Passau is not only impressive because of its special location between the Danube, Inn and Ilz rivers. Here are ten sights and experiences that you should not miss when visiting the City On Three Rivers. Whether it's the castle complex, Modern Art or the largest organ in the world...
Passau Sights & Highlights: 10 Things To Do and See
Passau lies at the meeting point of the Danube, Inn, and Ilz rivers and is often called the “City on Three Rivers.” The town has a long history shaped by trade, religion, and culture. Visitors can see St. Stephen’s Cathedral with its famous organ, explore the Veste Oberhaus fortress above the city, and learn about Roman times at Kastell Boiotro. Other highlights include the New Episcopal Residence, the Glass Museum, and a walk through the old town streets. This guide presents ten sights that give you a clear view of Passau’s character and its place in Bavaria.
Fortress Veste Oberhaus
High above Passau, on the Georgsberg, stands one of the largest and best-preserved castles in Europe: Veste Oberhaus. The Oberhaus museum now presents
exhibitions on medieval life in the castle, the history of Passau, and its importance
as a trading centre on three rivers. Historical weapons, shining suits of armour, Gothic panel paintings and many other valuable exhibits invite you to take a journey into the past. At the heart of Veste Oberhaus is St George's
Chapel, with its unique cycle of 14 th century frescoes.
oberhausmuseum.de
Roman Museum Kastell Boiotro
Sits on the foundations of a Late Roman castle. 600 exhibits illuminate 400 years of Roman rule in the region.
museen-in-passau.de (only in German)
ScharfrichterHaus Theater
Cabaret, music, literature and a restaurant serving Bavarian-Austrian cuisine.
scharfrichterhaus.de (only in German)
Museum of Modern Art Wörlen
Works by the artist Georg Philipp Wörlen (1886-1954) and the artist groups “The Rock” and “Danube Forest Group”. It also has special temporary exhibitions. Next door is the “Café Museum” jazz club.
mmk-passau.de (only in German)
St. Stephen’s Cathedral & Organ
A superlative building: the largest Baroque church interior north of the Alps, the most significant Italian-style Baroque church in Germany and the world’s biggest cathedral organ.
bistum-passau.de (only in German)
Inn Pier and confluence
On the southern edge of Passau you can walk along the Inn River past the striking Schaiblingsturm tower and on to the confluence of three rivers on the eastern tip of the old town.
Glass Museum
The "most beautiful glass house in the world" according to Friedrich Dürrenmatt, the Passau Glass Museum presents a unique overview of European glass history with around 15,000 glasses on display.
glasmuseum.de (only in German)
New Episcopal Residence
The stairwell of the New Residence is a Rococo tour de force. In the Residence, the Cathedral Museum of Sacred Art documents the history of the bishopric.
bistum-passau.de (only in German)
City Tours
Open tours, bus and train tours, boat cruises, and group tours.
passau.de
Residenzplatz Square and Wittelsbach Fountain
A lovely Baroque square with magnificent façades. The Wittelsbacherbrunnen fountain was built in 1903 to commemorate the centenary of Passau becoming part of Bavaria.
tourism.passau.de
More Useful Information on Passau
SEASONAL HIGHLIGHTS / EVENTS
- May to Oct.: Cathedral pipe organ concerts
- Apr./May and Sep.: Passauer Dult Folk Festival
- June: Oide Dult Folk Festival
- July: Eulenspiegel Zeltfestival – cabaret and music festival
- Nov./Dec.: Christmas Market at the Cathedral
TOP DAY EXCURSIONS
- Central geographical location within the three country region of Germany, Austria and Czech Republic
- Bayerischer Wald – Bavarian Forest National Park
- Bad Griesbach – Bad Füssing – Bad Birnbach – Spa Triangle and Thermal Waters
- Salzburg City of Mozart (A)
- Medieval City of Ceský Krumlov (CZ)
DETAILLED TOUR
Read more in our Passau report
HISTORY
- Circa 50 A.D: The first Roman settlements are founded
- From 739: Episcopal seats and Prince Bishop's seat for the next 600 years
- 1662: Fire destroys city, and is rebuilt by Italian Baroque masters
- 1803: Passau becomes part of Bavaria
Did you know that
... in Passau, three rivers coming from three cardinal directions meet and continue flowing together in the fourth cardinal direction? The Danube comes from the west, the Ilz from the north, and the Inn from the south and they converge and flow together as the Bavarian Danube, traveling east to reach the Black Sea.
