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Motor-Coach-Tours |
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The Eastern Classics
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Vienna – Lake Balaton – Budapest – Danube Bend – Banska Bystrica – Krakow – Oswiecim/Auschwitz – Czestochowa – Warsaw – Poznan – Berlin/Potsdam – Dresden – Prague |
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An exciting journey of East Europe's colorful past, including its capitals of natural beauty and classic examples of timeless architecture. Travel through unspoilt villages, quaint countrysides and along wooden hills and rocky mountains. Participate in local music and entertainment, listen to the strains of gypsy violins and enjoy an unforgettable river cruise in the golden city of Prague!
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| | DAY 01 Vienna/Austria
A warm welcome awaits you upon arrival Vienna Airport by your Tour Director who will be with you from now on throughout the entire land tour. Transfer to your hotel and join us tonight for a welcome reception. (2 overnights at Hotel Dorint). | | | | | | DAY 02 Vienna
Your morning city tour of Vienna starts with a visit at spectacular Schoenbrunn Palace, modified to its present structure by Empress Maria Theresa. You will see some of the 1.400 rooms and apartments that show a variety of sumptuously furnished rooms in Baroque and Rococo style, magnificent chandeliers, beautiful paintings, fine lacquer-works from Asia, the Hall of Mirrors where small boy Mozart played for the Empress - and or other apartments depending on various inside tours you are temporal scheduled. - Outside, enjoy a superb view from the Gloriette monument of its park and gardens, statues and gracious fountains. - Return to the city for a lunch break and continue your sightseeing with a drive on the Ring to view great buildings such as the Opera House, Maria Theresa Monument, museums, the Parliament and City Hall and the former imperial palace Hofburg, a complex of historic buildings from the 13th century and home of the famous Spanish Riding School. - Visit St. Stephen's Cathedral with its fine altarpiece of the 15th century and see various and impressive busts of Saints, including the one of St. Stephen. Your tour ends during the afternoon at famous Hotel-Cafe Sacher and why not try here a piece of tasty Sachertorte. - Tonight join us for dinner at a typical Heurigen-Restaurant in the winevillage of Grinzing.
Meals: B&D. | | | | | | DAY 03 Vienna – Lake Balaton – Budapest/Hungary
This morning we leave the capital of Austria and soon crossing the border for Hungary and stop at Sopron where young Franz Liszt gave several concerts around 1820. See its old town center encircled by medieval walls of the 15th century and a splendid statue which commemorates the plague of the early 18th century. -Later, we stop for lunch en route and continue to central Europe's largest Lake Balaton, its wine region and stop on the beautiful peninsula of Tihany. Enjoy the picturesque quay lined with outside cafes, numerous shops and a panoramic view of this lake. - Then your drive leads to Hungary's capital Budapest for overnight. - Dinner will be served this evening to the strains of soulful gypsy violins.
Meals: B&D. (2 overnight at Hotel Novotel). | | | | | | DAY 04 Budapest – Szentendre – Esztergom
Following breakfast the morning sightseeing tour of Budapest includes both parts of the city, Buda and Pest divided by the Danube River. You will see the Parliament building in neo-Gothic style, built during the late 19th century right on the bank of the Danube River, outside lined with many statues. Visit St. Stephen's Basilica, a huge church which provides space for about 8.000 visitors. See its impressive interior and the statue of St. Stephen, first King of Hungary. On the Chain Bridge you cross the Danube River for the city part of Buda and drive up the Castle Hill to visit the old town center and see restored walls, arches and buildings of all classic architecture. Admire here a Roman watch-tower at Fishermen's Bastion and the Coronation Church from the 13th century in which the Kings Franz-Josef and Karl of Hungary were crowned. Finally and from the Gellert Hill with its Citadel enjoy a wonderful view of the city, of all its bridges and of Margaret Island, known for its beautiful flowers and garden. - After your lunch break the sightseeing continues with an excursion to the famous Danube Bend first with a stop at the charming village of Szentendre, to visit its nearby Open-Air-Museum with a display of Hungarian country- and farmhouses, old mills and picturesque churches, all built during the 18th and 19th century. - Then your drive takes you to Esztergom, Hungary's religious center and dominated by a remarkable Basilica of the 19th century. Visit also Castle Hill with its restored palace ruins of the 12th century, to be said birthplace of the first Hungarian King Istvan. - Ample time is yours now before we return to our hotel in Budapest.
