Some dates and facts of Passau

  • 4th cen B.C.: celtic settlement Boiodurum

  • 1st cen A.D.: Roman fort Batavis (from hence derived the name Passau)

  • 739: Passau becomes diocesan town

  • 1200: Nibelungenlied written in Passau

  • 1217: Passau becomes prince diocesan town (the largest of the German Middle Ages)

  • 1225: Passau is chartered town rights

  • 1594: Passau loses the salt monopoly

  • 1622: theological academy

  • 1662: the great fire

  • 1783: prince-episcopal opera house

  • 1786: first newspaper appears

  • 1803: Passau is incorporated in the new kingdom of Bavaria (secularisation)

  • 1821: once again a diocese

  • 1978: Passau becomes university town (at the moment about 12.000 students)

  • 2003: new fair site Kohlbruck and Dreiländerhalle (event hall) opened

  • 2004: demolition of the Nibelungenhalle (famous for political speeches on Ash Wed)

  • 2005 - 2008: profound alterations in the city center, now called „Neuen Mitte“

  • 2013: Hundred year flood

City arms: red wolf in a silver shield

inhabitants: approx. 50000

area: 27 square miles

altitude: 965 – 1453 ft above sea level