A city like a ship.

Cruise destination, but not at the ocean, Southern flair, and yet in the Mediterranean: Passau makes career - as a popular stop on the way to Vienna or Budapest. Here is a short visit too little for the town with Italian flair.

 

Passau - The ships at the quay of the Danube Promenade in Passau have names like "Bellissima" and "Prima Donna". You drive to Vienna, Budapest and even into the Danube delta on the Black Sea. Some of them even manage to Koblenz and Dusseldorf. Around 214,000 passengers were the authorities in the past year. "Passau is a global concept," says Mayor Jürgen Dupper not without pride, "check here more passengers than in many German deep-sea ports."

With the fall of the Iron Curtain was the Danube as a major European waterway attractive. Passau in Bavaria in the southeast to the border with Austria has benefited from it. "1992 cruise ships made 181-times found in the past year have 1751-times," said city spokeswoman Susanne Gabriel. "For this year, more than 1900 reported planting."

Despite the tourists remained in the old town atmosphere preserved. Passengers praised the Mediterranean-style flair. No wonder, because here were Italian builders are at work. In the center stands on the highest point of the St. Stephen's Cathedral with its onion towers. He was from 1668 to 1693 was built. At the time of Passau was an important independent prince bishopric - until 1803 The secularization of the clergy disempowered and the city came to Bavaria.

For Passau needs of the visitors little time. Many miss the opportunity for a more detailed inspection. "There are guests, after the arrival proceed directly to the ship and then leave immediately," says Gabriel. "On average, a cruise guest can stay for a night in Passau."

High season is May to September

The Belgian couple Louise and Bernard Mercier, however, wants to stay three days before the ship for good two-way to the Danube Delta test. The man has been particularly pleased with the cathedral: "The organ has 17,774 pipes and 233 registers, it is the largest Catholic church organ at all," he says. The largest pipe is more than eleven feet high, the smallest measure just six millimeters. They can be of 2 May to 31 October 12 clock on weekdays and on Thursdays at 19.30 clock hear. The cruise ships Passau however already in March and go on their trips until the end of December. "Tourist season but May to September," says Gabriel.

Like a ship reaches Passau with its Ortsspitze in the rivers Danube, Inn and Ilz. In the narrow, sometimes steep medieval alleys seemingly takes just a few walkers, as well as on the banks of the Inn. Nice weather can forget the dangers of the Three Rivers city from the water again and again threaten. On one wall of the medieval town hall angezeichnet the maximum heights of the river level reached so far. The last serious flood in 2002 flooded large parts of the Old Town.

Passau with its almost 50,000 inhabitants has a long history of use. Danube port Celtic, Roman fort until 476, Bavarian Herzogenburg, since the bishop's seat 730 and the starting point of the Missionary Austria, 1225 with City rights - which are the main stations. The Prince Bishops settled except its magnificent cathedral A palace and an opera house in the early style, which today serves as the Municipal Theater.

Careers for cabaret

The most beautiful view of Passau Veste Lords offers high above the left bank of the Danube, the former Prince Bishop's seat with a little goes a condition Treppenweg up, it is convenient with "Wolfi", the city tour with a number of increases and Aussteigemöglichkeiten. The castle is a town museum. If you are interested in religious art, must necessarily lead to the cathedral treasury, with its precious liturgical vestments and Gothic panel paintings visit Bernard Mercier recommends.

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In the more conservative Passau began the career of some well-known cabaret artists: Bruno Jonas, Ottfried Fischer and others appeared in the "executioner house" on a small stage in a serving executioner once the medieval building. Hape Kerkeling got here 1983 a prize. Not only students of the University appreciate the tips of the verbal artist against politics and society.

As an oasis for relaxation and dining offers, among other things, "Heilig-Geist-Stift-Schenke" in the center. Attraction is the wine of overgrown spacious beer garden. "Acidic Lüngerl you must try," advises Ludmyla operator from Ukraine, which helps their Bavarian colleagues in the main cruise port on the Danube, the masses of tourists to use. "The guests are an important economic factor," says Susanne Gabriel. For replenishment is ensured. The ships lying close together on the quay to prove it.