Germany's Glass Heart and Giant Organ

Passau, the City on Three Rivers, is beautifully situated where the Danube, Ilz and Inn rivers all meet. It's home to a 14th century Town Hall and an exquisite Bishop's palace, but in an age when size matters, the 17th century St. Stephen's Cathedral boasts the largest organ in all of Europe.

I visited the church for an organ concert during my recent riverboat cruise, and surprisingly, I had the maturity not to giggle when the guide repeatedly talked about the organ's size. I was impressed by the organ's sound, which was incredibly loud, but I don't think I enjoyed the concert as much as the other passengers who probably have organ music on their iPods (assuming their grandkids hipped them up to mp3s).

For me, the best part of Passau was the Glass Museum. This place houses over 30,000 pieces, most of which date between 1700 and 1950. It also boasts the largest Bohemian glass collection in the world. And the four-story museum was actually opened in 1985 by none other than American astronaut Neil Armstrong. You know, the first guy to step foot on the moon.

And what about for those who don't dig churches or museums? Passau is a university town in which a fifth of its 50,000 residents are students. Add the fact that this Bavarian town has some incredible local brews and you've got the kind of math that most everyone likes.

For history buffs, the town also has lots to offer. It was originally a Roman colony and its monastery was one of the most important in the Roman Empire. Passau used to be one of Germany's centers for crafting swords and bladed weapons. And finally, for two years in the late 19th century, the town was home to that German jackass that would later grow a goofy mustache and take the world to war.

Passau, a popular spot for Danube riverboat cruises, is built around tourism, so it's an easy city for tourists who only speak English. Bavaria is a beautiful place, and this town does not disappoint.