European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - July 7, 1959, Darmstadt, Hesse                                A of a is i j t i ? / 1 one Day Tours a drive \ to typically narrow Street of Passau s old Section. "  " i platting Passau the  looms through one of the City s Many tunnels Cathedral of St. Stephen is noted for its murals and pipe Organ. Pass a e the marriage of the Rivers said a Passau Man and you will see one of the wonders of the  he was not talking about a Book or a movie but the merging of three Rivers at Passau the German City which Borders Austria a town which has made its imprint upon history for More than 2,000 years. It is at Passau that the Grey inn the dark Brown ill and the yellow Green Dan ube become one. And it is Passau and the three Rivers which form a highly interest ing one Day tour for americans in the by Henry b. Kraft staff writer Munich Regensburg Straubing and land shut  is a City whose architecture shows he baroque and gothic influence yet with i style partly italian because italian artists Liel cd to create some of the structures. Itibus the narrow winding streets common o ancient cities in Germany and Italy. There is More for an american to see in Passau than one would expect in a City of some 40,000 inhabitants. One of the first places a visitor should take in is the Cathedral of St. Stephan. The Cathedral has rare murals Everi rarer pieces of sculpture and what is possibly the world s largest pipe Organ. The Interior stucco work of italian design is most impressive. Residence Square almost adjacent to the Cathedral is surrounded by old patrician Homes which testify to the City s medieval Power in the world of Commerce a reminder of the time when Passau was the Gate Way to Bohemia. The City Hall facing the Danube water front is of compelling interest. It has paint Ings depicting the heroes and figures of the Nibelung legend. Directly opposite City Hall on the other Side of the Danube is a Castle perched atop a Hill. This is the Veste Oberhaus Large fortress started in 1219 As the Strong hold of the worldly Power of Passau s Prince Bishops. Its ramparts connect with the Viste Niederhaus on the Tongue formed by the Danube and ill. Reaching the opposite Side one drives through a Tunnel where a Road leads up a Steep Hill to the Castle. At this Point the ill seems to flow Side by Side with the Danube. Once at the top air of Passau unfolds before your eyes. Strange As it May seem the merging of the three Rivers is not visible from the top. But Halfway on the Road the Union of is photos by Guenter Schuettler a the Rivers is Plain for All to  the Center of the City the visitor will see the roman Boj durum a fortified Camp built 19 centuries ago during the reign of the emperor Domitian. The Pilgrim Church Mari Hilf a double towered Renaissance building which seems Oriental in design from a distance is nearby. North of the City is picturesque Ilmstadt with its Many fishermen s Homes nestling at the foot of the Hill. It is in the old part of Passau with Neumarkt As the Center that one begins to feel the life of Passau As it is today and As it was in the past. The narrow streets Are numerous Here with a series of Tunnel leading from one to another. Three Bridges built after world War Gilead across the Danube a railway Bridge Max Bridge and Luitpold Bridge. Passing under them Are boats which help make the Danube one of the world s great com Mercial Waterways. R before the romans came upon Passau and made it one of their military installations it was a celtic fortress. From 739 on it was the see of the Catholic Bishops. Then it became a trading Post for Salt which smarted Passau on the Way to richest. In 1444, Aneas Sylvius Piccolomini later Pope Pius ii described Passau As an illustrious and wealthy City. It is in Nieden Burg Convent where the Tomb of Giesla Queen of Hungary is located. She died in 1060. Salvator Kirche one of the City s most important structures was built in 1476and is also a must on the visitor s list. It was erected on the site of a former Syna Gogue destroyed during an Early period of jewish persecution. In 1552 religious tolerance was established under the treaty of Passau. Passau is 75 Miles Southeast of Regens Burg on route 8,and about 60 Miles Froin Straubing on the same Road. It is 1qp Miles from Munich on route 1, which takes in Freising allotting and Simbach and 75 Miles East of Landshut on route if and route 8.  who can spend More than a Day might take a trip Down the Danube from Passau to Vienna on a Side Wheeler Strain boat a distance of 200 Miles. Cost is about $4.50 for the round trip. Tickets Are Gootel for six Days which Means you can stay in Vienna for a few Days before returning Only those wearing civilian clothes Are permitted to make the trip which takes 13 hours. Left composite photo of Passau. Danube is in foreground inn is in the Back ground ill is out of picture at left the stars and stripes tuesday july 7, 1959 the tabs and stripes