Description
Our route on the Jakobsweg, from Melk to Linz, begins with the first stage at the impressive Melk Abbey. In addition to the abbey, the abbey park is particularly interesting here, which occupies a large part of the abbey grounds and was still used in the 18th century as a vineyard and orchard. Later, the park was transformed into a baroque garden according to the then prevailing paradisiacal model. A special highlight in the abbey park is the baroque garden pavilion, which was built in the park after the completion of the abbey (1747-1748). From Melk, we now begin our stage and cross the Danube bridge towards Emmersdorf, the so-called "Gateway to the Wachau". Our path leads us past the parish church of St. Nicholas, which is located on a hill, from where you can enjoy a beautiful view of the Danube and Melk Abbey in the distance. It continues right along the Danube to Weitenegg Castle, where we shortly leave the Danube cycle path and pass over meadows and fields to reach Leiben. In Leiben, the visit to the Europaschloss is especially recommended, which was already built in the Middle Ages, around 1113. On the Marterlweg, we leave Leiben and reach Artstetten via lovely field, forest and meadow paths. The parish church of St. James in Artstetten is located directly next to Artstetten Castle, which was the family residence and summer residence of the imperial family during the imperial era and later the final resting place of the heir to the throne Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife Sophie, Duchess of Hohenberg. The late Gothic church itself is dedicated to St. James the Greater and was rebuilt and extended over time, so that today there are no longer any signs of the Romanesque castle chapel that was probably here earlier. Through the hilly landscape, we now follow the Jakobsweg first to Unterthalheim and then to the endpoint of this first stage of the Jakobsweg, Maria Taferl. The beautiful pilgrimage church Maria Taferl is the destination of many pilgrims and, alongside Mariazell, one of the most important pilgrimage sites in Austria.
Starting point of the tour
Melk Abbey
Destination point of the tour
Pilgrimage Church Maria Taferl
Route description Jakobsweg Danube: Stage 6 Melk – Maria-Taferl
From Melk Abbey, we pass the abbey parking lot and follow the exit road to the roundabout with the B1, which we cross. On the Treppelweg, we head towards the Danube bridge and meet the Jakobsweg coming from Göttweig there. We cross the Danube bridge to Emmersdorf, where we pass Luberegg and Weitenegg on the next five kilometers along the Danube cycle path. Alternatively, you can also take a shorter route via the Melk power plant to Urfahr! At Urfahr, we cross the B3 and follow the Jakobsweg marking uphill to a small street that leads through meadows to Leiben. At the edge of the town, we head west and walk on circular hiking trail 22 (Ysper-Weitental Circular Trail) to Losau, then on field and forest paths towards Hasling. We cross the town and continue on circular hiking trail 22 to Artstetten. In the town center, we first take the street down to the left, then at the town hall keep right and pass the music house, following a forest and meadow path to Unterthalheim. In the town, we turn right and continue on circular hiking trail 22 past the golf course to Maria Taferl.
Directions
Coming from the A1 (West Motorway), we turn off at Melk (exit 80). We drive on the B3a towards Melk, cross the first roundabout straight on, and then turn left onto Wiener Straße. We drive almost to the end of the street and then turn right onto Abt-Berthold-Dietmayr-Straße, where the abbey's parking lot is located.
Parking
There is a large parking lot with many parking spaces in front of Melk Abbey.
Melk has very good rail connections. From the train station, it is not far to Melk Abbey.
