Since 730, there have been many churches built on the site of the current cathedral. The current church, a baroque building around 100 metres (328ft) long, was built from 1668 to 1693 after a fire in 1662 destroyed its predecessor, of which only the late gothic eastern side remains.[2] The cathedral's overall plan was made by Carlo Lurago, its interior decoration by Giovanni Battista Carlone, and its frescos by Carpoforo Tencalla.[3]
Bells
The cathedral has eight large bells in the bell rooms in the north and south towers. The largest bell or bourdon is named,"Pummerin" at 7550kg cast in 1952. It alongside "Sturmerin" weighing 5300kg cast in 1733 hang in the south tower. The other six bells hang in the north tower. They include: the second bourdon "Misericordia" weighing 6000kg, the Angelus bell, "Predigtglocke", "Elfuhrglocken", the Choir bell, and "Dignitar". A ninth bell, the "Zeichenglocke" hangs near the sacristy door. 3 of the 8 bells serve as clock bells; the Elfuhrglocken chimes every quarter hour while Predigtglocke and Stürmerin in succession chime each the number of a full hour. In Germany, the bells are always numbered from largest to smallest, Bell 1 is always the tenor or bourdon.
Bell
Name
(German)
Name
(English)
Year of casting
Founder, place of casting
Mass (kg.)
Tower
1
Pummerin (Bourdon Bell)
1952
Rudolf Perner Bell Foundry, Passau
7850 kg
South
2
Misericordia (2nd Bourdon)
1999
5950 kg
North
3
Stürmerin
Striker
1733
Nikolaus Drackh, Passau
5600 kg
South
4
Dignitär
Dignified
1897
Lorenz Bell Foundry, Passau
3375 kg
North
5
Predigtglocke
Preacher Bell
1896
2400 kg
6
Angelusglocke
Angelus bell
1897
1250 kg
7
Elfuhrglocke
Eleven o'clock bell
1896
800 kg
8
Chorglocke
Choir bell
1951
Rudolf Perner Bell Foundry, Passau
525 kg
Pipe organ
Passau Cathedral's used to be the largest organ in the world. It still is the largest church organ outside of the U.S. Over time, it has been outgrown by more recent instruments, including Wanamaker's organ in the U.S.
The organ currently has 17,774 pipes and 233 registers, all of which can be played with the five-manual general console in the gallery.[citation needed] Portions of the organ have their own mechanical-action or electric-action consoles, for a total of six consoles.
The organs at this cathedral have continually been added to over the years. The "organ" is really several separate organs of different tonal styles, all accessible from one or more consoles. The organs of the First Congregational Church of Los Angeles, California, U.S. have also grown over the years and play from twin consoles; together, the two organs have 346 ranks and over 20,000 pipes.[citation needed] By contrast, the Cadet Chapel Organ of the United States Military Academy, West Point, New York is a single organ. It has also been added to continuously over the years and is larger still with more than 23,500 pipes. It plays from a single console.[citation needed]
In 2017, Arnold Schwarzenegger was allowed to play the cathedral's pipe organ, a "childhood dream" according to the actor.[4]
Chancel
Main west Organ in St. Stephen's Cathedral in Passau
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