Wachau Valley, Danube River, Austria for Weathervane Wednesday

This weathercock is above the Durnstein Abbey, famous for the blue and white tower. The weathercock above the church is typical of European weathervanes, since the 9th century when there was a Papal decree for each church to feature a rooster in honor of St. Peter's denial of Christ three times before the cock crowed on Good Friday. The original chapel was built in 1372, and in the 15th century an Augustinian Abbey was founded here. In the 17th century it was renovated into this baroque style complex. This banner style weathervane is above a tower near the Danube and the town of Emmersdorf an der Donau. You can see the Emmersdorf Railway Viaduct (Bahnviadukt Emmersdorf) in the first photo. The tower is above the Rothenhof Castle. This castle dates from the 16th century, with 18th century renovations. It is open for events and as a hotel. The Wachau Valley of the Danube River runs 22 miles from Krem, just west of Vienna, to Melk, home of the famous Benedictine Abbey with the fantastic…