Passau, Our Half-Way Point - The Vali and the Many Locks on our Journey

September 30, 2025

Tuesday, September 30

Viking Vali docked in Passau

The last day of September is leading us into Passau Germany. Passau, at more than 2000 years old is one of Bavaria’s oldest cities. It is known as the city of three rivers because it lies at the confluence of the Danube, the Inns and the Ilz rivers.

where the rivers meet but don't mingle, Passau

Because of this strategic location the city enjoyed and grew into a powerful economic and political power. Passau is also where two nations meet, and it is here that the German-Austrian border begins. Today, we went on a walking tour led by a sweet girl named Sophia. She told us from the start that she was a design major, was not good with dates and numbers, but would point out all the beautiful and decorative bits of her town!

Sophia, our guide

shops tucked along the cobble-stone streets

the Hummels were in many shop windows

LeRoy needs his beer stein!

One of Passau’s claims to fame is the very impressive St. Stevens Cathedral, built in the baroque style. The one standing there today was built in 1693 and is home to the world’s largest pipe organ with 17,974 pipes, 233 stops and 4 carillons. And I have no idea what that means. At present, the organ is under renovation, so .... It also has 8 enormous bells weighing up to 16,645 pounds. A truly impressive structure.

St. Stephen's Cathedral (borrowed from the internet)

Vi couldn't get a good photo

The interior looking toward the altar

the altar which depicts the stoning of Stephen

the ceiling frescoes

a photo of the pipe organ

We had a bit of free time, so Vialula and I climbed up to the Veste Oberhaus, a medieval castle founded in 1219, that apparently provides us with the best views of Passau's Old Town. I only climbed as I was promised a beer!

"It's just a short climb," they said ...

LeRoy's beer of the day

white sausages, pretzel and a Bavarian beer

view from atop (see the green domes of St. Steven's)

It is here where we also say goodbye to the Blue Danube. Not one part of which was Blue but blue sounds better than brown in the song. It is somewhere in this area that the Rhine-Main-Danube canal, a manmade canal, links the Danube to the Main River. This is pronounced “mine”. This canal completed in 1992 was a major step in linking these rivers and allowed commerce to move easier up and down the system.

Farewell to the Danube

Some interesting facts we have learned along the way…

There are 67 locks on the navigable waterway from the Black Sea to the North Sea. As we go from Budapest towards Amsterdam the locks raise us up much like a stairstep until we meet up to the Continental Divide and from there the locks lower us back down. Some of these locks are as deep as 25 meters, which you know is 82 feet. You get used to coming into a lock and having it raise you up and then all of a sudden you are being lowered down.

passing thru a lock

we are so close to the wall!

the gates are opening

the view from our balcony at the lock wall

going down this time

I thought I might also give you some information on our boat. We are on the Viking Vali. It has 4 main decks. There is a sundeck up top which is sometimes not available as we pass under many low bridges. The entire topside can be lain down and risen up without too much trouble.

low bridge ahead

Then you have 2 decks of staterooms and the main dining room and the lounge. There are 95 staterooms for the 190 guests, and they are serviced by about 53 crew members. They have a small library and a couple of places to find a small corner to make your own. It is a specially designed ship, perfectly made for these very popular river cruises.

Aquavit Terrace

library

lounge in the day time

lounge at night!

One thing I will mention is that the ride is as smooth as silk. You really cannot feel the boat moving along. You sometimes think you are still but a quick look out and you see you are travelling right along.