DAY 1: SUNDAY Frankfurt – Eisenach – Weimar (D)
Depart from Frankfurt in the morning and drive eastward to Eisenach,
dominated by the Wartburg Castle. Visit one of the most important
buildings of German history and see the room where Martin Luther in only
eleven weeks translated the New Testament. Three hundred years before,
St. Elizabeth of Thuringia spent almost all her life at the Wartburg.
Afterwards, we continue to a cultural treasure, Weimar, where numerous
famous persons like Goethe, Schiller, Liszt and Richard Strauss lived
and worked. In the evening our welcome dinner will be served at our
hotel. Overnight at Hotel Leonardo or similar.
DAY 2: MONDAY Weimar – Dresden (B)
After the breakfast drive to Dresden, the capital of the Free State
of Saxony. On a city tour you will get to know one of the loveliest
cities of central Europe. Due to its mild climate, the baroque
architecture and the renowned museums, Dresden is also called ‘Florence
of the Elbe’. See the Semper Opera House, the baroque Zwinger, the Green
Vault or another important museum of your choice and, overall, the
restored Frauenkirche. Nowadays, it is hard to believe that after the
bombing in 1945 the city centre was completely destroyed. The rest of
the day is free for own activities. Overnight at Park Inn o.s.
DAY 3: TUESDAY Dresden – Wittenberg – Potsdam –
Berlin (B)
Today we return to the traces of Luther and visit
Wittenberg where the reformation started on 31.10.1517 when Martin,
according to legend, nailed his 95 theses to the portal of the Castle
Church. Afterwards, we depart towards Potsdam and the impressive
courtyards of Sanssouci Palace, the former summer residence of Frederick
the Great, King of Prussia. In the late afternoon we arrive at Berlin.
Overnight at Holiday Inn Express City Centre o.s.
DAY 4: WEDNESDAY Berlin (B)
During a big city tour we will show you all the highlights of Germany’s
capital and most exciting city. See Brandenburg Gate, our parliament
Reichstag, the victory column, Palace Bellevue, Kaiser-Wilhelm-Memorial
Church, Checkpoint Charlie, remains of the wall, boulevard Unter den
Linden and the Berliner Dom (Berlin Cathedral). The afternoon is free
for own activities like discovering the museums island or shopping in
the numerous boutiques and department stores like KaDeWe. Take the
opportunity to do an optional boat trip which gives you some memorable
views from the channel Spree. Please just ask your guide! Overnight at
Holiday Inn Express City Centre o.s.
DAY 5: THURSDAY Berlin – Hamburg (B)
Today we are heading north. Our next stop is Hamburg. Enjoy all the
main sights of this booming city like St. Michaelis Church, called
Michel, St. Pauli quarter, Landungsbruecken, Speicherstadt and the
brand-new HafenCity before discovering Germany’s largest port on a
typical harbour cruise. The evening is free, maybe for a walk along the
Reeperbahn? This amusement district originally was visited by sailors
who were able to spend a whole six month pay in only one happy night.
Nowadays, of course, you can also see more ‘civilised’ areas. Overnight
at Best Western Queens Hotel o.s.
DAY 6: FRIDAY Hamburg – Bremen – Hamelin (B/ D)
After breakfast departure to Bremen, the free hanseatic city at
river Weser with an old tradition of seafaring. See ‘Roland’ at the
market square, the cathedral, the city hall and the bronze statue of
Grimms’ Bremer Stadtmusikanten. Rub the donkey’s hooves and a wish comes
true! After a walk through the narrow streets of Schnoor quarter with
tiny houses, we turn onto the famous German Fairy Tale Route. In the
afternoon we reach Hamelin, a city known for the Pied Piper, another
legend appeared in the writings of the Brothers Grimm. Its former
wealthy – due to its favourable location as trading centre on the river
Weser – was reflected in its lavishly decorated houses. The delightful
centre is a listed site of historical interest. After the check-in at
the hotel, we will celebrate our farewell dinner. Overnight at Mercure
Hotel o.s.
DAY 7: SATURDAY Hamelin – Frankfurt (B)
Along the river Weser we follow the Fairy Tale Route towards the
small and unique city of Hann.Muenden. Never destroyed, Hann.Muenden
belongs to the best preserved halftimbered places in Germany. Enjoy this
jewel of Weser Renaissance style before we continue our trip to
Frankfurt. On the further way to the south we will make stops along the
road, depending on the weather and traffic situation. In the afternoon
we reach Frankfurt where a panoramic city tour of Germany’s financial
capital awaits us. Overnight at InterCity Hotel o.s.
