Landmark · Old Town

Old Town Hall

The Old Town Hall on Rathausplatz right by the Danube grew out of several connected townhouses that the city acquired in 1298 as a sign of its hard-won independence from the prince-bishops. Over the centuries the complex coalesced into an irregular, picturesque ensemble of bay windows, gables and inner courtyards that shapes the old town's Danube frontage.

The striking neo-Gothic tower was added only in 1890 to designs by Heinrich von Schmidt and, at 68 metres, is visible from afar; its carillon plays historic melodies several times a day and is part of the city's acoustic character. Inside, the Great and Small Town Hall Halls impress with monumental history paintings by Ferdinand Wagner that conjure up scenes from Passau's past — from the founding of the city to the Nibelungs, who according to legend passed through Passau.

Anyone entering the town hall should be sure to look at the exterior façade: there, flood marks record the dramatic water levels of past centuries — including the catastrophic floods of 1501 and 2013, when the Danube surged deep into the old town. They vividly demonstrate how profoundly Passau's life is governed by the power of its three rivers.

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