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Germany's Southern Romance
Guided coach tour of Germany and
Austria
7 days 6 nights
Scheduled Sunday Departures
(See dates below)
Day 01:
Sunday:
Departure from Frankfurt – see
below mentioned departure times/places. Our first stop is the town of Ruedesheim.
Located on the banks of the River Rhine, surrounded by vineyards and on top of
one of those, dominated by the Germania a statue which is known as the
Niederwald-Monument. We will have a short walk through the famous Drosselgasse
and passing by Siegfrieds Mech. Musikkabinett before boarding the Gondola to the
Niederwald-Monument. From the Niederwald-Monument it is only a short ride for
boarding a Rhine steamer to do a scenic cruise passing nice villages & castles.
This part of the Rhine River to St. Goarshausen where we will disembark, is the
most scenic and romantic of all. Also it was nominated UNESCO World Heritage. We
are heading south to another historic place – the city of Heidelberg. There we
will visit the famous castle, built from red sandstone found at the River Neckar,
before walking through the old town, where you will see – beside other beautiful
sights - the famous university. The welcome dinner will take place in one of the
oldest Restaurant of Germany, the “Zum Ritter St. Georg”.
   
Day 02:
Monday
In the morning we are heading
south for the Black Forest. On our scenic route you will get an impression of
this area with the dark woods, the murmuring creeks, the ambrosial glades and
the romantic valleys. We will of course stop at one of the manufactories where
the famous cuckoo clocks are built and at one of the most scenic lakes, the
beautiful Lake Titisee. Onward to the largest lake of Germany - Lake Constance,
is one of the most popular regions of the country, with beautiful scenery and a
very special, healthy climate.
   
Day 03:
Tuesday
After breakfast we are taking the
German Alpine Road to the Wies church (Church of the “Flagellated Saviour in the
Meadow”) on of the most beautiful rococo churches in Germany. On we go to
Hohenschwangau where we will visit Neuschwanstein Castle built by King Ludwig
II. This castle ranked no. eight when millions of people decided on the “new
seven world wonders” and was model for the Cinderella castle by Walt Disney.
After that outstanding experience, we will be crossing the Austrian border and
drive on a scenic route to Innsbruck, capital of Tyrol. There your tour guide
will take you on a city walk to show you the important sights of the city like
the Golden Roof, cathedrale St. Jacob, the Hofburg and much more.
   
Day 04:
Wednesday
From Innsbruck it is not far to
the Swarovsky Kristallwelten (with shops all around the world) in Wattens built
by plans of the famous Austrian Artist Andre Heller. At the Swarovsky
Kristallwelten you will have some time to take a look on the exhibiton/shop and
of course to get yourself a souvinier. Our next topic will be a journey to
Berchtesgaden. At the shores of the lake Königssee which has a depth of 602m at
the deepest spot, you can enjoy the beautiful nature around the lake. It’s just
a short walk to the eastern shore and the famous “Malerwinkel” (painter’s
corner). Here you will have a stunning view on lake Königssee and the steep
walls of the mountain Watzmann (^2712m/ ~8897feet)
or make your own way up to the Kehlsteinhaus (known as Eagle’s Nest in English)
where you will be lifted up to the summit by an luxurious brass elevator. Enjoy
this example of historic architecture and a stunning alpine setting. As the
allied bombing of World War II did not damage the Eagle’s Nest, today the
Eagle’s Nest remains in its original state. You will have a magnificent view
over the Alps and Lake Königssee (for this excursion on your own, you have about
2 hrs). From there it is just a short ride to Salzburg.
   
Day 05:
Thursday
In the morning we will have a
walking tour of “the city of Mozart” – Salzburg. Besides the well known sites
like Getreidegasse, the cathedral, the festival house, we will also see Mozart´s
birthplace. If the weather is well and having good visibility you will enjoy a
ride with a cable car up to the Fortress Hohensalzburg. From this spot you will
have a beautiful view over Salzburg and the surrounding mountain scenery. If the
weather does not allow this activity, we will have an inside visit of the
Mozarthaus - and it is a must to try the local speciality - the famous sweets
called „Mozartkugeln“. Around noon we are heading north for Munich – the capital
of the state of Bavaria. Our first stop is at Nymphenburg castle, the baroque
palace was in former times residence of the monarchs of Bavaria. After that we
will go on an orientative city tour , where your guide will show you the
splendid sights of the city, like the Residence, Maximilian- & Leopoldstreet,
the Opera, the Olympic Grounds, the Marienplatz with the City Hall, and its
carillon, the church St. Peter, the Viktualien-Market and many more.
   
Day 06:
Friday
After breakfast we are leaving
Munich and heading north to Nuremberg. This franconian metropolis has a very
special flair, which you will experience on a orientative city tour. You will
see the Reichsparteitagsgelände (Party Rallye Grounds), courtroom 600 where the
famous Nuremberg trials were held, the beautiful old town with still preserved
city wall and gates, the Hauptmarkt, the Kaiserburg and a lot more. Nuremberg
and the franconian region is also famous for the special grilled sausage the so
called “Nuernberger Rostbratwuerste” which you can try when you have some time
for own activities, before we are following the Castle Road to Rothenburg o.d.
Tauber. Rothenburg o.d. Tauber is called “medieval jewel of Germany” and after
the city walk we are sure that you will agree! Our tour guide will show you the
almost totally preserved town wall with its gates and fortifications, the Jacobs
Church with the beautiful, wood carved altar made by Tilman Riemenschneider, the
city hall on the market square and much more. As in Rothenburg you can have
Christmas all year long, when having some time on your own, you can visit the
Kaethe Wohlfart´s World of Christmas, where Christmas Goods are sold all year
and added to that is the Christmas Museum. In the evening we will hold a
farewell dinner in a typical restaurant.
    
Day 07:
Saturday
From Rothenburg we go on to
Wuerzburg, where we will take a visit to the Residence – a real masterpiece from
the baroque. Also worth seeing is the Juliusspital, the cathedral and the city
hall. In the afternoon we are heading back to Frankfurt, where the tour will end
at approx 04.00 pm (depending on traffic conditions.)
Departure
dates 2011:
May 15, June 12, July 17, August 14, *September 18
and October 16
Priced from $1289
pp dbl, $1259 pp Triple, $1599 Single
*
This date has an Oktoberfest
supplement of $105 pp
In
General:
• Six
overnight stays at tourist superior hotels (local 3*category) including tax and
service charges. All rooms with private bath or shower and toilet.
•Transportation by modern air-conditioned motor coach with WC (Exception: if
less than 12 participants we use air conditioned mini coaches without WC)
•Professional bilingual English/Spanish speaking guide throughout the tour (With
less then 8 participants – minivan with driver-guide)
•All excursions and city tours not marked as optional.
Meals:
•Welcome
dinner incl. drink (1 glass of Beer, Wine or Soft drink)
•Six breakfast buffets
•Farewell dinner incl. drink (1 glass of Beer, Wine or Soft drink)
Entrance
Fees/Fares/Additionals included:
• Cable Car
Ride Niederwald-Monument, Ruedesheim
• Rhine River Cruise to St. Goarshausen
• Heidelberg Castle inner courtyard, wine cellar and big barrel, Heidelberg
• Neuschwanstein Castle, Hohenschwangau
• Cable car ride to fortress Hohensalzburg or visit of Mozarthaus, Salzburg
• Nymphenburg Palace, Munich
• Jakobskirche, Rothenburg
• Residence, Wuerzburg
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