DAY 8: SUNDAY Frankfurt
– Wuerzburg – Rothenburg ob der Tauber (B, D)
Depart from Frankfurt in the morning for a picturesque drive through the
Spessart mountains to Wuerzburg, on the banks of the river Main. Enjoy a guided
tour of the magnificent Residence, a masterpiece of baroque architecture and
UNESCO World Heritage Site. On the world famous Romantic Road we move on to
Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Germany’s well preserved ‘Jewel of the Middle Ages’.
During a city walk, including a visit of St. Jacob’s Church with the Holy Blood
Altar by Tilman Riemenschneider, you will experience the special flair of this
unique town. Leisure time before dinner at the hotel. Afterwards, join an
unforgettable tour with the Night Watchman. Overnight at Hotel Eisenhut or
similar.
DAY 9: MONDAY
Rothenburg ob der Tauber – Augsburg – Munich (B)
Today we continue our trip along the Romantic Road. See charming villages like
Dinkelsbuehl or Noerdlingen before we arrive at Augsburg. We continue to the
Bavarian capital, Munich. An orientation tour, passing Nymphenburg Castle and
the Olympic Grounds, will give you a first impression of this splendid city
before we check-in at our hotel. In the afternoon we will leave for a walk which
will take us at 05:00 pm to the ‘Glockenspiel’ (carillon) at Marienplatz.
The evening is free for own activities. Would you like to have a look
into the ‘Hofbraeuhaus’ or to attend a concert or an opera? Please just
ask your guide! Overnight at Hotel Erzgiesserei o.s.
DAY 10: TUESDAY
Munich – Garmisch-Partenkirchen – Ettal – Oberammergau – Fuessen (B)
Depending on the weather conditions on this day, drive to Garmisch-Partenkirchen,
situated
at the foot of our highest mountain ‘Zugspitze’ and one of the most important
wintersport
towns in Southern Germany, before going on to the Benedectine abbey of Ettal and
to
Oberammergau. The village is internationally famous for its Passion Play –
generally performed every ten years – and for its numerous buildings with tromp
l'oeil (Lueftlmalerei) painted façades. On the way to our today’s destination,
Fuessen, we will make a short stop at the glorious rococo church in Wies. On
sunny days, from there you can already see the fantastic Bavarian Alps.
Overnight at Luitpoldpark-Hotel o.s.
DAY 11: WEDNESDAY
Fuessen – Hohenschwangau – Linderhof – Rottenbuch – Fuessen (B)
From Fuessen it is only a short trip to Hohenschwangau and – located on the
rugged hill above – the breathtaking fairytale castle of King Ludwig II,
Neuschwanstein! After the guided visit we continue to Linderhof on a scenic Alps
tour through Austria. Linderhof is the only palace ‘Mad King Ludwig’ lived to
see completed. In the later afternoon we arrive back to Fuessen – not having
missed to see another treasure of rococo architecture, the monastery church
Rottenbuch. Overnight at Luitpoldpark-Hotel o.s.
DAY 12: THURSDAY
Fuessen – Lindau – Lake Constance (B)
In the morning, after breakfast and check-out, we are heading to Lake Constance
which we will arrive at its north shore, located between Germany, Switzerland
and Austria. Enjoy a walking tour of the beautiful village Lindau before we
continue to Konstanz. The largest town at Lake Constance with a lot of
historical interest is located at Germany's border with Switzerland and also the
birthplace of Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin, the famous airship pioneer.
Afterwards, we check-in at our hotel in the nearby city Singen. Overnight at
Holiday Inn Express o.s.
DAY 13: FRIDAY
Lake Constance – Black Forest – Freiburg – Heidelberg (B/ D)
Today we enter the Black Forest, a region known not only for its delicious cake
and the wooden cuckoo clocks but also for its spectacular landscapes. We will
visit a clockmaker and, of course, you will have the possibility to taste the
typical cake. Enjoy a drive through the beautiful countryside towards the
idyllic town of Freiburg. After a city tour we continue to Heidelberg, the
oldest German university town where you will see the inner courtyard of the
impressive castle, UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the wine cellar with its big
barrel. In the evening, we will celebrate our good-bye to Romantic Germany with
a great farewell dinner at famous Restaurant Zum Ritter St. Georg, built in the
16th century. Overnight at Hotel Zum Ritter St. Georg o.s.
DAY 14: SATURDAY
Heidelberg – Ruedesheim – Frankfurt (B)
We leave Heidelberg in the early morning to take you to the Upper Middle Rhine
Valley, also
declared UNESCO World Heritage Site and famous for its wines and vineyards. In
Ruedesheim we board a steamer for a Rhine river cruise, passing fascinating
castles, ruins and the legendary Loreley Rock. Maybe, from the deck of the ship,
you will see the blond maid combing her hair. Our coach will awaits us in St.
Goarshausen to bring us back to Frankfurt where our exciting journey ends with a
small panoramic city tour of Germany’s financial capital at approx. 04:00 pm.
