Sightseeing in Passau - what to see. Complete travel guide

Passau is a unique German town located close to the border with Austria. Why is this settlement so special? Passau stands on three rivers, namely, the Danube, Inn, and Ilz. This is the reason why so many tourists informally call Passau “the town of three rivers”. If you look at the area from above, you will notice that all the river streams flow very close in the town’s territory. By the way, each of the rivers has a peculiar shade of water. This is an unusual and spectacular view – the rivers are close to each other but they do not merge. Besides this, the town offers many attractions that are worth the attention of guests.

Celtic tribes were the founders of Passau. During the Roman Empire period, this settlement was a well-protected fort, the main purpose of which was to protect the empire’s borders. At the beginning of the 8th century, Passau became the residence of the Bavarian Duke Theobald. Starting from 739 and for longer than millennia, Passau was the largest diocese in the Holy Roman Empire. The town was developing and growing in size, and local people were increasingly eager to free their homeland from the bishopric rule. Consequently, the first rebellion movement emerged in the town in the 12th century. Outbreaks were regular in Passau over the next three centuries.

In 1552, Archduke Ferdinand I, who was representing the Roman Empire, and Maurice, Elector of Saxony, who was representing Protestant princes, signed an agreement. According to the Treaty of Passau, Lutheranism was adopted in the town. This document was a major part of the peace treaty signed in 1555 in Augsburg. When the First Silesian War started, the Bavarians managed to conquer Passau within a short period of time. However, they later had to free the settlement for the Austrian army. Bavaria claimed its territory back only in the 19th century. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

Veste Oberhaus is, perhaps, the most interesting attraction in Passau. Many centuries ago, this was a bishop’s residence. Sometimes, the gorgeous fortress is referred to as “the Upper Palace”. Veste Oberhaus has a strategic location above the Danube. The fortress helped local bishops to maintain their authority in the region for almost six centuries. In 1298, when citizens of Passau rose against the church rulers, the walls of Veste Oberhaus safely protected its residents. The fortress was under siege for a long time, managing to control the attacks of the furious people.

Nowadays, there is a thematic museum in Veste Oberhaus. This is a great place to learn more about the history of the Bishop of Passau. An exhibition dedicated to salt trading is one of the most interesting in the museum. During the Middle Ages, this product was very precious and costly. Tourists are welcome to take a bus or car ride to get to Veste Oberhaus, but many vacationers still prefer to walk to the famous landmark. For this purpose, they need to overcome a path with two hundred steps carved in the rock. There is an observation area at the top of the fortress. It offers a spectacular view of the true pride of Passau – the three rivers with water of different shades. The Danube has blue water, the waters of the Ilz are black, and the Inn is light green.

Would you like to see the main shrine of the town? In this case, don’t forget to visit St. Stephen's Cathedral. The construction of the sacred building started in 1668 and lasted twenty-five years. Before the cathedral, there were several small churches on this site but the last church was destroyed by fire in 1662. Nowadays, a gorgeous large cathedral stands on this site. If you look at St. Stephen's Cathedral from the east side, you will notice several gothic elements that have survived from the previous building.

St. Stephen's Cathedral looks even more impressive inside. It feels like you enter a festive building in Baroque style with the eye-catching stucco. A giant pipe organ is, without a doubt, the main attraction of the inner décor. This is the third-biggest pipe organ in Europe. The musical instrument consists of nearly eighteen thousand pipes, two hundred and thirty keys, and five manuals. To be able to listen to this outstanding instrument, locals and guests of the town always buy tickets beforehand. Every day, beautiful music lingers from the cathedral starting from May 2 and until the end of October. The concerts start at noon.

It is easy to reach Passau from the nearby city of Munich that receives flights from many European countries. Upon arrival, tourists need to get on a bus that goes to Passau or buy tickets to a commuter train. The journey time is roughly one and a half hours. Autobahn 92 connects Munich and Passau. There is a more unusual way to reach the “Town of Three Rivers”. Cruises on the Danube River always make a stop in Passau.