Dürnstein is one of the favorite towns along the Danube, a lovely place to wander cobblestone lanes, browse quaint shops and maybe hike up to a ruined castle (with an intriguing tale all its own). You can also opt for a tasting or learn all about the world’s costliest spice from the Wachau Valley’s only saffron grower. Later, visit the 900-year-old Melk Abbey and its extraordinary baroque-style library. You have two ports of call in the incredibly scenic valley, Dürnstein and Melk, and an assortment of delightful ways to explore this lovely region.
Featured Excursions:
Icons of Dürnstein
Besides its vineyards, the pretty Wachau Valley town of Dürnstein is famous for a couple of things: the ruins of a castle that once detained King Richard the Lionheart, and the powder blue tower that defines its skyline. Start with an invigorating hike to the castle, where you can catch incredible views of the valley below, then head to the tower—also known as Stift Dürnstein. There’s another great view to be found here, but it’s up to you to decide which is best.
Melk Abbey & Gardens
Looking at the gigantic, pastel yellow building crowing the hilltops of Melk, you’d think you were admiring a palace—you'd probably never guess that it’s actually home to an order of Benedictine monks. On your tour of Melk Abbey today with a family guide, you’ll explore the beautiful gardens, admire their famous library, and more.
Choose between:
Dürnstein Wine Estate Visit with Tasting
There’s no better way to conclude your visit to the Wachau Valley than with a special tasting of organic wines at Nikolaihof, perhaps the oldest winery in Austria. The location itself is fascinating: One may encounter remnants of the first buildings on the site—an ancient Roman fort—and taste wines in a deconsecrated 15th-century chapel. Owned by the Saahs family, Nikolaihof is both oldest winery in Austria and the country’s oldest inhabited house, producing some of the world’s best Riesling and Vetliner varietals; in fact, the 1995 Riesling Vinothek, bottled in 2012, actually scored 100 points in The Wine Advocate, the first Austrian wine ever to rank that highly. It is also one of the first wineries in the world to produce biodynamically certified wines. No herbicides, fertilizers, pesticides, or synthetic sprays are used in the vineyards. The grapes are harvested by hand, fermented without artificial yeast, and stored in Austrian oak casks for up to 20 years. Furthering their environmentally-friendly mission, Nikolaihof even produces a cosmetics line out of the waste product from the wine production. The antioxidant-rich skincare products are the world’s first biodynamically certified grape cosmetics.
After your visit, discover Dürnstein on a stroll through town before returning to the ship. Considering its diminutive size, the village of Dürnstein offers much to explore. The famous blue baroque tower of the abbey church is doubtless its best-known landmark, but the ruined castle above the town provides its most romantic tale. There Richard the Lionheart was imprisoned until he was found by his faithful bard, Blondel, and ransom could be raised—or so the legend goes. Walk along the town’s narrow streets, past 16th-, 17th-, and 18th-century houses; it’s an up-close look at over 300 years of architecture.
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Dürnstein Village and Saffron Talk
The first Wachau Valley saffron crocuses were planted at the end of the 12th century, making saffron a valued crop for 700 years—but it disappeared from the terraced hillsides early in the 20th century. It wasn’t until 2007 that an ecologist found mention of it in an 18th-century document at Melk Abbey’s celebrated library. Bernard Kaar, who spent years researching the history of saffron and still more years cultivating the world’s only biodynamically certified saffron, is one of the Wachau’s most important producers. Meet Bernard and his wife, Alexandra, for a fascinating introduction to saffron—the plant, the spice, its cultural significance, and their farm’s uniquely sustainable methods of producing it.
Later walk along the town’s narrow streets, past 16th-, 17th-, and 18th-century houses; it’s an up-close look at over 300 years of architecture. Considering its diminutive size, the village of Dürnstein offers much to explore. The famous blue baroque tower of the abbey church is doubtless its best-known landmark, but the ruined castle above the town provides its most romantic tale. There Richard the Lionheart was imprisoned until he was found by his faithful bard, Blondel, and ransom could be raised—or so the legend goes.
OR
Melk Abbey with Library Visit
The Babenbergs, a great medieval ducal family that controlled a wide swath of Austria before yielding to the Habsburgs, were the first to erect a castle on the hill above Melk, which they subsequently gave to Benedictine monks. These monks, some 900 years ago, turned it into a fortified abbey—and the greatest center of learning in Central Europe. Their library was celebrated far and wide (and still is; Umberto Eco paid tribute to it in his best-selling novel The Name of the Rose). Medieval monks there created more than 1,200 manuscripts, sometimes spending an entire lifetime hand-lettering a single volume. Today the library contains some 100,000 volumes, among them more than 80,000 works printed before 1800. This beautiful complex, completely redone in the early 18th century, is a wonderful example of baroque art and architecture, and the views from its terrace are spectacular. As you walk through the abbey’s Marble Hall with your guide, look up at the ceiling fresco painted by Paul Troger: Those classical gods and goddesses represent Holy Roman Emperor Charles VI, allegorically bringing his people from dark to light and demonstrating the link he claimed to the original Roman Empire.
After your tour of the abbey, you’ll have time to explore Melk on your own, or you can take the motorcoach back to the ship.
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Let's Go: Biking the Wachau
You've likely seen bicyclists pedaling beside the river during your cruise. The Danube bike path is Europe's most popular bike route; it follows the river between Regensburg and Passau. Take to the path today and wheel along a particularly scenic 20-mile stretch between Dürnstein to Melk that affords some of the most impressive views of the famed Wachau Valley. The flat riverbanks make for easy biking, freeing you to fully enjoy the beauty of the surrounding vineyards, wooded mountains, and charming villages.
