Exploring Passau

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Passau is a beautiful city of three rivers.  The Danube River flows out of the Bavarian forest.  The Inn River is glacially fed and flows out of the Alps of Switzerland. And the third river is the Ilz River which flows out of Bohemia.  The city of Passau was burned down twice in the 16^th and 17^th centuries.  When the town was rebuilt after the last fire it was designed by Italian architects giving this baroque styled village a uniquely Italian feel and flair.

 

The city was, as you can imagine, an important stop along the trade routes of Europe.  It was a major port for the shipment of salt also known as “white gold”.  The precious commodity was used for centuries for more than flavoring food.  It is said that Roman Soldiers were paid in salt.  However, I digress; Passau was a wealthy city because of its importance in the shipping lanes.  It boasts a beautiful Cathedral, an impressive fort with fortifications, and a stunning walkway along the river Inn.  There is one medieval section of old town that escaped the fires.  It has winding narrow alleyways that are just large enough for pedestrian traffic.  The old town is an easy walking tour but I highly recommend hiring a tour guide to fill you in on all of the rich and varied histories of the old town.

 

The most remarkable thing about the three rivers that converge at Passau is that they each have a different color.  At first I thought it was an optical illusion, but the water from each river is so unique it has its own color.  The Inn River is very mineral rich and is more aqua in color.  The Danube River is full of nutrients and is bluer in color.  The Ilz River out of Bohemia is almost black.  Sailing downstream from Passau requires a look backwards to see the three rivers and their different colors joining together.  It is very fascinating!  

 

If you want to learn more about our experience on a River Cruise on the Danube River with Avalon Waterways River Cruises, click here.  To view pictures from our exploring in Passau, click here.

 

When you are ready to explore in Europe and take a River Cruise, contact us, your River Cruise Travel Agency and we can help you plan and book the perfect River Cruise for you.