🇩🇪 The Ancient City of Three Rivers: Passau

Day 5 of the Viking Danube Journey Passau, a picturesque ancient city in eastern Bavaria, Germany, lies at the confluence of three rivers—the Danube (Donau), Inn, and Ilz—earning it the nickname "Three Rivers City" (Dreiflüssestadt). 🗺️ Geography & Unique Features Three Rivers Converge: Danube (blue), Inn (greenish from Alpine silt), and Ilz (black from forest springs) merge into a stunning "tricolor water" spectacle. Best Viewpoints: Dreiflüsseck (Inn River promontory) or the tower of St. Stephen’s Cathedral. Historic Old Town: Cobblestone streets and colorful Baroque architecture, often called the "Venice of Bavaria." Located on a peninsula surrounded by water, with flood markers on buildings documenting past disasters. 🏛️ Top Attractions St. Stephen’s Cathedral (Dom St. Stephan) ⛪: Baroque-style Catholic church with the world’s largest church organ (17,974 pipes!). Summer noon organ concerts are a must (check schedules). Veste Oberhaus 🏰: 13th-century hilltop castle overlooking the rivers. Now a museum and viewpoint. Old Town Hall (Altes Rathaus) 🏛️: Features Bavarian historical murals and flood photography exhibits. Glass Museum (Glasmuseum) 🪞: Houses over 30,000 European glass artworks—one of the world’s largest glass collections. 🌟 Culture & Life University Town: Passau University (law/economics fame) fuels youthful energy—students make up 1/3 of the population! 🎓 Festivals: Summer "European Weeks" music festival 🎵 + romantic winter Christmas markets along the rivers. Food: Bavarian classics (roast pork knuckle), Danube fish dishes, and local beer 🍻. 🚆 Transport & Location Borders Austria (80 km from Linz). A key stop on the Danube tourist route. How to Get There: Train: Direct from Munich (≈2 hrs) or Regensburg (≈1 hr). River Cruise: Viking, AmaWaterways, and others dock here. #MyVikingJourney #VikingDanube #Passau #VesteOberhaus #ThreeRiversCity