District

Bavarian Forest

North of Passau stretches the Bavarian Forest, a vast upland range that joins across the border with the Bohemian Šumava to form the largest contiguous forest area in Central Europe. At its core lies the Bavarian Forest National Park, founded in 1970 — Germany's oldest national park. Here the guiding principle is 'let nature be nature': mountain mixed forests, raised bogs, clear streams and primeval ridges are allowed to develop freely, and even the dead spruce slopes are part of a living, self-renewing ecosystem.

Peaks such as the Lusen, with its striking summit boulder field, and the Rachel invite scenic hikes, while the wildlife enclosures near Neuschönau and Ludwigsthal show native species such as lynx, wolf, bear and capercaillie. A highlight for families is the Treetop Walk near Neuschönau, which leads at airy height through the canopy and culminates in a towering observation 'egg'. In winter the region becomes a quiet realm for cross-country skiing, snowshoe tours and tobogganing.

The Bavarian Forest does not belong to the city of Passau itself, but it is its most important nature destination and the green retreat of the Passau countryside. In about an hour by car you move from baroque cityscape into deep, primeval wilderness — a contrast that makes the region so appealing.