Geography Wachau

the danube valley in austria between cities of melk , krems in lower austria called wachau. stretch of valley includes hills , adjacent dunkelsteiner wald (dunkelsteiner forest) , southern waldviertel. danube river flows north-northeast melk dürnstein through meander flows southeast, east past city of krems. in wachau, town of spitz lies on danube s western bank , city of melk on eastern bank. other important towns in valley dürnstein, weißenkirchen in der wachau , emmersdorf der donau, have galaxy of old homestead buildings dating mid-6th century. railway line built in 1909 between krems , emmersdorf topographical marvel. other settlements of note in wachau valley include aggsbach, bachamsdorf, bergern im dunkelsteinerwald, furth bei göttweig, joching, maria laach jauerling, mautern der donau, mühldorf, oberamsdorf, oberloiben, rossatz-arnsdorf, ruhrsdorf, schwallenbach, schönbühel-aggsbach, unterloiben , willendorf.

the danube river has network consisting of inland navigation system. wachau valley historic sights can visited steamer boats; best season visit between may , september. autobahn services available vienna visit important places in wachau. well-developed road network between melk , krems follows contour of valley. however, there no bridges across danube river in region, , ferries way cross river.

danube in wachau valley (dürnstein on far left of river , krems on far right)




melk

melk small town on bank of danube @ start of wachau region @ elevation of 228 metres (748 ft). ancient town historicity linked romans (as border post) , babenbergs times (as strong fortress), known namare fort, residents call medelke of nibenlunggenlied or babenberg fortress. present population reported 5300. large enticing popularity on account of benedictine abbey (founded in 1089 ad), perfect example of baroque synthesis of arts forms western gateway wachau, located on 200 feet (61 m) high cliff. there baroque gateway @ entrance.

the basic layout of town below abbey dated 11th , 12th centuries. however, many of present day historic buildings in main streets of town 16th 18th century. prominent streets laid out town hall square (rathausplatz) hauptstrasse (the main street) , sterngasse, oldest street of town. notable buildings seen in these streets , square are: former lebzelterhaus dated 1657, pharmacy , rathaus, dated 1575, has large entrance door made of wood , copper, both in rathausplatz square; , over-four-hundred-year-old bakery shingle roof. well-conserved ancient grapevine groove located next haus stein behind sterngasse. danube river bank shows marks of past flood levels @ shipping master s house. of interest old post office building of 1792, established then-postmaster freiher von furnberg; functions convention centre. dominant feature in town birago barracks, built during 1910–13. in peripheral area of town, buildings built in latter half of 19th century , 20th century seen in original condition. however, district of villas replicating wiener cottage verein can seen here now. a1 autobahn between vienna , salzburg has station close town centre. melk has many cycle trails, popular.

the western city area of krems on northern banks of danube river



krems

further information: krems

krems, includes town of stein, old town located between kremser tor (15th century) , gottweigerghof (13th , 14th century) has many historical buildings, , pedestrian streets of obere , untere landstrasse. historical times, krems has been popular wine trade due terraced vineyards. minorite church parish church in old town, , used hold art exhibitions. apart gothic church, town has pfarrkirche st. nikolaus church depicts paintings on altar , ceiling, credited famous painter kremser schmidt, lived in linzer tor 1756 until death. leading painter, draughtsman , etcher of austrian late baroque. ancient records of 1263 ad make mention of payment of 10% tax farmers bishop of passau s zehenthof. other monuments in mauthaus town renaissance building , baroque palace, built in 1721, known birthplace of ludwig von köchel, did research on mozart. medieval gate erected in 1480, known steiner tor, notable feature.

spitz

spitz small appealing town cobbled streets amidst vineyards, offering spectacular views of danube valley. 17 kilometres (11 mi) krems. occupied since celtic times, first mentioned in 830. south of spitz fortress of hinterhaus.

