Glass art in the city of three rivers

The main railway station, built in 1860 in the classicist style, is only about 10 minutes' walk from the old town. Take Bahnhofsstraße and Ludwigstraße into the Old Town and turn right into Grabengasse. Via Carlonegasse you reach the cathedral square with the baroque cathedral shining from afar.

Passau Cathedral was mentioned in documents as an episcopal church as early as 730. To this day, it is the seat of the bishop and the main church of the diocese of Passau. Almost completely destroyed in the city fire of 1662, the building was rebuilt in the Baroque style until 1693. Only the late Gothic eastern section was preserved. The baroque interior is considered to be the largest of its kind north of the Alps. The magnificent gilded pulpit from 1726 comes from Vienna. The more than 17,000 pipes of the world's largest cathedral organ are regularly used for concerts. From the beginning of May to the end of October, the organ is always played at noon.

Behind the impressive church is the Residenzplatz. It is framed by the Gothic choir of the cathedral and the episcopal residence with its baroque façade. Schustergasse leads you to St Michael's Church, while Schwabgässchen continues to the banks of the Inn. There you will discover the white and red Schaiblingsturm tower. The defence tower has been a storage tower, landing stage and accommodation since 1250. The next stop and favourite photo motif is the mouth of the Inn into the Danube, into which the Ilz flows on the other bank - the Dreiflüsseeck.

The confluence of the Danube, Inn and Ilz rivers offers an impressive natural spectacle at the tip of the headland on which Passau's old town is located. Three rivers from three directions meet here in a changing play of colours: the almost black Ilz comes from a moorland area in the north. The Inn flows in green from the Swiss Alps in the south. The Danube, which rises to the west near Donaueschingen, is blue-brown in colour. After the confluence, the Danube continues eastwards - and it shimmers in all three colours.

Now turn away from the natural spectacle of the three rivers and follow the Danube a little way upstream. Bräugasse takes you directly to the Altes Bräuhaus, which is the perfect place for a hearty snack.

Hearty Bavarian dishes that change with the seasons are served in the historic vaults and on the sun terrace in the Altes Bräuhaus, accompanied by local beers and Wachau wine. The rooms belong to a former brewery whose origins date back to the 14th century. Even the then Bishop of Passau is said to have enjoyed the liquid specialities. The location is also closely interwoven with Passau's history: The brewery is less than a 10-minute walk from the cathedral in the heart of the old town. The Veste Oberhaus and Veste Niederhaus tower on the opposite bank of the Danube. The Dreiflüsseeck, where the Danube, Inn and Ilz rivers merge, is just 5 minutes away.

Well fortified, walk a few hundred metres further to the town hall square with the striking 38 metre high tower of the old town hall. At the bottom of the tower you will find the tourist information centre. The tower's carillon can be heard twice a day, at 11.30 am and 4.30 pm. The Hotel "Wilder Mann" and the Glass Museum are right next door. Whether you are interested in the history of European glass production or simply want to marvel at how versatile glass is and how much labour, art and skill go into a glass object - a visit to the glass museum is worthwhile in any case.

The Passau Glass Museum houses the world's largest collection of European glass and offers a fascinating insight into the history of glass in Europe between 1650 and 1950, ranging from Baroque and Biedermeier to Empire, Historicism, Art Nouveau and Art Deco, with more than 15,000 pieces of glass on display. In total, however, the museum has almost twice as much stock. The pieces come from the major glassworks in Europe, from Bavaria and Bohemia to Austria and Silesia.

In addition to glasses in a wide variety of shapes and sizes, there are also bowls, jars, vases, beakers, goblets, medallions and much more on display, all made of glass, of course. Polished, cut, coloured, decorated and painted, the exhibits bear witness to the skills of the glassmakers. The arrangement makes it possible to trace the development of individual glassworks.

The museum is located in the historic "Wilder Mann" building complex in the heart of Passau's old town centre, right next to the Old Town Hall.

Even more art and handicrafts await you in Höllgasse. Galleries, workshops and studios here create beautiful and useful things from paint and canvas, glass, ceramics and wood.

Continue through the Schlosserstiege into Steinweg, which takes you back towards the railway station under a different name. So don't be surprised if you find yourself in Bratfischwinkel at some point. Via Bahnhofstraße you reach the main railway station and your train.