melk

I had heard of Melk before, because the monks in the Closter that the town is mostly known for were prominent bookmakers (or something). I expected the Melk Closter to be quaint and simple, because that's how I picture monks living, right? Well, this was like an explosion of Rococo and high Baroque all in my face. It was beautiful though, and ranks as my second favorite church place so far.

Closter courtyard:



Important guests stayed in rooms off of this hallway. The hall itself was designed to look longer than it actually was! The ends far away from the main staircase are physically narrower than the center, so when one looks down them the perspective is exaggerated. CLEVER.





rocococococo:

Super great view on this balcony:

My first Really Old Book that I've seen on this trip; a preview of things to come in August.....

After the tour, we exited into the church part of the Closter, where the morning prayer service was just ending. Wow wowow owow. Okay, Baroque ornamentation, you made your point. Contrasting the dazzling details and ornamentation of the Melk church with the gravitas and height of the Köln Dom is something else. Same function, completely different approach.

Apparently, some florist convention was held in Melk, and important people in the floral design industry made some neat things to hang in the church. Including the huge rings of flowers, and 12,000 suspended orchid blossoms encircling the altar. I did not get good pictures of this, but it was really a great thing to see.