Passau, 2 hôtels

A must-see for any visitor to Passau is the St. Stephen’s Cathderal, an impressive baroque church which is also home to the largest organ of any Catholic church in the world. Built on the highest point of the peninsula between the Danube and the Inn, it counts among the largest and most important baroque churches in Germany. It has been long established as the bishopric and main church of the Passau diocese. The organ enchants visitors between May and October with regular concerts, its imposing acoustics amplifying some 17,974 pipes and 233 registers. The baroque interior includes five ornately decorated organ works and pipes which rise to eleven metres in height.

The Dreiflüsseeck is the confluence point at which the Danube, Inn and Ilz rivers meet. The three rivers unite from three different directions, meeting at the tip of the peninsula at which the historic old town of Passau is set, creating a colourful natural spectacle. Each of the rivers has its own unique colour: The blue of the Danube is combined with the green water of the Inn and the black of the Ilz. The Danube flows on to the east, continuing for a way with the three separate colours. At the tip of the peninsula, on the so-called headland, you can relax in a little park after a stroll around the Old Town, and look out over the water.

The Old Town enchants with its many attractions, with narrow streets lined with Mediterranean-type buildings, ideal for a leisurely stroll through the town and down to the peninsula. The heart of the Old Town is located between Innbrückbogen on the south east and Paulusbogen to the west of the city walls. St. Stephen's Cathedral and the cathedral square are located at the very centre of the Old Town. Passau’s historic centre has a number of attractions, including the Residenzplatz, the old town hall with its magnificent halls, the town hall tower and the Glass Museum.

The Veste Oberhaus looks out from St. Georgsberg. The fortress, which was constructed in 1219 around an existing Georg chapel, was the castle and principal residence of the princely bishops, and withstood multiple intrusions by rebelling citizens of Passau, who hoped to build an imperial city. In 1822 it became a state and military prison, widely feared as ‘Bavaria’s Bastille’ until 1918. In 1932, the city of Passau took control of the Oberhaus. Since 1991, it has has housed various permanent exhibitions on the city’s history, as well as a variety of temporary exhibitions on historical themes. From the observation tower, visitors can explore the grounds from top to bottom, and there is a cafe available for a rest.

Fans of Romanesque and Baroque masterpieces will enjoy a visit to the Cathedral Treasury and Diocesan Museum on Residenzplatz in Passau’s Old Town. On the cathedral’s southern aisle, a spiral staircase leads to the hall building, which houses the museum and which connects the old and the new residence. There is interesting information about the Diocese of Passau, its history, art and culture, and visitors can admire more than 100 valuable exhibits, including liturgical vestments and Gothic artworks. The museum is open on weekdays from May 2 until October 31.

Together with the Hotel Wilder Mann, the Glass Museum forms part of the historic Wilder Mann complex of buildings on the Rathausplatz. After taking the lift to the 4th floor, visitors can embark upon a tour of the history of Bohemian glass-blowing from 1700 to 1950, from the Baroque to the modern. The highlight of this journey through time is 19th century to Art Nouveau, the heyday of Bohemian glass-blowing. The collection includes 30,000 glasses, 13,000 of which are on display, making it the largest of its kind in the world. The exhibition extends over four floors. Those who are interested can also view the largest collection of German-language cookbooks, which is held in the same building.

The Baroque Catholic church of St. Paul with its dusky pink and white facade is located right beside the Paulusbogen. The current building dates from around 1680, having been built after the original church to stand on the site, dating from 1050, was destroyed in a fire. A staircase leads to the church from the Paulusbogen. In the interior, the black and gold-plated altar and the pulpit contrasts with the light-coloured walls. The large high altar depicts the beheading of Paul, rising up within the vault of the choir’s chamber. Take a short break from a stroll around the Old Town and absorb the church’s special atmosphere.

The Pilgrimage church Mariahilf and the attached monastery are located on the Mariahilfberg, above Innstadt and south of the river Inn. The complex was built between 1624 and 1627 in the Baroque style, in response to the immense crowds of pilgrims and the faithful who were drawn to see an image of the Virgin Mary in the existing chapel, which was built by the Dean Schwendi in 1622. The tower’s noticeable helmets were a later addition, being added in 1665. To this day, the church remains a popular destination for pilgrims from middle and southern Europe. Visitors can access the church from Innstadt, via an enclosed staircase consisting of 321 steps. Pilgrims often pray as they make their ascent up these stairs.

Passau’s State Theatre in the Prince-Bishops Opera House serves as a permanent venue for the Lower Bavarian State Theatre with space for an audience of 350 people. Built as a Ballroom on the Inn Bridge in 1645, the building has been renovated and extended many times in the course of its history. The Opera House is used for the performance of operas and operettas, as well as musicals, concerts and plays, combining elements of classical simplicity with contemporary theatre technology. The venue is unfortunately not open for tours, but visitors can attend an opera or a concert and take the opportunity to admire the unique interior. 

The Wörlen Museum of Modern Art in Passau’s Old Town was designed by the architect Hanns Egon Wörlen in 1990. The exhibition space occupies 10,000 sqm and extends over three floors in four buildings in the Old Town, which have been extensively renovated and linked together under the direction of Wörlen. The museum showcases modern and contemporary art works - mainly expressionistic and New Objective pieces - in addition to around ten temporary exhibitions each year. These exhibitions present artworks from the 20th and 21st centuries, including many contemporary works from Eastern Europe.

The Roman Museum stands on the site of the former Roman Biotro Fort, the foundations of which were accidentally uncovered by a construction worker in 1974. The Museum was then opened in 1982. Following a sizeable renovation and extension of the facility, visitors have enjoyed an updated exhibition experience since 2013: less academic, more modern and more child-friendly. The exhibition incorporates finds from the eastern Bavarian region around Passau, from the Stone Ages to the present day. The main focus is on the Passau settlement, with an 8 sqm reconstruction of the Roman settlement. The remains of the original fort can be viewed outside.