Meals: B. | | | | | | DAY 05 Budapest – Banska Bystrica/Slovakia
Today's morning drive takes you first along the Danube River and to the border of Sahy into Slovakia, since 1993 an independent country. Your journey leads through quaint villages, pasture land and along rocky mountains. A side trip off the beaten track will take you to Banska Stiavnica, an old fascinating mining town with its beginnings of the 13th century. You see two castles, a bell tower church and visit another Open-Air-Museum with a display of the town's mining heritage. - Following a lunch break en route you continue to Baska Bystrica, surrounded by wooden hills and mountains of mineral treasures. Before our hotel check-in an orientation drive will show some sights of this old silver and copper town like the picturesque market square with painted burgher houses of early Renaissance style, the large Clock Tower, a church of Roman style and a row of Middle Age towers.
Meals: B&D. (1 overnight at Hotel Lux). | | | | | | DAY 06 Banska Bystrica – Krakow/Poland
After a good breakfast your tour continues further north through Slovakia by way of Ruzomberok for a break, a small village partly of medieval architecture and former outpost of Christianity during the 16th century. - Then your route winds along hills and mountains as we arrive Poland and continue to Krakow, one of Eastern Europe's most beautiful cities. - Upon check-in at your hotel the afternoon sightseeing tour will show you Krakow's Cathedral with the tombs of its former Polish kings, the Sigismund Chapel, the market place with its old burgher houses and the beautiful arcaded Cloth Hall of the 14th century. See also St. Mary's Church and listen to its ancient bugle playing every hour. You view the 14th century University and other magnificent buildings of Gothic style arranged around a courtyard.
Meals: B&D. (1 overnight at Hotel Novotel). | | | | | | DAY 07 Krakow – Oswiecim – Czestochwa – Warsaw/Poland
You leave the beautiful city of Krakow this morning first by way of Oswiecim, better known as Auschwitz to visit a former Nazi concentration camp and its museum. - After this stop we continue with our route to the pilgrim town of Czestochowa to visit here its landmark the 14th century Gora Monastery, surrounded by medieval walls. See the inside of this most impressive Baroque church and its Lady Chapel which contains a world-famous painting of Virgin Mary, also called the „Black Madonna”, a masterpiece of an Italian artist and subject of a religious cult dating back to the Middle Ages. - Following another stop en route we finally arrive today at Warsaw on the River Vistula in time for dinner and a private recital of Chopin's outstanding works.
Meals: B & D. (2 overnights at Hotel Mercure). | | | | | | DAY 08 Warsaw
Your morning sightseeing tour of this former fortified town and Poland's capital will include the rebuilt old city quarter and market square, the statue of former King Sigismund and a visit to the Museum of Warsaw History, including a short film introduction of Warsaw's destruction and recovery. Your drive continues to the site of the former Jewish Ghetto with its memorial. Then we visit the Royal Palace and its apartments to see the Throne Room, the Knight's Chamber and most beautiful paintings of Poland's history. - Your lunch break will be spend at the Place of Culture and Science, a huge building of Russian architecture with columns flanked by splendid statues. The inside of this monumental palace provides you with a variety of restaurants shops and offers from the 30th floor a panoramic view of the city and its river linked by many picturesque bridges. - The rest of the day is yours to do as you please.
Meals: B. | | | | | | DAY 09 Warsaw – Poznan – Berlin/Germany
Today your motor-coach takes you westwards crossing the central plains of Poland and historic places of former invadors such as the armies of Napoleon, Hitler and Stalin. Following a stop en route you arrive at the city of Poznan. An orientation drive shows the castle residence of Poland's former Great Dukes and quaint burgher houses at the old market square. - Then continue your drive by way of Frankfurt on the River Oder, the border for Germany. From here we soon arrive at Berlin, once again the capital of Germany for dinner and overnight.
