The Parish of Melk

The Bishopric of Passau founded the parish of Melk in the 11th century. The parish church was situated on the ridge east of the fortress and later the monastery. To get there meant a long and arduous walk for the residents of Melk. Therefore, in the 15th century the people of Melk built a chapel in the town dedicated to Mary, which was promoted to parish church in 1508.

A large part of the population converted to Protestantism in the second half of the 16th century. With growing self-confidence, the burghers strove for more independence from the abbey. They nonetheless defended the market town against Protestant troops marching from Upper Austria towards Vienna in 1619. Shortly thereafter a ‘Reformation Patent’ banishing all Protestant teachers and ministers was issued. That meant the end of Protestant influence in public. Only a few of the aristocratic families in the area were able to practise their faith privately.

In exchange for other parishes, Melk Abbey succeeded in acquiring Melk from the Bishopric of Passau in 1693, and it has since belonged to the abbey.