The church Stiftskirche dates from the early 1700's, and has over 100 tiny angel figures adorning its elaborate ceiling. Experienced travelers consider this stretch of the Danube to be one of the most beautiful vistas in Europe. Tangled vines cover the steep, terraced south bank of the Danube, creating a luscious landscape in hues of green, resembling nothing so much as an oversized staircase. The north bank is lined with wooded slopes and cliffs. All along the river, the hillsides are dotted with enchanting small towns and picturesque villages.
Steeples rise toward the heavens while houses huddle below.
This captivating stretch of the Danube is hollowed out of the granite of the Waldviertel, which forms the last foothills of the Bohemian massif. What does remain is considered by many a Baroque masterpiece. The interior of the abbey boasts a marble hall, ceiling frescoes by Paul Troger, a dizzying spiral staircase and a library which houses over 70,000 books and 2,000 rare manuscripts. The abbey church of Saints Peter and Paul is a fine example of Baroque architecture, where even the pulpit, confessionals and organ loft are considered breathtaking. Situated on a narrow point of land, Passau's grand old homes line the waterfront, its streets rise in circles along the hillside, and its picturesque archways appear to join one house to another.