Meals: B&D. (2 overnights at Hotel Mueggelsee). | | | | | | DAY 10 Berlin & Potsdam
The morning city tour of Berlin starts with a drive on the sweeping avenue Unter den Linden, passing its landmark Brandenburg Gate, along the Reichstag building that now houses the German Parliament. You stop at Checkpoint Charlie up to 1989 the crossing point between East and West Berlin. - See the ruined Kaiser-Wilhelm-Gedaechtniskirche, kept as a reminder of World War II and soon arrive at Kurfuerstendamm to browse on this prestigious street with miles of boutiques, antique shops, restaurants, cafes and night clubs. - Following your lunch break we continue our sightseeing tour to near Potsdam to visit its famous Palace Sanssouci, built 1745 during the period of Prussian's Friedrich the Great. Admire the inside of this former summer residence displays a magnificent collection of art treasures. Close to the palace see the attractive park of Cecilienhof where in 1945 the Potsdam Agreement was signed. - During the afternoon return to Berlin and enjoy dinner tonight at your hotel.
Meals: B&D. | | | | | | DAY 11 Berlin –Dresden – Prague/Czechia
Your morning drive on the German autobahn takes you to the city of Dresden, also called the „Florence of the River Elbe”. You will see the city's historic district, the famous and restored opera house Semperoper which once saw premiers of Richard Wagner and Strauss, the notable Cathedral with its bell tower, decorated with many beautiful statues. See also the Zwinger with the Carillon Pavilion of Baroque architecture and the Bath of the Nymphs, a masterpiece of fountains and grottoes. - Time is yours before our day tour continues to Zinnwald and border for the Czech Republic which became a sovereign nation in 1993 and partnership of NATO 1999. - Following customs clearance our motor-coach takes us through valleys and wooded slopes around countryside finally to the capital of Prague, also called the „Golden City” of hundred spires and built on seven hills on the banks of the Vltava River.
Meals: B & D. (2 overnights at Hotel Novotel). | | | | | | DAY 12 Prague
Start your morning with a beautiful sightseeing tour first of the castle district Hradcany rising on a rock to see the Royal Castle with its giant statues and courtyards. Next to the castle visit St. Vitus Cathedral with two spires and an onion dome, built in the 14th century. You see the Royal Palace, former residence of the Bohemian Lords from the 11th to 17th centuries where some defenders of Catholic faith were thrown out of a window which actually caused the beginning of the Thirty Years War. - Your city tour continues to Prague's Lower Town to view its great Charles Bridge crossing the River Vltava, decorated with splendid Baroque statues. See also the Old Town Square with its historic City Hall, the monument of reformer Jan Hus and the famous 500-years old Astronomical Clock with a procession of Apostles and other figures. - Ample time is yours now for a lunch break or for just browsing around. - During the afternoon enjoy a scenic river cruise with a good view of the city's historic district, the dominating Fortress Hradcany and remarkable buildings and monuments of Gothic, Baroque and Rococo architecture. - This evening a farewell dinner will be served at your hotel.
Meals: B&D. | | | | | | DAY 13 Prague – Last day of tour
After breakfast your tour of the Eastern Classics comes to an end as you transfer to Prague's airport for your return flight. -We are sure you are filled now with impressions of East Europe's eventful history, architectural heritage and its recovery. - Your Tour Director bids farewell before your flight takes you back home!
Meals: B. | | | |
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All includings* |
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- Transfers between airports of Vienna/Prague and hotels.
- A welcome cocktail upon day of arrival.
- 12 accommodations at selected three to four-star hotels as named or similar, including hotel tax, service charges and baggage handling.
- 12 buffet-style breakfasts.
- 9 three-courses dinners, including one with local entertainment in Vienna-Grinzing and
one with gypsy music in Budapest.
- Touring by a private and late-model motor-coach with all facilities.
- All sightseeings, excursions and entrance fees as per itinerary: City sightseeing of Vienna, including entrance to Schoenbrunn Palace.
- Side trip to lake Balaton.
- City sightseeing of Budapest.
- Excursion to the Danube Bend.
- Orientation drive of Banska Bystrica and Stiavnica, including entrance to its Open-Air-Museum.
- City sightseeing of Krakow.
- Side trip to Oswiecim, including its former concentration camp and museum.
- Orientation drive of Czestochowa, including Monastery with its Black Madonna.
- City sightseeing of Warsaw, including entrance to Museum of History, the former Jewish Ghetto, entrance to Royal Palace.
- A private piano recital.
- Orientation drive of Poznan.
- City sightseeing of Berlin.
- Excursion to Potsdam, including entrance to Sanssouci Palace.
- Orientation drive of Dresden.
- City sightseeing of Prague, including castle district Hradcany and a river cruise.
- An experienced and multi-lingual Tour Director each day throughout land. |
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