St. Stephen's Cathedral, Passau (must see)

Saint Stephen's Cathedral is an impressive baroque church. As the seat of the Catholic Bishop of Passau and the main church of his diocese, it holds significant religious and historical importance.

The site of the cathedral has been home to several churches since as far back as 730 AD. The current structure, a remarkable baroque building stretching around 100 meters (328 ft) in length, was constructed between 1668 and 1693. This came after a devastating fire in 1662 that destroyed its predecessor, leaving only the late gothic eastern side intact. The masterful architectural plan was crafted by Carlo Lurago, while the interior decoration was entrusted to the skilled hands of Giovanni Battista Carlone. The vibrant frescoes that adorn the interior were created by the talented Carpoforo Tencalla.

One of the cathedral's most remarkable features is its magnificent organ, which used to hold the title of the largest organ in the world. Although it has since been surpassed by newer instruments, such as Wanamaker's organ in the United States, it remains the largest church organ outside of the USA. With an astounding 17,774 pipes and 233 registers, the organ offers a wide range of musical possibilities. It is controlled by a five-manual general console located in the gallery. Additionally, specific portions of the organ have their own mechanical or electric consoles, bringing the total number of consoles to six.

In the Cathedral Treasury and Diocesan museum you can see about 100 priceless works of sacred art - from Romanesque, through Gothic, Renaissance, to the late Baroque. The collection includes incunabula, vestments and liturgical vessels.