Tag 1 – Melk, Lake Taferlklaus and Lauffen

As almost every year, we wanted to do a tour on our scooter again this year. This time, we planned to explore the beautiful Salzkammergut – one of Austria’s most famous and picturesque regions.

Soon, we entered the motorway and enjoyed the wind on our skin. Since it would have been too exhausting to ride the entire distance in one go, we planned a stopover in Melk on the Danube.

After just over an hour of driving, we reached this beautiful town, which marks the entrance to the Wachau Valley.

We first strolled through the picturesque old town, whose impressive buildings reflect 500 years of history.

In the pedestrian zone, we visited a few shops. Here, you’ll find everything from souvenir stores and artisan crafts to all the usual fashion chains. In between, you can relax in cozy cafés and restaurants and watch the bustling activity around you.

Afterward, we made our way to the famous Melk Abbey, one of the most beautiful and largest Baroque buildings in Europe. Benedictine monks have lived at this site since the 11th century. The center of the complex is the abbey church from the 18th century.

From the abbey’s garden, you can enjoy a magnificent panoramic view of the surrounding area. The inner courtyards are also absolutely worth seeing.

We strolled through the expansive park and took in the breathtaking scenery.

Then it was time to continue our journey.

Our next destination for the day was Lake Taferlklaus, a small and little-known lake in the Salzkammergut.

Tucked away deep in the forest, this lake is both idyllic and secluded. A rustic snack station on the lake’s shore invites you to linger.

Since we were already quite hungry, we ordered some typical regional specialties: bread with bacon, bread with lard, and a wonderful homemade blueberry cake. To drink, we had fresh grape juice and cider. Everything tasted simply wonderful.

Afterward, we decided to walk around the lake. A romantic forest path leads around it in about 25 minutes. Along the way, you’re treated to stunning views of the landscape and the mountains of the Salzkammergut.

It was now high time to find a room for the night – which turned out to be quite difficult. Online, there was nothing available within nearly 150 kilometers, and all the guesthouses we asked at were fully booked.

Eventually, we reached the small village of Lauffen, picturesquely located on the River Traun.

In the main square, across from the church, we spotted a small guesthouse. We had almost given up hope and were already preparing to head to the next bigger town – but miraculously, they had a free room! Someone had just canceled right before our arrival.

The room was simply furnished but very charming. The best part was the terrace with a view of the Traun.

We set off straight away to explore this pretty little town in more detail. We walked along the Traun riverbank and enjoyed the peacefulness of this sleepy place.

Then we went in search of something to eat. The tiny village didn’t have any restaurants, but we found a small kebab shop where we were able to fill up quite nicely.