Wachau

region, Austria

Also known as: Danube Gorge

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

July 15, 2026

Quick Summary

The Wachau is a 30-kilometer (18-mile) stretch of the Danube River valley in Austria, located between the towns of Melk and Krems. This region is renowned as one of the most scenic parts of the entire Danube valley. It is characterized by picturesque villages nestled among terraced vineyards and orchards, with the ruins of ancient castles perched on the gorge's crests. The town of Dürnstein, often called the "pearl of the Wachau," features well-preserved medieval and Baroque architecture, along with the ruins of a castle that once imprisoned Richard I of England. The Wachau Cultural Landscape is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site.12

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

2 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

Niederösterreich
…in the Danube Gorge (Wachau), in the southeast, and in the Vienna Basin. Later, the area was part of the Roman province of Noricum and of Charlemagne’s empire. The region was granted to the Bavarian Babenberg margraves in 976; the name Ostarichi (Eastern Region) dates from that period. A…
Read More
…in the Danube Gorge (Wachau), in the southeast, and in the Vienna Basin. Later, the area was part of the Roman province of Noricum and of Charlemagne’s empire. The region was granted to the Bavarian Babenberg margraves in 976; the name Ostarichi (Eastern Region) dates from that period. A…
Read More