Passau, Germany

Just across the border into Germany, we docked at Passau, known as the city of three rivers, where the Inn and Ilz rivers join the Danube. The 2000-year-old old town is a mixture of Baroque and Gothic architecture, due in part to a major fire that destroyed much of the earlier Gothic buildings. The weather cooperated again and we were treated to an overcast, cool and dry day.
Saint Stephens Cathedral houses Europe’s largest pipe organ with 17,774 pipes. Liszt wrote his Hungarian Coronation Mass for this cathedral in 1857.The massive pipe organ actually consists of five individual pipe organs that, a few years back, were all wired to one central console allowing them to be played together or individually as desired. Our guide told us that this project was done in conjunction with a major renovation and required nearly 90 miles of wiring to accomplish, all completely hidden from view. Because of the placement of the pipes throughout the cathedral, the sound eminates from front, rear and the center of the ceiling providing a unique musical experience. Although organ concerts are performed throughout the year, sadly none was scheduled for the day we were there.

I love the narrow streets and architectual details in the older sections of European cities, so please indulge me if you see lots of these pictures.

Numerous cafes, pubs and bars line the waterfront. Passau brews several local beers but none are exported as the local population and tourists consume all they produce. Like good tourists, we did our part.

Another great side street. The area is so visually rich with cobblestone streets and, in this case, baroque architectre.