Theme trails

The old stones of the buildings and alleys in Melk's city centre would have a lot to tell. Over 1,000 years of history have left their mark on them. But they shroud themselves in majestic silence and reveal nothing of their knowledge.

It is the young stones that break the silence. They are made of blue and golden glass and can be found in the cobblestones. And they speak through their arrangement. The short and long distances produce Morse code.

In July 2009, the brothers Rudy and Martinmaria Gritsch painstakingly laid the stones by hand with hammer and chisel in the cobblestones. Their work was followed with interest and incomprehension at the same time in the summer heat. The artists willingly provided information about their project. Tourists from all over the world and visitors from the region thus became witnesses to a unique art project.
Since then, they have not only conveyed their message unhindered. They are at the same time a guidance system for visitors to the city of Melk. From the Danube, the blue stones in the ground lead directly into the city center to the Kolomanibrunnen fountain. From there, the golden glass stones of the Golden Staircase guide visitors up the Sechsergasse to Melk Abbey. They are also an art project, guidance system and message in one.