Awaken in Passau today for a choice of sightseeing in this riverside town in Germany, or an excursion to Cesky Krumlov in the Czech Republic. Once a Roman outpost at the confluence of three rivers, Passau is over 2,500 years old, a quintessential Bavarian town of pastel patrician houses, cafes, romantic cobblestone lanes, and riverfront promenades, made for walking (many streets are closed to traffic). If you choose to stay in Passau, your walking tour immerses you in its storybook mix of Roman, Italian Baroque, and German Gothic architecture. See St. Stephan's Cathedral, view the hilltop fortress where Passau's prince-bishops once resided, and peruse the 14th-century Rathaus (Town Hall). Later, if you wish, join your Tauck director for a brisk walk to a hilltop fortress, or attend a public concert on the famous organ of St. Stephan's Cathedral when available, or take a 12-mile bike ride along the Danube, meeting up with your riverboat in the town of Engelhartszell. Alternatively, travel to Cesky Krumlov, an incredibly well-preserved medieval town in a landscape of exceptional beauty. Your walking tour includes Krumlov Castle, one of the largest castle complexes in Central Europe, embracing 40 buildings and palaces of medieval, Renaissance, and Rococo designs, plus numerous courtyards and gardens. Return to the riverboat and enjoy the chef's signature dinner tonight as you cruise to Grein. ...
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