Straubing (Germany Bavaria)

Straubing is a Danube River cruise port and city in Germany's Bavaria state (Niederbayern's Gauboden region, Straubing-Bogen district) with population around 50,000. The town is best-known for its annual Gaubodenvolksfest (festival held here in August), which is ranked Bavaria's second-largest fair - following only Oktoberfest (world's largest folk festival) held in Munchen.

As an important military base, the town (named Sorviodurum) was founded during the Roman Empire (1th-century BC - 4th-century AD). In early-13th-century, was built the "new town" and later Straubing became the capital city of Bavaria-Straubing (independent duchy between 1353-1432). Straubing is one of Bavaria's 5 ducal residences (together with Landshut, Munich, Ingolstadt and Burghausen). The city suffered major devastations in 1944-1945 (at the end of WW2, from several US air bombings) and in November 2016 (a fire destroyed most of the Town Hall).

The current-day city's economy is based on high-tech industries (including biotechnology) and shipping as the riverport has access to North Sea (Baltic Sea) and Black Sea (Mediterranean) via Rhine-Main-Danube Canal. Tourist attractions and landmarks include St Peter Church (12th-century), City Tower (14th-century), Town Hall, Water Tower, Herzogsschloss Castle (14th-century), St Jacob Basilica (14th-century), St Vitus Church (confraternity), Carmelite Monastery (14th-century), Ursulinenkirche (St Ursula Church), Trinity Column (at Theresienplatz), Sossau (church), Zoo Garden. Besides Gaubodenvolksfest, other popular annual festivals held here are Fruhlingsfest, Ostbayernschau, Burgerfest, Bluetone (jazz-themed, one of Europe's most famous).

As cruise port, Straubing is often included (even as homeport/departure port) in the schedules of Europe's largest river cruise companies, including Uniworld (ship River Princess), Phoenix Reisen (ship Adora), Scylla-Tauck (ships Savor, Joy), Nicko Cruises (ship Maxima).

Next table shows Maxima boat's 28-day itinerary Passau to Cologne (offered in 2019) - the longest-ever that includes Straubing as call port. Prices started from ~USD 3850 pp.