Standing picturesque between three rivers, Passau is a city one of its kind. The Danube, Inn and Ilz run through it and together they enclose the city into a long peninsula. In addition, the city is also a popular starting point for river cruises on the Danube.
The most interesting places in Passau are:
Situated on the border with Austria, the surrounding countryside is crossed by mountain chains and the outer districts are already built in the slopes.
If one looks at the city from one of these slopes, the St. Stephen's Cathedral is the most striking architectural piece. Impressively, its towers rise over the rooftops of the city and have always astonished every visitor. The cathedral is also the Bischof’s Seat and due to its elevated position on a hill, but also the dramatic baroque architecture, it quickly reveal its importance.
Almost as high is the Tower of the beautiful Town Hall, dating back to the 14th century. Also the residence in Passau is impressive with its many domes, towers and dormers and parts which were built already in 1645. Today it houses, among other things, the Regional court and the City Theater.
In addition to all the beautiful old buildings, there is also a lot of young people in Passau, because the city has a prestigious university and an equally popular, lively student life. In the summer, the students swim around the riverside and enjoy the warm sunshine at the sandy beaches, in the evening they populate the numerous bars and cafes of the city center.
If you look up from the inner city high into the mountains, you will especially notice the Veste Oberhaus, the pilgrimage church Mariahilf and the castle ruins Hals. Majestically they lie in the slopes and lure to a small mountain tour to enjoy the wonderful view of the city. The entire cityscape is characterized by Mediterranean influences, thanks to the Italian builders of antiquity. Together with the name "Dreiflüssestadt", the loving nickname "Venice of Bavaria" is quite justified and a visit is worthwhile in any case.