Krems, known officially as Krems an der Donau (Krems at the Danube), stands on the left bank of the River Danube at the eastern end, or exit of the Wachau Valley, and is one of the oldest towns in the country. The Wachau Valley runs between the historic towns of Melk and Krems and is a U.N.E.S.C.O. World Heritage Site, recognised for its architectural and agricultural history. The Wachau region is a popular tourist destination as it is considered to be one of the most beautiful parts of the River Danube.
Krems adjoins the small village of Stein which consists of a single main street with many historic (16th century) houses and narrow lanes terraced above the river. The historic and charming double town of Krems-Stein is more than a thousand years old and was once a centre of salt and wine trading. This important and attractive ‘Old Town’ was declared a U.N.E.S.C.O. World Heritage Site in 2000. Now a busy port and university town with a population in excess of 23,000 (including over 4,000 students), Krems-Stein today ranks as the fifth largest city in the Federal State of Lower Austria.
Krems-Stein is a mellow town of cobbled streets, romantic courtyards, old churches, ancient houses and some partially preserved old town walls located in the heart of vineyard country. The city’s landmark is the Steiner Tor (Stoney Gate), this photogenic gate was built in 1480 and is complete with circular towers and conical roofs. The most popular tourist attraction stands at the centre of the ‘Old Town’ and is the old Parish Church of St Vitus (Pfarrkirche St Viet). Originally established as early as the 12th century the present building contains some 13th century Gothic structure which was incorporated in an almost complete Baroque rebuild in the 17th century. The church is overly ornate including rich decorations with gilt and statuary, and contains many frescoes painted by Martin Johann Schmidt, one of Austria’s noted 18th century painters. Another historic attraction is the Piarist Church of Krems which was built on the site of an earlier 13th century chapel called St Mary in Monte. This Gothic church includes an impressive chancel with its large tracery windows which was built 1456 with the building being completed around 1515. The city has several historic attractions including the medieval Gottweig Mansion Chapel which has its own gate tower, the 14th century Italian styled palace of Judge Gozzo and the 15th century Town Hall.
For those interested there is also the Weinstadt Museum which is located within the ‘Old Town’ in the 13th century Dominican Monastery. The Gothic Abbey which consists of the cloister, chapter house and refectory contains a gallery which displays paintings by Martin Johann Schmidt and the museum houses a copy of a 32,000 year old statuette, Austria’s oldest work of art!! This statuette of a curvaceous dancing woman which has been nicknamed ‘Fanny from Stratzing’ is considered to be the oldest specimen of stone sculpture in the world. Beneath the cloisters are a series of cellar tunnels that reveal the life of the medieval monks that lived there. The complex includes a Wine Museum which tells the story of the local wine growers of Krems, the influence of the River Danube and the importance of wine growing on the development of the town.
Krems is also well known for its annual Wachau Marathon in which 10,000 runners participate and its festivals, such as the annual wine festival, the folk music festival ‘Glatt and Verkehrt’ (Smooth & Traffic), the Lower Austrian Danube Festival (film) and the Art Centre Krems. Krems is also home to the Krems Culture Mile (Kremser Kunstmeile) along which can be seen local art and culture.
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