Deggendorf (Germany)

Deggendorf is a Danube River cruise port and a city in Bavaria. It is situated on the river's left bank, nearly in the middle between Passau and Regensburg. The crossing railway bridge on Danube kilometers 2286th creates the natural border to the city south-east of the river, and it's the other side at the foot of central Bavarian Forest. Several miles downstream, close to Deggenau district, Isar River flows into Danube.

The Lower Bavarian city of Deggendorf is often called gateway to “Bavarian Forest”. Sheltered in a heavenly valley at the foot of Bavarian mountains, it is the perfect site to start exploring the eastern parts of Bavaria. A wealth of cultural and culinary highlights wait to be discovered there.

The total area of Deggendorf is 77.21 km2 (29.81 ml2) and it has a population of 32,190 inhabitants (2015 census). The earliest traces of settlement in the region were found close to the Danube River, around 8,000 years ago. Both Celtic era and Bronze Age archeological finds designate continuous dwelling through the years.

After WW2 (1939-1945), in the city were displaced Jewish camp refugees (around 2000) who even created a cultural center (newspapers, Cum Ojfboj, theater group, kosher kitchen, mikvah, synagogue). The Jewish camp even issued its private currency (Deggendorf Dollar). Many of the residents were survivors of Theresienstadt's concentration camp. Deggendorf's displaced persons camp closed on June 15, 1949.

Just like all Bavarian towns, the city of Deggendorf boasts its fair share of monasteries and churches. The best-known is St.Peter and Paul’s Church of the Holy Sepulchre with quite extraordinary steeple completed 400 years after the creation of the church and is regarded as one of the prettiest Baroque church steeples found in southern Germany.

The shipbuilder Deggendorfer Werft und Eissenbau GmbH (now renamed MAN Turbo AG) is famous for constructing Europe's largest riverboat - Crystal Mozart.