10 Things to do Good for a Rainy Day in Lower Austria That You Shouldn't Miss

Melk Abbey is one of the biggest and most beautiful European Baroque Ensembles. Its splendid architectur ist famous worldwide an part of UNESCO´s World Cultural Heritage. Since 1089, Benedictine Monks have continually been living and working in Melk Abbey. Following the rules laid down by St. Benedict, they try to translate into action the words ORA et LABORA et LEGE (pray, work and read) by working in pastoral care, education as well as organizing numerous cultural Events. A visit to the abbey includes the abbey museum, the marble hall, the balcony, the library, the church, the abbey park with the baroque garden pavillion (open May-October)and the Bastion.April to September: Visits are possible daily with (10.55 a.m. and 2.55 p.m.)or without guided tourOctober to March: Visits are possible only with a guided tour. For individuals: 10.55 a.m. and 2.55 p.m. / tour for Groups may be reserved.Recommended time to spend at the abbey: 2,5 hoursADVISE for your visit: If possible, visit Melk Abbey around midday or in the afternoon, it´s not so crowed. Large monastery parking lot free of Charge.

One place. A thousand stories. In 1114, Klosterneuburg Abbey was founded by Margrave Leopold III. For over 900 years, history has been written here and stories have been told. It is those stories that we have collected over the centuries – they make our spirituality as well as the close connection of this house to Austrian history tangible. The story of the Verdun altar (1181) illustrates the history of the abbey’s spirituality as well as its closeness to the people. The altar, apart from its material splendour, served one purpose above all - to make the Holy Scriptures and the Holy Mass easier to understand, even for those who were unable to read and write. The laying of the foundation stone for the abbey church (1114) is a symbol for the abbey’s longevity and its responsibility to create. At this event, wine from its own winery was served. It is the oldest winery in Austria, which has been run by Klosterneuburg Abbey since the Middle Ages.

Kunsthalle Krems is the international exhibition center for modern and contemporary art in Lower Austria. Its program features art after 1945 with a special focus on contemporary artistic production. The Kunsthalle Krems is an institution that offers a large platform to positions of both established and emerging young artists from Austria and abroad, a platform to present innovative, cross-media, socially topical and art-specific contributions.

Enjoy our theatre during a walk through the city of Baden or visit one of our shows during your stay in Baden or Vienna.

The cartoon museum Krems, the only Austrian museum for satirical art, is mainly devoted to political caricature, humorous drawings, comics and illustrations. The Caricature Museum Krems sees itself as a European centre of excellence for the art of drawing and picture literature and networks with international artists, museums and exhibition houses.

„Stift Heiligenkreuz“, which means the „Abbey of Heiligenkreuz“, is a beautiful and living Cistercian monastery, close to Vienna, the capital of Austria. Stift Heiligenkreuz is the second-oldest Cistercian monastery in the world and the oldest continuously active and inhabited one, now full of young vocations. In September 2007 it was blessed by an official visit by Pope Benedict XVI. Stift Heiligenkreuz, peacefully situated in the middle of the „Wienerwald“, the Vienna woods, is one of the most beautiful medieval monasteries in the world. It was founded in 1133 by St. Leopold III of the House of Babenberg. Currently the monastery has 105 members, 18 affiliated parishes and a Pontifical Theological Academy (founded 1802) with more than 3 students.

Arnulf Rainer’s hometown of Baden pays tribute to this versatile and busy painter with a museum devoted to his work – and housed in a former bath that is a gem of 19th-century architecture.