Special Exhibitions

“Melk abbey is also an important artistic and cultural center. Freely accessible varied special exhibitions and an excellent cultural program complement the monastery visit year-round.”   Father Martin Rotheneder

The Columned Hall, the Wachau Lab in the Northern bastion, and the Baroque cellar accommodate changing special exhibitions by and about local and internationally acclaimed artists which address different subjects from history and present, art and culture.

For years Melk abbey has provided space for contemporary art: permanent works of art were created here (e.g. the paintings in the Prelate’s Courtyard by Peter Bischof and Helmut Krumpel or Saint Benedict’s Chapel by Peter Bischof and Josef Strohmayer), and numerous temporary exhibitions were organized.

Melk abbey’s splendid world-renowned Baroque ensemble and contemporary artistic accents go well together. They show that Melk abbey is a highly vibrant place which upholds its rich tradition and seeks to help shape the present and the future.