Beautiful little church in the heart of Passau. Cute from the outside, a bit plain compared to some…read moreof the churches in this area. However, once inside you can see the splendor. The most fascinating features would be the gold on black altar, the Madonna and the balconies, but there is something to see everywhere you look. Take for example the entrance doors. Heavy wooden doors with intricate carvings and the original blacksmith hammered iron hinges and door handles. This is definitely worth a visit. Keep in mind that this is an active neighborhood church and you may come across services being held or lone worshippers at any time.

I came to Passau to start a Uniworld Christmas Market Cruise, beginning from Passau on Dec 9 -…read moreending in Budapest Dec 16, 2019. The tour for Dec 10, 2019 took us to this church. I LOVE Baroque music and architecture, surely had a lifetime during this period in Europe. Tour guide said this organ is the 2nd largest pipe organ in the world. Unfortunately I could not hear it being played, as no concert was going on this morning. The largest pipe organ ever built, based on number of pipes, is the Boardwalk Hall Auditorium Organ in Atlantic City, New Jersey, built by the Midmer-Losh Organ Company between 1929 and 1932. I will be coming back to Germany June 2 with a group of American pipe organists, on a Bach tour, to play the organs in Germany and Austria, that Bach himself played, Also to hear the resident organists play for our group. I play piano, but not pipe organ, but I sure enjoy hearing Bach being played. I know all of Bach's 217 organ compositions by heart. Just seeing the organ in this beautiful church was a highlight of my entire trip. I posted my pictures of this beautiful church and organ, here on Yelp. I hope to come hear St. Stephans Dom organ in June 2020 with the Bach Organ Tour.

Beautiful church, the decorations, frescos and statues are really impressive…read more This large building with its white towers and blue-green domes is the crucial baroque church north of the Alps. The ornately interior holds an exceptional treasure: the biggest cathedral organ in the world with 17,974 pipes and 233 registers...currently being renovated, so many of the pipes are not on site....The noon concert was not great due to the lack of organ pipes....which are expected to be ready to play again in 2027. The St. Stephen's Cathedral is the mother church of the Danube's eastern region. The magnificent cathedral with lots of Baroque influence is situated at the highest point of Passau's old town, the Altstadt.

During my year stint living and loving Salzburg, Austria, this was the church I decided to attend…read moreeach Sunday for worship. Fashion and everyday dress in Europe is more formal than in the U.S. and in Salzburg, it's even more so. Being a sporadic church-goer throughout the year, it had to have been the grandeur of this place that motivated me to get up early each Sunday morning, dress my best and catch the StadtBus to church. An itinerary I miss until this day. There has been a church on this site since the 8th century, which was rebuilt in the Romanesque era. A Gothic choir replaced the Romanesque choir in 1408-50; a slender Gothic tower was added in 1468-98. The building served as a parish church, dedicated to the Virgin Mary, until 1635. In 1670 the top of the church's tower had to be removed because the archbishop objected to it being higher than that of the cathedral. In 1866 it was restored in a Neo-Gothic style. The church interior received a Baroque makeover in the 18th century. The Franziskanerkirche is an especially fascinating church to visit due to its unique mixture of architectural styles: The Romanesque nave is still visible inside the church, and a 12th-century marble lion from that period is set into the pulpit steps. The tall, well-lit Gothic choir (1408-50) is supported by slender purplish columns, which reach up to an elaborate rib vault. The choir shelters nine chapels, each decorated in an elaborate Baroque style by Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach in the 18th century. The easternmost chapel, behind the high altar, contains a winged marble altar of 1561 from the old cathedral. The high altar, also by Erlach, is an ornate creation of red marble and gold. The Madonna statue in the center predates the rest - it is a Late Gothic sculpture by Michael Pacher of Tyrol. Christmas Eve. It was midnight mass that was the most powerful. The church was pitch black except for the light of thousands of candles lit everywhere throughout; casting shadows that appeared to dance across the ornate and towering ceiling. The combination of the resounding pipe organ and choir was intoxicating, as if my spirit was awoken and rising out of my chest. A profound moment and connection I will never forget. O come, O come, Emmanuel And ransom captive Israel That mourns in lonely exile here Until the Son of God appear Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel. Merry Christmas! May the Spirit of the season bring you much love and hope throughout the new year! Peace be yours!

Franziskanerkirche is very ornate church in Salzburg with one of the most visible steeples in the…read moreold town part of the city. Massive columns support a very high arched ceiling. Angelic carvings are everywhere. There are beautiful paintings and masterpiece reliefs too. The sheer scale of European churches is mind boggling. Franziskanerkirche delivers! It's a nice 15-20 minute walk through....