# 4 Cruising to Passau & Regensburg

Cruising to Passau & Regensburg

 Our road trip through all this beautiful countryside has now turned into a cruise down the Danube.  Our first stop is Passau a small Bavarian town noted for a mix of Roman, Gothic and baroque architecture.  The town is known for its pastel houses, cobblestone roads and riverfront promenade.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Also well known to tourists is St. Stephan's Cathedral a beautiful baroque Cathedral that was finished in 1688.   It is the seat of the Catholic Bishop of Passau and the main church of his diocese.   The organ of the Passau Cathedral of St. Steven is outstandingly unique and truly a technical marvel, with its 17.974 pipes, its 233 ringing registers and its five carillons that could all be played from one console.  It is the official number five in the listing of the worldwide largest pipe organs.

 

 

If you ever wonder if the Danube overflows it's banks and causes flooding in some of the beautiful riverside cities, well, yes; however if it is rare.  The Danube has several locks which allow the river levels to remain at a consistent level.  There was a flood in Passau many years ago and here are comparative photos of the flood.

 

 

After lunch on the river boat, we jumped on the tour bus for the short ride to Regensburg, one of Germany’s largest and best preserved medieval cities.  It is designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  The walking tour highlights the city’s architecture.  We’ll pass by the Old Town Hall, Dom St. Peter and the Porta Praetoria, the gateway to an ancient Roman Fort built in 179AD.  Regensburg boasts many beautiful churches and one of the oldest stone bridges still crossing the Danube.  Have a look and enjoy.

 

We finish our evening with sunset on the Danube.

More coming soon  😊

Jan  🌷🌷🐾🐾