Passau

Wednesday, 11 December 2024

Passau lies at the far southeast corner of Germany. At Passau, two rivers flow into the Danube: the Ilz from the north, and the Inn from the south. We had a morning walking tour through the old city.

In Residenzplatz, a fountain is turned into a large wreath for Advent.

Wealthy merchants like to display their wealth by building towers as part of their houses.

The Rathaus clock tower.

With three rivers coming through the city, Passau floods regularly.

Buttresses in the narrow lanes help support the houses on either side.

An old city gate with a mural of St. Christopher.

A closer look at the St. Christopher mural.

Passau is a damp environment, as testified to by the mold and moss growing on roof tiles and wall.

Deutsche Post delivers from safety-yellow cargo bicycles.

Inside St. Stephan's Cathedral (Dom St. Stephan). The bucket crane is there to help set up and decorate the Cathedral's Christmas tree.

Like most Christmas Markets, the Passau Christkindlmarkt is in the Domplatz at the entrance to the cathedral.

Food is a large part of the Christmas markets. This booth had wood-grilled sausages.

Another booth was smoking salmon.

The large Christmas tree in the market. All the Christmas trees we saw on the trip were real.

After visiting the Christkindlmarkt, Lon and I walked down to the Inn River, then around the point back to our ship.

The Schaiblingsturm on the Inn River.

Looking across the Inn River to another part of Passau.

Houses on the north bank of the Danube at Passau.

As we left Passau we went through a lock. We were so close to the Viking Cruises riverboat next to us that it just looks like one continuous deck. There was less than a foot of clearance between the two riverboats. Everything from the top deck had been lowered (including the ship's bridge!) to be able to go under bridges. The bridge at the end of the lock looks like it should not be a problem, but the ships will rise about 20 feet in the lock, and then it's a close call!