was used by Umberto Eco to research his novel The Name of the Rose, and as a tribute to the abbey Eco named his protagonist Edso of Melk.
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Last updated: 06-13-2005 07:02:01
