Passau combines a distinctive architectural and cultural history with a variety of ways to explore the surrounding area on foot or by bike. Veste Oberhaus, St. Stephen’s Cathedral and the trails along the Ilz each offer something different. When planning your stay, it’s worth deciding first whether you want to focus on historic sites or a particular hike.
Castle, cathedral and distinctive architecture
Perched above Passau is Veste Oberhaus, more than 800 years old and one of the largest surviving castle complexes in Europe. The Oberhaus Museum displays exhibitions on Passau’s history and life in the castle during the Middle Ages within its historic walls. At the heart of the fortress is St. George’s Chapel, with its unique 14th-century fresco cycle. The castle complex, museum and chapel offer different ways to explore the site’s history.
St. Stephen’s Cathedral is a major Baroque church north of the Alps. After the fire of 1662, Carlo Lurago and Giovanni Battista Carlone gave it a distinctive Italian architectural character. Those interested in organ music will find an extraordinary installation here: five separate organs, 17,974 pipes and 233 stops can be heard in the cathedral.
Other buildings also tell the story of Passau’s religious and architectural history. The Baroque Jesuit Church of St. Michael and the former Jesuit residence dominate the southern waterfront along the Inn, giving the city the appearance of an Italian town. High above the Innstadt district stands the Baroque pilgrimage church of Mariahilf; next to it is St. Paul’s Monastery, dating from the 17th century. A covered staircase with 321 steps leads to the pilgrimage chapel. The entrance is on Neutorgraben Street.
City views and traces of the three rivers
The Danube, Inn and Ilz meet at the Dreiflüsseeck. From the Batterie Linde viewpoint, you can see the historic old town and all three rivers. The Wittelsbach Fountain adds a specific detail of the city’s history to your walk: it was built in 1903. A statue of Mary stands on the central column, while the three angels symbolize the Danube, Ilz and Inn.
The monastery buildings at Niedernburg house the Fresco Museum, with secco paintings more than 800 years old. The tomb and the “Protection of Mary” shrine in the monastery have also been destinations for numerous pilgrims, mostly from Hungary, since the 15th century. Alongside its major buildings, Passau offers individual works of art and religious sites for visitors to explore according to their interests.
Hiking and cycling routes to suit your plans
For a manageable circular hike, consider the Ilztal hiking loop from Passau to the Triftsperre and back: it is 8.5 kilometers long, takes 2 hours and 15 minutes, and is rated easy. A much longer option is the Ilz hiking trail. It runs from Passau-Hals via the Triftsperre and FĂĽrsteneck to the Dreiburgenland region and is about 70 kilometers long. As trail details can change, check the current waymarking before setting out.
The Austrian Danube Cycle Path is also on a very different scale from a single hike: the route runs from Passau via Vienna to Bratislava and is about 380 kilometers long. These three figures help put the options into perspective: a short circular hike, a longer hiking trail or a long-distance cycling route. Which one suits your stay depends on how much time and distance you want to cover.
Choose accommodation to match your plans
For guests arriving by Danube cruise ship, the moorings are in the old town or nearby; they are directly connected to the city center, making it easy to visit many sights on foot.
Discover more destinations: Kößlarn, Tittling, Bad Füssing, Pocking, Untergriesbach, Neukirchen Vorm Wald, Breitenberg, Hofkirchen.
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