Hiking up the steep hillside to Veste Oberhaus was the best way to enjoy an autumnal Sunday. Sunshine sparkled on the rivers and across the beautiful landscape. A carpet of fallen yellow leaves created a golden path toward the castle compound. The walk could not have been more pleasant, as the cool, crisp air refreshed our every step. The goal for our climb was the fortress castle, its museum, gallery, and restaurant. Our first encounter with Veste Oberhaus was its walled grounds guarding the entrance to the castle. We began our explorations with a climb to the top of a tower that gave us the perfect overview of the environment, its three rivers, the castle, and the fortress sited beneath us. This was a perfect pursuit for a blue-sky day in November. We ended the day with an easy descent just as the sun was setting over the city of Passau below.

PHOTOS: Top Two: 1. Leaf littered stairway to the castle. 2. The path, one of the switchback trails leading to the hilltop overlooking Passau. Middle Three:  1. Abundant amounts of golden leaves littered the ground. 2. Detail: the autumn leaves still clinging to the branches of a tree 3. A golden carpet. Bottom Two: 1. Jourdan and Henry, captured on a point at the fortress overlooking Passau. 2. View from the top overlooking Passau, the rivers and the countryside.

JOURDAN ARPELLE-ZIEGLER                                   BACK TO MAP  PAGE