The homes and buildings in the historic section of Passau were all beautiful pastel colors and very well cared for. Above you have a fountain which pays tribute to the three rivers that flow through Passau. Every blog and article ever written in history about Passau comments that this is the city of three rivers, Why should I be any different? These three rivers are the Main, Danube and the Ilk. We cruised the Danube and the Main when visiting Bamberg and Passau, Germany.
Adolph Hitler’s family rented this home on the Danube when he was a child.
Our guide told a story about a childhood friend of young Adolph who rescued him from drowning. Both boys were playing in the Danube when four year old Adolph got caught up in river turbulence and nearly drowned. Had it not been for his friend, Johann Kuehberger, who jumped in and saved Adolph, world history would have been dramatically altered. Adolph’s friend later became a well-known German priest and church organist. Likely big, life changing events happen many times every day. We just never will know about them, just as a split second can change our lives forever, in both good and bad ways. Seemingly minor daily incidents can dramatically change the course of history. This story of Hitler being saved is repeated on many internet sites. It seems there may be some truth to it. Read more: Hitler Saved from Drowning
Another crazy set of world events was the assassination of the Austrian Archduke Ferdinand and his wife Sophie. This lead to WWI, causing an estimated 40 million deaths. You can read those fascinating facts in a prior blog, Sarajevo Thirty-Two Years after the Olympics
Series of Locks on the Danube and Main Canals
We were on the river several days before we went through a river lock in the daytime. At night we heard loud, terrible screeching noises caused by the boat hull scraping against the side of the cement lock wall. It was a bit of a shock to look out the window and see this muddy, mossy cement wall one foot from your cabin window. The lock pictured below has a drop of around 40 feet. This man made canal on the Main was quite an engineering feat. Seems they could have worked a bit harder and found a better name for this river…
Leaving the lock, continuing our journey along the Main Canal.
A single photo of this lock does not capture the event very well, so let’s go to the video tape…
Ornate Building Corners
Here we have an ‘eagle tiger’ violently attacking a ‘lamb-weasel varmint.’
It occurred to me these designs at the corners of a building helped in identification for those who could not read or write hundreds of years ago. Apparently not so. These figures are meant to ward off demons.
Busy protecting the inhabitants in a religious manner.
A religious figures protecting inhabitants of on a Bamberg buildings.
This building owner went for the powerful protection of a warrior.
More Trees in Front of Buildings
I’m not expecting anyone to hang these tree photos over their couch, but I do like the contrast and abstract nature of them.
I still very much like the contrast of the skeleton of the tree and the buildings.
Bamberg Cathedral
It would be easy to walk by this busy door scene and not understand the meaning in the many carvings. I spent some time after this trip researching these entry, trying to learn the symbolism of these figures and understand the story they tell.
These large ceremonial doors were known as the Prince’s Portal, where only high clergy and bishops could enter. Our guide did not go into detail about the many other carvings around these doors.
What’s up with these joking, grotesque laughing figures?
In this half circle a drama unfolds. In the center sits Christ with outstretched arms while Mary and John the Baptist kneel at his feet. To the viewer’s left are the saved people. They include a king, commoners and an angel holding a cross. Opposite them are the damned. Children are climbing out of coffins. People are chained together and being dragged away by a demon. Among them is another king, a bishop and a miser clutching a money bag. Seems like depicting a king and a bishop would have been quite controversial.
Here is Synagoga, a medieval symbolic figure representing Judaism. She is dropping the tablets of Moses and her scepter is broken. She represents blindness and loss.
How come some men are sanding on top of other men? This is signifying the apostles standing on the shoulders of the prophets of the Old Testament. Thank goodness for the internet and AI…
I was amazed how these stone statues have been allowed to deteriorate. Some statues appear to be dissolving completely. They also need a thorough dusting. Turns out, none of these are original statues. The originals have been carried away to the Diocesan Museum in Bamberg for safekeeping.
The upside down man, grabbing the head of another, belongs to the bad, demon side of the judgment scene above the door.
Beautiful Bamberg, Germany
The contrast of the calming color of the building against the harshness of the sculpture is what appealed to me in this photo.
The Old Town Hall of Bamberg stands in the middle of a river. The Bishop would not allow a town hall to be built upon his land. So, the citizens built their building on territory outside the Bishop’s control in the middle of the river.
Perched between two bridges, the town hall symbolizes civic independence. This unique positioning allowed the city to control bridge tolls and trade moving through their town.
Colorful fresco painted side of the Town Hall
Frescoes were painted directly onto the exterior walls in the 1700’s.
Fine Local Cuisine
Eating away from the ship, having a genuine German lunch or any of the local fare, is always a highlight of a trip.
Someone in our party finished their beer before the food was served. What great authentic meals.
So off we sail, or cruise, to more small town German destinations along the Main-Danube Canal.