St. Stephen's Cathedral, Passau

St. Stephen’s Cathedral (Dom St. Stephan) is the Roman Catholic cathedral in Passau, Bavaria, and the seat of the Diocese of Passau. The present building is largely Baroque in appearance following a major reconstruction in the late 17th century.

The cathedral interior is notable for its expansive Baroque nave and high decorative stucco work. It houses one of the largest cathedral pipe organs in the world, with on the order of 17,000 pipes, which is a central attraction for visitors and organ enthusiasts.

Many visitors also view the cathedral treasury and attend organ concerts; the building is a focal point at the confluence of the Danube, Inn and Ilz rivers, offering riverfront views of the façade.

A medieval church occupied the site earlier, but a destructive fire led to a major Baroque rebuilding that produced much of the cathedral visible today. The cathedral has functioned as the bishop’s seat and the principal church of Passau since the medieval period.

The cathedral stands in central Passau at the point where the Danube, Inn and Ilz rivers converge. It is within easy walking distance of the town centre and the riverfront promenades.

• Organ concerts: Midday organ recitals and large-organ concerts are a major draw; check the cathedral schedule for times and ticketing information.
• Viewing points: Good viewpoints of the cathedral are from the riverside where the three rivers meet and from the opposite bank of the Danube.

What to See #

• Cathedral Organ: The cathedral organ is one of the largest church organs in the world, with roughly 17,000 pipes arranged in multiple cases and several manuals, and it is used for regular concerts and services.
• Treasury: The cathedral treasury holds ecclesiastical silver and liturgical objects dating from medieval and Baroque periods that can be viewed on site.