Today we headed off after breakfast to explore the November
1805 battlefield of Durnstein (Durenstein) where Mortier’s isolated French Corps
was counterattacked by Kutuzov’s Russians. Both sides lost 4000 casualties
amongst the deep snow of the defiles coming out of the mountains and on the
narrow coastal plain (<1km wide) The Russians had 24 000 against 8 000
French. We found the Schmidtt monument
to a talented Austrian general who was killed but we were unable to find a
plaque in a village and there was supposed to have been another monument but
were unable to locate it.
Today the weather was warm and the grape vines were just
beginning to flower and being Sunday we could hear the church bells of
Oberloiben in the distance. Below is the ruined castle where Richard the Lionheart was held hostage.
Today we visited the Melk Abbey and despite the appearance
of the crowds it wasn’t too bad. The
library was impressive and the church was completely over the top with
gilding. Got Melk?
The cathedral his celebrating this year their 650 year
association with the University of Vienna!
Afterwards the buses took us for sundowner drinks at Aggstein
Castle from where you have panoramic views over the Danube, even though the
weather conditions aren’t that ideal.
The castle is a 12th Century fortification. The free drinks helped us overcome our fear
of heights.
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