Week 112: Dürnstein Castle and Melk Christmas Markets
With just one more week left of the Christmas market season, I checked off two more in Melk and at Schloss Dürnstein in the Wachau valley along the Danube river with two other Americans living in Austria! One is from Michigan and the other is from Massachusetts.
The last time Eric and I ventured to the Danube was in Week 21.
The Danube River and the Wachau valley
The Wachau stretches for 24 miles along the Danube river. This area of Austria is known for its rolling hills, fortresses, and its lush vineyards. During winter, the villages sparkle along the river as people from all over come to enjoy the Christmas markets and the summer wine is warmed up and sold as gluhwine.
A wintery wine row
Our first advent market stop was at the Dürnstein Castle
Santa making his entrance
Since the Wachau valley is known for its wineries, there is no surprise that the best gluhwein I have had has been here.
A cup of hot gluhwein
The Dürnstein castle courtyard
The castle courtyard was much larger than I expected. The endless nooks and crannies made this market one of my favorites in Austria.
The Dürnstein castle courtyard
Amy, Jenna, and I at the Durnstein Castle Advent Market
My favorite surprise was the alpaca pen where kids and kids-at-heart were able to interact and admire the alpacas.
The Dürnstein Castle Advent Alpacas
The Dürnstein Castle Advent Alpacas
By 4 pm, the sun had gone down, the temps dropped, and our time at the castle had come to an end.
The Dürnstein castle courtyard
As we made our way out, we noticed the Dürnstein castle ruin lit up high above the village
An alley outside of the Dürnstein castle
The Dürnstein castle Ruin lit up
Our second stop was in Melk’s main square.
The Melk advent market
The Christmas market was in full swing under the massive Melk Abbey.
Eric and I visited the Abbey in week 30.
Lights at the Melk advent market
Local musicians played Christmas carols as people lined up at wooden huts awaiting hot drinks and delicious food.
People listening to the music
I experienced the best food I’ve ever had since arriving in Austria–Langos which is a Hungarian dish. A hot, deep-fried flatbread, topped with garlic butter, cheese, and sour cream. It makes me excited to visit Hungary next year.
I hope everyone has the chance to eat one of these and It is even yummier at an Austrian Christmas market :)
Not my photo, but this is a Langos
These Wachau valley advent markets certainly did not disappoint and I hope I can squeeze in one more market before they end next weekend.
