Melk Abbey House Rules
(applicable in all areas within the abbey grounds, particularly the abbey building and its rooms, the abbey park, the garden pavilion, as well as all interior courtyards, parking lots and outdoor spaces)
Dear visitors,
we warmly welcome you to Melk abbey. To ensure a pleasant experience for all visitors and to protect the artwork certain rules are inevitable. The house rules are binding for all visitors. By entering the abbey, particularly the buildings, all guests agree to abide by these rules. Visitors are advised that they enter Melk abbey grounds at their own risk.
Opening hours and entrance fees
Entrance
- An entrance ticket is valid for a single visit to all areas for which a ticket is required. During the visit tickets are subject to inspection by the abbey’s staff.
- If necessary, certain rooms or areas may be closed for safety reasons or restoration work.
- A used ticket can not be refunded. There is no right of cancellation.
- The charge for a guided tour can not be reimbursed, if visitors miss the guided tour.
- Tickets for the visit of Melk abbey are only available at the abbey’s ticket counters (combination tickets also at our partners). Vouchers and coupons must to be exchanged for regular entrance tickets at the ticket counters before the visit.
Abbey visit
- For walking-impaired visitors we offer barrier-free access for the abbey visit. Please contact our staff for further information.
- Please be mindful of others in the exhibition rooms so that no visitor feels in any way hindered or bothered.
- Exhibits and wall paneling may not be touched, damaged or otherwise compromised. Please observe a minimal distance of 30 cm to the art works, or a silent alarm will be set off.
- If any artwork is damaged, abbey staff is authorized to document the particulars of the responsible party and detain them until the arrival of a security officer.
- Visitors are liable for any damages they cause.
- Instructions of the abbey staff must be followed. Failing that, the person(s) concerned may be banned from the premises.
- Parents, legal guardians and tour leaders are fully responsible for the behavior of children and adolescents in their company, and must exercise the full and sole duty of supervision. Children under 14 years may only enter the exhibition rooms accompanied by an adult.
- Eating and drinking is not permitted in the exhibition rooms.
- Smoking is prohibited inside the whole building. Outside the building smoking is allowed in designated areas where ashtrays are provided.
- The provided seating accommodations are not to be removed from their designated positions.
- The complete abbey grounds are to be kept clean.
- Out of consideration for other visitors we ask you not to use your phone, or listen to music in the exhibition rooms, and to refrain from loud talking. Please be mindful of others in the exhibitions rooms so that no visitor feels in any way hindered or bothered.
- Animals (with the exception of assistance dogs) are not allowed inside the building and in the abbey park. On the other abbey grounds they must be kept on a leash.
Lockers
- It is not allowed to bring bicycles, scooters or other vehicle-like devices (except necessary walking aids, wheelchairs and baby buggies) into the exhibition rooms, the courtyards, or the abbey park.
Lockers for visitors may be found in the first courtyard on the right. Bicycle stands with lockers are located in the private abbey parking lot near the abbey portal.
Safety and emergencies
- In case of medical emergencies, please inform the abbey staff or dial an emergency number directly (122 fire service / 133 police / 144 emergency medical service).
- For safety reasons, there is camera surveillance on the abbey grounds, especially in the exhibition rooms. By entering the abbey area and with the purchase of a ticket visitors grant the abbey permission to be photographed, videotaped, or otherwise recorded as part of its surveillance and to store the footage for security purposes. Melk abbey reserves the right to give these recordings to competent authorities upon request.
- In case of an acoustic alarm, please contact the abbey staff. Please keep calm and follow the instructions of the abbey staff and/or guides. The emergency exits lead to designated assembly points where you should gather and wait for further instructions. In case of emergency it is not allowed to use the elevators. Emergency exits should only be used in case of emergency, and exits, staircases, passages as well as emergency escape routes must be kept clear at all times for safety reasons.
- If the house rules, or the instructions of the abbey staff are not followed, the person(s) concerned may be banned from the abbey premises.
Parking
- Motor vehicles of all sorts as well as other vehicles may be parked on abbey premises only in designated parking spaces, during opening hours until further notice.
- The abbey parking spaces are private. In the parking area visitors must follow Austrian traffic regulations and on-site traffic signs.
- Camping is not allowed in the parking area.
- It is only allowed to use the parking spaces / to park for the purpose of visiting the abbey or the abbey restaurant.
Photos, videos, mobile phones and audio devices / private purposes
- Photography or videography of any kind is forbidden in Melk abbey’s interior rooms (Imperial Corridor, abbey museum rooms, Marble Hall, library and church).
