Nestled in the town of Durnstein in the Wachau Region, a valley formed by the Danube river, this…read morechapel rises over the river and blends with the landscape in an amazing way, when you approach the town by boat you see the blue church tower and the hills rising beyond, it is simply amazing. The building of this monastery and chapel dates back to the late 1300s. Make sure to climb the tower for an amazing view of the Danube river and the wachau valley.

Gorgeous church in the town of Dürnstein. It was first built on a rock cliff high above the Danube…read morein 1410 and then modified and baroquized in the first half of the 18th century. It was at this time that the wonderfully decorated interior of the abbey church with its warm colors came into being along with the regional landmark, the blue and white tower. It seems like an architectural signal in the landscape with its striking colors and the fine materials that make its surface look like ceramic. It costs €3.50 to go in and have a look around. The abbey itself is quite stunning and you can go into the balcony and look down on this amazing church. You can also walk around the terrace with wide expansive views of the Danube. Worth a visit when in town. It's located down a set of stairs from the main pedestrian area.

Our first stop on the Wachau Valley was Krems. This is part of the romantic side of the Valley…read more This is a college town with universities that are a huge part of the town. In addition, since Krems is located near the Danube, the city is protecting itself from potential flooding by building flood gates. We walked through cobblestones streets with fish markets, clothing stores, souvenirs shops. What I love about Europe is how quaint and charming the buildings are: beautiful flowers gracing iron window planters, menus written on restaurant windows in chalk. Also, all through the town and in Vienna now, is the Christmas markets and shops that are beginning to pop up. It was nice to see chocolate shoppes that had chocolates dressed in red and gold boxes. We also marveled at the huge Church that anchors this beautiful city.

Pretty little church in Melk you'll most likely pass by from the train station on you way to…read moreRathausplatz. It's not that large but it's worth a quick stop over on your way to the main square. Or, it's another one oft good for a photo opp and move on kind of places.

A beautiful Abbey high on the hill that has been around since 1100. Located in Krem with at present…read more42 Monks. When started there were as few as three and at one point they had 65 Monks. Monasterys I'm finding out may have a brewery or a winery. Here they have a winery. Interestingly they have three wines to taste at the bar. A white similar to a Pinot grigo, a dry resiling and a Pinot Noir. Grown on location these are estate wines. We purchased a bottle of the Pinot grigio tasting and the Pinot Noir. This monastery also grows a fruit similar to an apricot. From this fruit they make jelly, sparkling wine, liquor and a juice. The grounds has two redwood trees on property (80 feet at present). One of the Monks visited northern California and saw the redwoods and brought back seeds ...the trees are a little over 100 years. The grounds are magnificent and the baroque style of architecture is master piece to view. They have a good size pipe organ in the cathedral. Unfortunately they did play it when we were there. Definitely a great tour and there is a restaurant where we asked for a couple of glasses and enjoyed our wine that we purchased. Restaurant has a nice patio for views of the Wachu Valley.

Abbey with working monks who serve parishes among the many acres owned by the Abbey. Active winery,…read moremakes apricot like fruit jam and beverages. (Written by husband)

This is one of the iconic sites in Brno and for good reason. It is a beautiful building both inside…read moreand out. The exterior and interior both exhibit several interesting architectural features. On the interior, this includes the massively tall stained glass windows behind the nave. The sanctuary artwork is meaningful and worth spending time to admire, particularly the sculpture pieces. The side chapel is also a must-see. Make sure to put this on your itinerary if you are in Brno to see the sites.

Views from the overlook reached from a side entrance sporal staircase are fantastic and vertigo…read moreinducing. When the bell suddenly goes off above your head you will not soon forget it. Beautifup inside too It was a couple bucks (48 krone) to go up. There are also tours offered from across the street. Grest experience.

From the owner: Stift Altenburg kann von 1. Mai bis 26. Oktober täglich besichtigt werden.read more

St. Peter's was modeled after its namesake in the Vatican and was ornately decorated inside à la…read moreBaroque style. The church was open for visitors anytime outside any scheduled services. One good reason to visit Perskirche was to attend their free daily concerts scheduled at 3pm. Normally it would be an organ concert but this month they had visiting groups from around the world (a Florida group sang during our visit). The concert lasted around 45 minutes and the both the singers and acoustics were impressive. It doesn't matter where you sit to appreciate the performance. However, the pews were quite uncomfortable for the entire duration. The seatback ended about midway up my back and had an edge that dug into it making it hard to sit up straight. I'd recommend sitting in the overflow chairs that were placed in the aisles since they were of a modern design!

Peterskirche is exactly what you imagine a beautiful European church to be. The interior is filled…read morewith ornate sculptures, stunning artwork, grand columns, and incredible architectural details, with gold accents everywhere. Despite all the gilding, it never feels overwhelming or gaudy--just elegant and breathtaking. It's especially beautiful on a sunny day when the light streams through the windows and illuminates the entire church. From the outside, it doesn't look very large, which might make you think the interior will be small, but once you step inside, it's surprisingly spacious and impressive. Definitely add this to your must-see list when visiting Vienna!