The Wachau is a well known Austrian valley with a landscape of high visual quality formed by the Danube river. It is one of the most prominent tourist destinations of Lower Austria, located between the towns of Melk and Krems. It is 30 km in length and was allready settled in prehistoric times. A well-known place and tourist magnet is Dürnstein, where King Richard the Lion-Hearted of England was held captive by Duke Leopold V.