dürnstein

the town of dürnstein established in 1019 ad on rocky promontory along gentle curve of danube river, in midst of wachau valley. known tirnstein, , described later romantic place picturesque ancient terraced vineyards , monuments, in wachau , built @ elevation of 630 feet (190 m) fortifications settlement , protection against floods. 73 km upstream of vienna. has population of 936. small walled town, located 9 kilometres (5.6 mi) upstream of krems, known picture-perfect scenic beauty. town known of residential buildings on main street; 1 such building refurbished building of chorherrenstift, monastery built in 1410. restored in 18th century.

chronologically, historical legacies associated town follows: imprisonment of english king richard lionheart in kuenringer castle (now seen in ruins) december 1192 march 1193; conquest babenberg duke frederic ii on rebels of kuenring in 1231; building of st. kunigunde church in 1231; construction of town hall (which later modified in renaissance style in 1547) towers , gates between 13th , 14th centuries; recognition town in 1347; end of dynastic rule of dürnstein kuenrings in 1355; habsburgs acquisition of dürnstein sovereigns under rule of duke albrecht iii of austria in 1356; establishing monastery of order of st. augustine – augustiner-chorherren – , gothic monastery between 1410 , 1440; emperor frederic iii awarding municipal coat of arms town in 1476; dissolution of order of st. clara s nunnery (built in 1330) , control delegated augustinian monks in 1571; 16th century construction of residential buildings in unique style, continue recognized distinct artistic value day; building of new castle in 1630; construction of baroque monastery between 1710 , 1740; construction of wine cellar castle or keller-schlößl in 1714; dissolution of augustinian monastery emperor joseph ii in 1788; battling french invasion november 11, 1805 (napoleonic wars known battle of dürenstein fought in flood plains between river , mountains in river section curved in shape of crescent between dürnstein , nearby krems der donau; first city mayor s election in 1850; inauguration of railway line along danube in 1909; refurbishing of baroque tower of monastery , painting in original blue colour. villages of oberloiben, unterloiben , rothenhof, located east of dürnstein on road krems, under jurisdiction of town. dürnstein famous bread known wachauer-laberl, served in wine bars. round baked bread called gebäck, made flour of rye , wheat. recipe bread credited schmidl family of dürnstein, , closely guarded secret.

the wine-producing village weissenkirchen, 6 kilometres (3.7 mi) dürnstein. charming village narrow cobbled streets, 16th-century teisenhoferhof arcaded courtyards attraction. has wine press 18th century , museum known wachamuseum. 19th-century paintings of wachau s picturesque landscape, etchings known baechanalism , self-portraits , family pictures, done kremser schmidt, displayed in museum.

other towns

other important places in valley are:

willendorf

willendorf, 21 kilometres (13 mi) krems, place primitive naked statue called venus of willendorf - made in chalkstone, 11 cm long - discovered in 1908. 1 of preeminent examples of prehistoric art, considered fertility goddess. statue estimated 25,000 years old , on display @ natural history museum in vienna; replica seen in museum in willendorf.

a postage stamp of euro value 3.75 of venus von willendorf released on august 7, 2008 mark 100-year celebrations since discovery of venus.

artstetten-pöbring

artstetten-pöbring small town in melk district known artstetten castle, noted many onion-shaped domes. castle has been refurbished many times on past 700 years. famous fact archduke franz ferdinand former owner of castle. museum in castle has pictures of life history of 1 , duke , wife during stay in castle. duke , wife assassinated during visit sarajevo, triggered world war i. castle houses tomb.

geology

the river valley s geological formation of crystalline rocks, interspersed tertiary , quaternary deposits in wider reaches of valley, , in spitzer graben. land formation in valley dictated clay , silt deposits around weissenkirchen , @ beginning of wachau stretch. major tributary, joins danube in wachau on left bank, spitzer graben, stated part of primeval danube. during tertiary period, flow of river west of wachau, on northern border. course of river seen spitz onwards. river flowing along weak fault zone on southern border of bohemian massif.