---
title: "Krems"
description: "Krems sits at the eastern gateway to the Wachau Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage landscape where terraced vineyards, Baroque abbeys,"
url: "https://viatravelers.com/destinations/krems/"
published_at: "2025-08-22T16:18:32-06:00"
updated_at: "2026-06-16T02:27:53-06:00"
author: "Kyle Kroeger"
categories:
  - "Austria"
  - "Europe"
---

UNESCO World Heritage Wachau Cultural Landscape gateway where 1,000-year drystone vineyard terraces producing Riesling and Grüner Veltliner stretch along Danube Valley’s high visual quality stretch between Melk and Krems, illustrating basically medieval landscape evolution since 800 AD Bavarian-Salzburg monastery cultivation. Steiner Tor medieval gate (1480) symbolizing Austria’s oldest cities, complemented by Bürgerspitalskirche Church, Renaissance Town Hall, and cobbled Obere Landstraße pedestrian zone creating authentic medieval urban experience. Wachau apricots cultivating specialty liquors, jams, and chocolate products alongside Green Veltliner-Riesling grape heritage supporting wine trade since medieval times across steep terraced slopes. Danube River’s freely flowing waters creating harmonious cultural landscape interrelation between water, natural areas, wine terraces, forests, and human settlements preserved organically over millennia. Medieval castle ruins contrasting with baroque town centers and thriving contemporary arts scenes, while Neolithic forest clearing evolved into monastery-shaped agricultural patterns still visible today. Perfect gateway to this UNESCO cultural treasure where medieval architecture meets ancient viticulture beneath Austrian vineyard terraces that have defined Danube Valley beauty for over 1,000 years.