Segment: Passau Walking Tour
Episode: Grand European ep 11
Air Date: 23rd February 2020
Presenter: Trevor Cochrane

Viking offers an included shore excursion in Passau, Germany, taking guests on a walking tour of the city.

• This walking tour teaches guests the history of the city, exploring the beautiful Italianate-style streetscape.
• Passau is famously known as ‘The Three Rivers City’, as it is situated at the confluence of three rivers – the Danube, Inn and Ilz. The town sits right on the edge of the German/Austrian border.
• The tour starts in Passau’s Old Town, created by Italian baroque master architects and planners in the 17th century, with soaring towers, picturesque places, enchanting promenades and romantic lanes.
• The pastel rainbow of building facades is reminiscent of Italy, with its medieval Mediterranean architecture and classic Italian design features.
• Passau has long had issues with floods, with the floods of 1501 being the worst in the town’s history.
• The tiny town square is home to the impressive Bishop’s Residenz, where powerful prince-bishops ruled secular and religious life for hundreds of years.
• The final stop is the magnificent 17th century St Stephens Cathedral. Ornately decorated in the Baroque style of architecture, the building is magnificent.
• The cathedral is full of incredible architectural details – it took 17 years to decorate and construct the side altars. The stucco adornment includes about 1000 figures, such as prophets and cherubs.
• The central cupola figures God the Father enthrones. The gilt pulpit hails fro 1720, and the cathedral houses Europe’s largest pipe organ – with more than 17,000 pipes, it inspired Liszt to write his Hungarian Coronation Mass.