Awoke this morning to find that we had sailed overnight and were docked at beautiful Melk in Austria.

Melk (older spelling: Mölk) is in the federal state of Lower Austria, next to the Wachau valley along the Danube. Melk was founded in 831AD and now has a population of 5,257. Melk is best known as the site of a massive baroque Benedictine monastery named Melk Abbey which was completed in 1192. It is among the world's most famous monastic sites and is located on a rocky outcrop overlooking the Danube river.

A walking tour of the Abbey revealed that it is still a working monastery with the Abbot and about 30 Monks living according to the Rule of St Benedict.

Part of the Abbey has been converted into a secondary education college with both day students and borders. Secular teachers and the Monks undertake teaching roles. The high school is popular with about 1,000 students currently enrolled.

The Abbey was founded in 1089 when Leopold II, Margrave of Austria gave one of his castles to Benedictine monks from Lambach Abbey. It has many amazing rooms including a significant library, the stunning Marble Room and a very ornate church containing the tomb of Saint Coloman of Stockerau and the remains of several members of the House of Babenberg, Austria's first ruling dynasty.

Back on the ship we sailed for Dürnstein. Dürnstein was first mentioned in 1192, when, in the castle above the town, King Richard I Lionheart of England was held captive by Duke Leopold V of Austria after their dispute during the Third Crusade. Richard had personally offended Leopold by casting down his standard from the walls at the Battle of Acre, and the Duke suspected that King Richard ordered the murder of his cousin Conrad of Montferrat in Jerusalem. In consequence Pope Celestine III excommunicated Leopold for capturing a fellow crusader. The Duke finally gave the custody of Richard to Emperor Henry VI, who imprisoned Richard at Trifels Castle. Dürnstein Castle was almost completely destroyed by the troops of the Swedish Empire under Field Marshal Lennart Torstenson in 1645 and remain in ruins to this day.

A walking tour around Dürnstein soon showed the early beginnings of this very old village. Buildings dating from the early part of the 1400s were everywhere - a lovely village.

Back on the ship and we are already talking about our time in Vienna over the next two days.

Today's insight:

• Melk has the 'Wedding Forest' where the local council plants a tree to celebrate each marriage. The forest forms part of the town's recreational area. And to answer the obvious question - no divorced couple have yet cut down their tree.
• The world famous library at the Melk Abbey provided the inspiration for Umberto Eco to write his classic 'The Name of the Rose'.