Melk Abbey, located in the Wachau Valley along the River Danube, was created as a medieval monastery in the early 1700s. As the village was the hallway point between Vienna and Salzburg, Austrian royalty and heads of state from other countries would stay at this abbey, requiring it to be fit for a king, and it certainly is. The golden hues of the building are reflected throughout the gold and jewels in its interior. Sculptures, artwork, frescoes and a beautiful library with more than 16,000 books are all a sight to behold with a visit to this abbey.