Abbey library Melk: Big renovation project starts in 2025!

Abbey library Melk: Big renovation project starts in 2025!

Stift Melk, Melk, Österreich - On April 11, 2025, Governor Johanna Mikl-Leitner, Abbot Georg Wilfinger and Erwin Hateseder informed about the renovation work in the Melk Abbey. The extensive renovation of the Abbey Library is part of a long -term restoration project that runs from 2022 to 2032. A central goal is to combine monument preservation with the latest science. The annual progress is intended to ensure the preservation of the valuable interior equipment and book treasures.

significant work is carried out this year, including the renovation of the windows in the marble hall, the restoration of books and the repair of the facade of the southern bastion. The garden pavilion is also re -covered. The management emphasizes the cultural and spiritual importance of the pens, churches and monasteries in the region.

financing and support

The total costs for the restoration of the abbey library amount to around twelve million euros. Financing is carried out by various sources: 47% from own funds of the Melk Abbey, 25% from the state of Lower Austria, 15% from the federal government, 10% by the Förderverein ex Litteris Immortalitas and 3% of the municipality of Melk. A specially established board of trustees, chaired by Governor Mikl-Leitner, accompanies the project and discusses the individual building stages.

In 2024, the support association has already raised over 100,000 euros for renovation and continues to work for the preservation of the Abbey Library. The annual reception of the book poths, in which 43 new sponsorships were taken over, shows the commitment of the community. Various supporters, including the Rotary Club Melk and the Soropimists, actively contribute to the financing of the renovation work by taking on sponsorships for valuable books.

The cultural treasure of the abbey library

The Melk Abbey Library, part of the UNESCO World Heritage, houses around 100,000 volumes, including 1,800 manuscripts and 750 incunabula, which underlines its high cultural value. Around 10,000 books are spotted, cleaned and mapped on damage every year. It is estimated that less than a third of the inventory is affected to different degrees.

In the context of the restoration work, important aspects such as fire protection, escape route concept and the improvement of the indoor climate are also taken into account. The renovation not only includes the interior design, but also the outdoor area, where the facade and roof expenses are carried out.

The visitor numbers of the abbey show the relevance and support in society: In the previous year, the Melk Abbey recorded 455,000 visitors. With the ongoing restoration and the committed book sponsor, the Abbey Library remains a lively part of the cultural heritage and a place of education and inspiration.