The best cycling routes around Zelking-Matzleinsdorf

The culturally interested traveler will not encounter it unexpectedly, the Benedictine Abbey, mostly known by the name STIFT MELK – and under the patronage of the two apostle princes – whose official designation is „Abbatia SS. App. Petri et Pauli apud Melk“. It is not only significant in a religious respect, but even an essential part of the cultural landscape of Wachau, ennobled by UNESCO with the special predicate „World Heritage“. A documentation within the framework of the television series »Schätze der Welt – Erbe der Menschheit« reports: „A landmark of the Wachau and actually the staging of this landscape is the Stift Melk. The core of the Melk monastery complex is the library, with 85,000 volumes and 1200 manuscripts, one of the largest in the world. It is the ideological headquarters of Benedictinism. Here everything is stored that can be described as the foundation of the Western spirit.“ The fifteen-minute contribution about this highlight, awarded by UNESCO with the predicate „World Heritage“, is available in the ARD media library via the following link =>> https://www.ardmediathek.de/video/schaetze-der-welt/die-wachau-oesterreich-folge-282/swr/Y3JpZDovL3N3ci5kZS82ODcyNjk0

From Melk to Emmersdorf, from there continue to Maria Laach via Obernorf to the transmitter and viewing platform then descent to Gut am Steg and return via Spitz to Melk approx. 60km and 950Hm

Perfect cycle paths on both sides, landscape very beautiful. Only disadvantage, the wind attacks fully. Without an e-bike, one should consider the wind direction and strength when planning.

The cycle path, which has surely been described many times, offers good ground on both sides, very good signage, refreshment stops, etc. on both sides of the river. The information boards about river crossings are particularly helpful for navigating the route.

Weitenegg Castle Ruin is one of the most historically significant and impressive ruins in the Nibelungengau. It sits enthroned on a narrow rocky ridge directly above the Danube and the Melk power plant, exactly where the Weitental valley flows into the Danube valley. The castle was already mentioned in documents in the 12th century (around 1108). Its location was ingenious: from here, both the ship traffic on the Danube and the trade route into the Weitental valley (towards the Waldviertel) could be perfectly controlled. Over the centuries, it belonged to powerful noble families, including the Kuenringers and later the Habsburgs. From the 17th century onwards, the castle was hardly inhabited and fell into disrepair, until it finally became a ruin.

The bridge over the Melk River, just before its confluence with the Danube, offers outstanding views of the river, its estuary, and the surrounding landscape. Melk Abbey, a Benedictine monastery of outstanding historical and cultural significance, rises within sight. Founded in the 11th century, it received its present Baroque appearance in the 18th century under the direction of Jakob Prandtauer. The abbey impresses with its magnificent library, ornate state rooms, and the Baroque abbey church with its striking onion domes and magnificent frescoes. As part of the Wachau UNESCO World Heritage Site, the abbey attracts numerous visitors every year and, together with the view from the bridge, forms a particularly impressive panorama of the region.

Melk's town square forms the historic and vibrant center of the town. Surrounded by well-preserved house facades, cafés, and shops, it invites you to stroll and linger. Particularly striking is its proximity to Melk Abbey, which towers high above the square. As the town's central meeting place, the square regularly serves as the setting for markets, festivals, and cultural events, while also providing an ideal starting point for exploring the town and its surroundings.

Donauradweg