Passau

Passau – the eternally young and old City of Three Rivers, offers an experience for all the senses, with impressions that are both romantic and surprising in its land- and townscape.

One unique feature is the three-river landscape on which the city of Passau was built. In the three-river corner of land, you can see the confluence of the Danube, Inn and Ilz. An equally unique setting is Passau’s Old Town, created by 17th-century Italian master builders following a fire in the town. The triple-domed St. Stephansdom towers above it. Most places of interest, such as churches, the episcopal Residenz, the town hall and the museums are located in the Old Town. Picturesque squares, winding alleys and romantic riverbank promenades invite the visitor to explore and to linger. Enthroned above the rivers are the fortified castle of Burg Veste Oberhaus to the north, and the pilgrimage church of Maria Hilf to the south.

For six hundred years, the City of Three Rivers was an episcopal principality. The Baroque townscape, with its high towers, picturesque squares, romantic promenades, audacious bridges and winding lanes, was built by Italian Baroque master builders in the 17th century. In the middle of the Old Town with its many places of interest – the episcopal Residenz, the town hall, churches, monasteries and museums – towers Stephansdom, where the mighty strains of the world’s largest cathedral organ can be heard. The castle buildings of Burg Veste Oberhaus and the pilgrimage church of Maria Hilf are enthroned high above the three rivers.

On a guided tour of the city and a round trip to the three rivers you can experience the special magic of the City of Three Rivers. Here, the long-distance cycle paths cross at the Inn and Danube rivers. Passau is the main starting point for Danube cruises to Vienna and Budapest, all the way to the Black Sea. With its charm and special atmosphere, the City of Three Rivers is one of the loveliest, most impressive Bavarian towns on the Danube.