Some dates and facts
4th cen B.C.: celtic settlement Boiodurum
1st cen A.D.: Roman fort Batavis
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
1821: once again a diocese
1978: Passau becomes university town
(about 15.000 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
2015: Due to the refugee crisis, Passau is referred to as the “Lampedusa of Germany”
City arms: red wolf in a silver shield
inhabitants: approx. 50000
area: 27 square miles
altitude: 965 – 1453 ft above sea level