The Wachau Valley on the Danube is located between the towns of Melk and Krems. It is 25 miles long and has been settled since prehistoric times. There are a number of castle ruins along the valley, some shown below. A major tourist attraction is Dürnstein, where King Richard the Lion-Hearted of England was held captive by Duke Leopold V at the time of the Crusades in the 12th century.
