The Melk Abbey was established in the 11th century by Benedectine monks on the site of a medeival castle on a bluff above the town. Today's Baroque abbey was built between 1702 and 1736 with its ornate abbey church (which we could not visit because of repairs) with its frescos and the library with countless medieval manuscripts (which we did visit). A school has been connected with the abbey since the 12th century, and a portion of one of the abbey wings houses a museum.
