Christmas Spirit on the Danube: Passau to Budapest Cruise on Riverside Mozart from Passau (Germany)

Passau (Germany)

Passau is a town in Lower Bavaria, Germany. It is also known as the "City of Three Rivers," because the Danube is joined at Passau by the Inn from the south and the Ilz from the north. Tourism in Passau focuses mainly on the three rivers, the St. Stephen's Cathedral and the "Old City".The organ at St. Stephen's was long held to be the largest church pipe organ in the world. Organ concerts are held daily between May and September. St.Stephen's is a true masterpiece of Italian Baroque, built by Italian architect Carlo Lurago and decorated in part by Carpoforo Tencalla. Many river cruises down the Danube start at Passau and there is a cycling path all the way down to Vienna. It is also notable for its gothic and baroque architecture. The town is dominated by the Veste Oberhaus and the former fortress of the Bishop, on the mountain crest between the Danube and the Ilz rivers. Right beside the town hall is the Scharfrichterhaus, an important jazz and cabaret stage on which political cabaret is performed.

Linz (Austria)

Located in northern Austria on the banks of the river Danube, Linz is a city of contrast with its strong industrial developments and its intense and vibrant culture. This ever evolving, modern and dynamic city plays host to a wide variety of festivals and concerts throughout the year. Linz also offers plenty of cultural attractions with an array of museums and art galleries while its charming city centre offers visitors a glimpse into its past with its baroque churches and buildings dating back to the renaissance as well as being a bustling commercial area.

Linz (Austria)

Located in northern Austria on the banks of the river Danube, Linz is a city of contrast with its strong industrial developments and its intense and vibrant culture. This ever evolving, modern and dynamic city plays host to a wide variety of festivals and concerts throughout the year. Linz also offers plenty of cultural attractions with an array of museums and art galleries while its charming city centre offers visitors a glimpse into its past with its baroque churches and buildings dating back to the renaissance as well as being a bustling commercial area.

Melk, Austria

Melk is a town located on the banks of the river Danube and the western gateway to the Wachau Valley. It is famous for being home to a huge baroque Benedictine monastery named Melk Abbey. The Abbey is built on a bluff overlooking the Danube River. Other popular attractions include the Haus am Stein, built in the 15th century, is the oldest building in Melk and the Kolomani Fountain

Vienna (Austria)

Vienna lies in the east of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre. In 2001, the city centre was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Apart from being regarded as the City of Music because of its musical legacy, Vienna is also said to be "The City of Dreams" because it was home to the world's first psycho-analyst Sigmund Freud. The city's roots lie in early Celtic and Roman settlements that transformed into a Medieval and Baroque city, the capital of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. It is well known for having played an essential role as a leading European Music Centre, from the great age of Viennese Classicism through the early part of the 20th century. The Historic centre of Vienna is rich in architectural ensembles, including Baroque castles and gardens, as well as the late-19th-century Ringstrasse lined with grand buildings, monuments and parks.

Vienna (Austria)

Vienna lies in the east of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre. In 2001, the city centre was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Apart from being regarded as the City of Music because of its musical legacy, Vienna is also said to be "The City of Dreams" because it was home to the world's first psycho-analyst Sigmund Freud. The city's roots lie in early Celtic and Roman settlements that transformed into a Medieval and Baroque city, the capital of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. It is well known for having played an essential role as a leading European Music Centre, from the great age of Viennese Classicism through the early part of the 20th century. The Historic centre of Vienna is rich in architectural ensembles, including Baroque castles and gardens, as well as the late-19th-century Ringstrasse lined with grand buildings, monuments and parks.

Bratislava, Slovakia

The largest city in Slovakia is found on the banks of the Danube River. Most od the monuments are found on the Castle hill and in the old town, such as the St. Martin´s Cathedral, Grassalkovich Palace or Bratislava Castle.

Budapest (Hungary)

Budapest is the capital and the largest city of Hungary, the largest in East-Central Europe and one of the largest cities in the European Union. It is the country's principal political, cultural, commercial, industrial, and transportation centre,[2] sometimes described as the primate city of Hungary. Budapest became a single city occupying both banks of the river Danube with a unification of west-bank Buda and Óbuda with east-bank Pest. Cited as one of the most beautiful cities in Europe its extensive World Heritage Site includes the banks of the Danube, the Buda Castle Quarter, Andrássy Avenue, Heroes' Square and the Millennium Underground Railway, the second oldest in the world. Other highlights include a total of 80 geothermal springs, the world's largest thermal water cave system, second largest synagogue, and third largest Parliament building.

Budapest (Hungary)

Budapest is the capital and the largest city of Hungary, the largest in East-Central Europe and one of the largest cities in the European Union. It is the country's principal political, cultural, commercial, industrial, and transportation centre,[2] sometimes described as the primate city of Hungary. Budapest became a single city occupying both banks of the river Danube with a unification of west-bank Buda and Óbuda with east-bank Pest. Cited as one of the most beautiful cities in Europe its extensive World Heritage Site includes the banks of the Danube, the Buda Castle Quarter, Andrássy Avenue, Heroes' Square and the Millennium Underground Railway, the second oldest in the world. Other highlights include a total of 80 geothermal springs, the world's largest thermal water cave system, second largest synagogue, and third largest Parliament building.