Vilshofen an der Donau

Vilshofen is located at the confluence of the Vils river with the Danube. The settlement belonged to the bishopric of Passau. The Count of Ortenburg held Vilshofen as a fief. Already in 1220, a bridge existed ver the Vils. After a dispute with the House of Ortenburg Duke Otto II of Bavaria took possession of the city in 1241.

Emperor Ludwig of Bavaria confirmed the town charter in 1345. In 1572, Duke Wilhelm V of Bavaria approved the construction of a salt depot, which in the same year resulted in the construction of the first Danube bridge and the establishment of a wheat beer brewery.
The "Goldene Steig" salt trade route from Vilshofen to Bohemia and Prague started here.

In 1794 a fire destroyed almost the entire city, only a few houses in the town square remained unscathed. Most of today´s buildings date to the reconstruction at that time.

Seen in the background is the tower of "St. Johannes der Täufer" (St. John Baptist).