- In the abbey’s outdoor areas (abbey park, inner courtyards and balcony) as well as in the Northern bastion and in the garden pavilion it is allowed to take photos for private purposes. In all other areas photography is allowed until further notice. More information may be found on our homepage www.stiftmelk.at under “press”.
- Photos of the complete monastery complex or parts thereof may not be marketed or sold through commercial photo agencies or private web pages.
- Tour guides are required to point out the ban on photography and videography in the abbey’s interior rooms to their groups.
- For the use of remote-controlled drones, UAVs, multicopters or the like above abbey grounds to take aerial photographs or videos or for any other purposes, a permit is absolutely necessary and is therefore only allowed upon consultation of the monastery, because flying devices can lead to extended risks for persons and objects, can cause the possible violation of rights (e.g. personality rights) and disturbances in the operation of this cultural monument.
- It is allowed to publish private souvenir photos on private pages of Facebook, Google+, Twitter as well as on private homepages, with due regard to privacy regulations and personality rights. It is, however, forbidden to publish photos of the abbey on photo portals (e.g. Flickr or 500px).
- Tripods, monopods and all other stands may be used on the entire premises only with the official permission of the abbey.
Photos, videos, mobile phones and audio devices / commercial purposes
- Prior to any professional photo shoots, film and/or sound recording anywhere on Melk abbey premises (interior and exterior) a written permit is necessary (please send your request at least 7 days in advance).
- Advertising shots and presentations are not allowed anywhere on Melk abbey premises.
- Authorized photos and films of Melk abbey premises may be used only for the previously approved purpose. For every other use a new permit must be obtained. It is forbidden to market or sell authorized pictures through commercial photo agencies or private web sites.
- Taking photos, filming, and recording is only permitted during the previously approved times and at the previously approved conditions.
- Melk abbey has large photo archives and would be pleased to provide photos free of charge for articles, travel preparations etc. upon request. Please write to foto@stiftmelk.at
- For photo requests please use the form on Melk abbey’s web site. To process your request we need:
- name of applicant & contact data & address
- employer
- specifications about the size of the team and equipment
- time frame
- what is going to be filmed or photographed
- for which purpose
- scheduled date of release or broadcast - During events and religious services it is only permitted to film or take photos with a valid press accreditation.
- For the use of remote-controlled drones, UAVs, multicopters or the like above abbey grounds to take aerial photographs or videos or for any other purposes, a permit is absolutely necessary and is therefore only allowed upon consultation of the monastery, because flying devices can lead to extended risks for persons and objects, can cause the possible violation of rights (e.g. personality rights) and disturbances in the operation of this cultural monument. Please write to foto(at)stiftmelk.at
Guided tours and group size
- Tour guides may only do guided tours in languages which Melk abbey’s own guides can’t offer. Every tour guide needs to wear his/her legitimation badge visibly. By taking the entrance tickets and the entry paper, the tour guide acknowledges the house rules.
- Guided tours by external guides need to be similar to the guided tours by abbey guides concerning the duration of the guided visit and the time spent in each room. Instructions of the abbey staff must be followed.
- A guided tour shows all exhibition rooms. Shortcuts and passing of other guided tours are not permitted. The abbey staff are instructed to ensure a smooth and even flow of guided tours without disruptions.
- Melk abbey offers special guided tours for children which have a different route and which re-enter the regular sequence of guided tours at the end of the Imperial Corridor.
- A guided tour is usually held for a maximum of up to 45 persons. The 46th person splits the group into two guided tours. Upon request, guided tours for larger groups may be available.
- The complete or partial rendition of guided tours in film, sound or print in traditional or digital media (internet, social media et al.) is not allowed.
Other
- You can give lost objects to the porter at the main entrance or to a staff member. Objects which are not picked up are brought to the local lost-and-found office.
- Sales activity of any kind as well as the distribution of writings or merchandise of any kind are not allowed on abbey grounds. It is forbidden to put up, distribute or display flyers or other advertising material. For exceptional permission please call +43 2752 555 283 or write to marketing@stiftmelk.at
- Smoking is only allowed in designated areas.
- Please wear appropriate clothes which correspond to the site’s dignity.
- Interviews with visitors and staff members are only allowed in consultation with the abbey and with prior permission.
- Musical and artistic presentations anywhere on Melk abbey grounds are allowed only with prior permission. Please write to marketing(at)stiftmelk.at.
Stift Melk/Melk abbey, subject to change without prior notice, version March 2024