Bavarian Forest Holidays

Passau, Germany

Approx 1 hour by car from Bayerisch Eisenstein

This historic 'town of the 3 rivers' is located at the point where the Inn and Ilz rivers flow into the Danube . The old town is located between the Danube and Inn rivers and the land goes to a point where the rivers join. The more modern shopping area adjoins the old town where the land widens out.

The old town has attractive narrow cobbled streets and alleyways with glimpses of the rivers on each side, giving the effect of being on an island. In the oldest part there are many ancient educational and religious institutions and churches. The cathedral contains the largest cathedral organ in world and there are daily concerts on weekdays from May to October and at Christmas, from 12.00 to 12.30, costing €3 for adults and €1 for children. Every Thursday (except public holidays) there is an evening concert at 19.30 for 1 - 1 1/2 hours, costing €5 for adults and €3 for children.

Visit also the old town hall (Rathaus) - by the river, facing the castle, with interesting paintings and, on the corner, marks showing where high water has reached at different times. The main hall of the Rathaus can be visited. The restaurant there is good and cheap and sitting outside on a sunny day, looking up at the castle, with the river boats going past, is very pleasurable. Look carefully at the castle to spot the 'fake' windows.

Also in the old town is the Glass Museum - the largest collection of Bohemian glass in the world, with 30,000 exhibits, dating from 1700 to 1950. The museum is open every day 13.00-17.00.

There is also a museum at the Cathedral, a Roman museum and a museum of modern art.

There are boat trips around the old town (and longer distances).

On a cliff between the Danube and the Ilz is the castle - Veste Oberhaus. A shuttle bus runs to the castle from the corner of the square in front of the town hall. The castle complex, built in 1219, is one of the largest in Europe and contains the historical and cultural museum of Passau.

Passau has an excellent opera house (which also has performances of plays and concerts) - advance booking is essential to get good seats.

From June 16 th to July 23rd 2006, there is the 'European Weeks Passau' festival, this year with a Mozart theme.

Contact us

Bavarian Forest Holidays
Waldschmidtstrasse 1
94252 Bayerisch Eisenstein
Germany
Tel. (Germany) +49 (0)9925 90 32 04 (UK) 07976 403434
Email: pyrabelisk@btinternet.com