St. Stephan's Cathedral, Passau

St. Stephan's Cathedral is a baroque church in Passau featuring white towers and blue-green domes that represent Italian baroque architecture north of the Alps. Inside, tall bright spaces were designed to accommodate both religious services and musical performances.

A devastating fire in 1662 destroyed the medieval structure, after which architects Carlo Lurago and Giovanni Battista Carlone led the reconstruction. The new cathedral was built following Italian designs and became a landmark that shaped the city's character.

The cathedral serves as the spiritual heart of the Diocese of Passau, where religious life and musical performances blend naturally together. Visitors can sense how the space remains central to the community's spiritual and cultural identity.

Plan your visit for morning or early afternoon to see the architecture and interior spaces in good light. Organ concerts are offered during the warmer months and provide a special experience to enjoy the space fully.

The cathedral houses one of the world's largest church organs with more than 17,000 pipes and hundreds of registers. This organ is operated from multiple consoles and is a technical achievement that attracts music lovers from around the world.

Location: Passau

Inception: 1688

Architects: Carlo Lurago

Architectural style: baroque architecture

Address: Domplatz 1

Website: https://bistum-passau.de/dom-kultur/dom-st-stephan-passau

GPS coordinates: 48.57418,13.46550

Latest update: December 7, 2025 20:26