Wine and Monasteries of the Wachau
How monks shaped the Wachau's wine landscape
TopicWachau- Duration
- about 2.5 hours, extendable on request
- Group
- up to 25 people
- Languages
- German, English, French, Italian, Spanish
- Meeting point
- Melk Abbey, Dürnstein berth or Krems
Without its monasteries, Wachau wine would not exist in its current form. This tour traces how monks shaped the terraced landscape over centuries, and how that became the wine culture the region is known for today.
Highlights
- Monasteries as pioneers of winegrowing
- Melk Abbey and a view of Göttweig Abbey
- The history of cellar lanes and terraces
- Krems as a historic wine trading town
The route
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1Melk Abbey
the Benedictine monastery's history and its role as a wine landowner.
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2View of Göttweig Abbey
a monastic landscape on the opposite bank of the Danube.
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3Dürnstein's parish church
once an Augustinian monastery, now the Wachau's landmark.
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4A wine cellar lane
the architecture and history of monastic and farming winegrowing.
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5Vineyard terraces
how steep slopes became a cultivated landscape over centuries.
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6Krems and Stein
the historic trading town for the region's wine.
Included
- Certified local guide
- Tour in the language of your choice
- Individual route and timing
- Contact person around the clock
Not included
- Entrance fees and tickets
- Food, drinks and tastings
- Travel allowance outside the guide's home town (min. €30)
- Tour guide system (€3.75 per person)
Who this tour is for
For anyone with a cultural or historical interest in how monasteries shaped winegrowing in the Wachau.
Frequently asked questions
Do we taste wine on this tour?
The focus here is on history and landscape, not tasting. If tasting matters to you, we recommend adding our wine tasting tour instead.
Do we go inside Melk Abbey or Göttweig Abbey?
We see Göttweig Abbey from across the Danube, visiting it is not part of this route. For Melk Abbey, whether we also go inside depends on what we agree beforehand, entrance tickets are not included in the guiding fee.
Is the tour mostly indoors or outdoors?
Most of it takes place outdoors, among cellar lanes and vineyard terraces. Only a few stops, such as parts of Melk Abbey, may be indoors depending on the weather.
