Passau: A City Hiking Trail from Culture to Nature

Description:
SPIRITUAL HIKING:

Three rivers flowing from three cardinal directions define Passau:

The Danube comes from the west, the green Inn from the south, and the dark Ilz from the north.

At the confluence of the three rivers, their different colors and currents meet before flowing together toward the east.

A beautiful metaphor for different paths that come together to form a single stream.

The towers of St. Stephen’s Cathedral dominate the cityscape.

On the Georgsberg, the Veste Oberhaus invites visitors to explore, while on the other side, a staircase with 321 steps leads up to the Maria Hilf pilgrimage church.

Passau thus combines landscape, history, faith, and activity.

At the center stands St. Stephen’s Cathedral, the cathedral of the Diocese of Passau.

It is dedicated to Saint Stephen, the first martyr of Christianity. Stephen was a member of the first Christian community in Jerusalem,

cared for the needy, and proclaimed his faith in Jesus Christ.

He was stoned to death because of his faith.

His story embodies courage, faithfulness, compassion, and forgiveness.

The cathedral also houses the world’s largest cathedral organ and the largest organ in Europe.

Directions:
The starting point of the walk through Passau, the “City of Three Rivers,” is St. Stephen’s Cathedral, built in the Italian Baroque style.

It houses the world’s largest cathedral organ and, at the same time, the largest organ in Europe.

The cathedral is considered the most significant structure built by Italian architects north of the Alps.

Passing the Bishop’s Residence with its magnificent Rococo staircase, the route leads to Residenzplatz and

on to Rathausplatz with the Gothic Old City Hall and its striking city hall tower.

Via Römerplatz and the suspension bridge, you reach the trail leading up to the Veste Oberhaus.

The former castle complex was the residence of the Prince-Bishops of Passau, who ruled over the ecclesiastical principality of Passau.

Today, the Veste houses the Oberhaus Museum and a youth hostel.

From the Veste, the hiking trail leads down into the Ilz Valley.

Following the Ilz River, you reach the former County of Hals, which once belonged to the Principality of Passau.

The romantic Ilz River winds in tight loops around the Hals castle hill.

Crossing the Ilz Bridge and following the northern riverbank, the trail leads back toward Passau.

Through the pedestrian tunnel, you finally reach the Old Town, Town Hall Square, and St. Stephen’s Cathedral once again.

Tip:
St. Stephen's Cathedral, Veste Oberhaus, Oberhaus Museum, Glass Museum, Museum of Modern Art, Roman Museum, Cathedral MuseumEquipment:
Hiking backpack (including rain cover), sturdy shoesAdditional information:
City of Passau – Tourist Information

Rathausplatz 2

D- 94032 Passau

Phone: 0851-396 610

Email: tourist-info@passau.de

www.tourismus-passau.de

https://www.instgram.com/visit.passau/

https://www.facebook.com/visit.passau/

DONAUSTEIG INNKEEPERS IN PASSAU:

“Gambrinus” Guesthouse

Bayerisch Haibach 20

94032 Passau

Phone: +49 851 2905

www.pension-gambrinus.de

Located directly on the Donausteig trail

42 beds

“Zur Freiheit” Guesthouse

Wiener Straße 86

94032 Passau

Phone: +49 851 490 8491

www.zur-freiheit.com

Right on the Danube, 200 meters from the state border

8 beds

“Zur goldenen Sonne” Guesthouse

Unterer Sand 18

94032 Passau

Phone: +49 851 2730

www.pension-goldene-sonne.de

A lodging for travelers for 800 years

40 beds

Accommodations in the City of Passau | Passau Tourism

Restaurants, Cafés, and Bars in Passau | Passau Tourism