Passau, Germany

 

Passau Town Hall

Passau is built on a strategic confluence of three rivers: the Danube, Ils and Inn. As such it was a key port for the lucrative salt trade. We started at the city hall, which typically was built by the trade guilds and has a clock tower to counter the power of the Church with its steeple. We could see the flood levels marked on the hall. We walked the streets until we reached St. Stevens Cathedral with its 17,000-pipe organ. Unfortunately, that organ is under refurbishment, but we still enjoyed the organ concert.

St. Stephens

In the afternoon, we hiked up to the Veste Oberhaus fortress to get a great view of the rivers and the city of Passau. The fortress built in 1219 had a major renovation in year 1499 (at the time a 4 was written as the lower half of an 8).

That evening we celebrated the twin's birthdays.

Bob and Richard