Welcome to Enchanting Journeys

Willkommen in Deutschland - with its roller coaster of feasts, treats & temptations as you take in the soul-stirring scenery, spirit-lifting culture, big-city beauties, romantic palaces & half-timbered towns.

Arrive in the city of Frankfurt am Main - where the combo of glamour & grit is bound to mesmerise as you explore its vibrant culture, cutting-edge architecture, fabulous food, intense parties & tangible history.

After you exit in the Arrival Hall at Terminal? - Frankfurt International Airport, subsequent to Immigration & Customs, you will be welcomed by The Journeys representative who will ensure your comfort & transfer you to the hotel. He / she will provide assistance during Check-in & also discuss the program for the next few days.

Glinting with glass, steel and concrete skyscrapers, Frankfurt-on-the-Main (pronounced ‘mine’) is unlike any other German city. A bustling metropolis & Germany’s commercial heart on the shores of the Main River, founded in the Roman era, it is home to major banks including the headquarters of the European Central Bank in the gleaming colossal 338 metres Europe Tower, the 259 metres Commerzbank Tower and one of the world’s largest stock exchanges. It also famously hosts some of the world's most important trade fairs, attracting thousands of business travellers.

The city on the shores of the Main River also boasts a fabulous cultural life. With its towering, futuristic skyline and beautifully preserved historic quarter, it is certainly one of Germany's most heterogeneous cities, not to mention one of its most populous with over 5.5 million inhabitants.

The birthplace of the man considered by many German's the greatest ever writer, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Frankfurt is still an artistic & cultural beacon for Germans and many others.

Yet at its heart, Frankfurt is an unexpectedly traditional & charming city, with half-timbered buildings huddled in its quaint medieval Altstadt (old town, reconstructed after the War, is the site of Romerberg, a square that hosts an annual Christmas market), cosy apple-wine taverns serving hearty regional food, village-like neighbourhoods filled with outdoor cafes, boutiques& street art, and beautiful parks, gardens & riverside paths. Its nightlife & entertainment scenes are bolstered by a spirited student population.

Most people associate Frankfurt with brokers, banks, stocks & shares - & they wouldn't be wrong, but there is much more to the city than just big business. Frankfurt does, after all, have an unrivalled museum scene. Its collection of galleries & museums, second in Germany only to Berlin’s,  is considered one of the world's finest, with contents which reflect this high standing.

Goethe’s former home is now the Goethe House Museum. You can retrace the footsteps of Frankfurt's most famous son for a glimpse of 18^th century Frankfurt. For example, at Goethe's House or in the slightly less poetic setting of the Gerbermuhle, a quaint beer garden on the banks of the river Main, where the great poet indulged in an occasional glass of cider in his day.

The museum embankment on the southern bank of the Main is a wonder to behold, in particular the magnificent Stadel Institute of Art with the Municipal Gallery. Situated in the heart of Frankfurt's museum mile, this is of one Germany's pre-eminent art galleries & features masterpieces spanning nine centuries of European art. The underground extension houses a collection of works from 1945 onwards, including such famous names as Joseph Beuys & Gerhard Richter.

To the east of the gallery you will find the Film Museum & the Architecture Museum, which in itself is an innovative & unconventional example of building design. And just a stone's throw from there stands the Museum of Applied Art (MAK). A thousand years of arts & crafts are represented in this striking building designed by American architect Richard Meier.

There are also a number of smaller galleries around the Cathedral, some of which are less mainstream but feature exceptional displays of art nonetheless. You can even admire art in the metro system. The Grenzland (borderland) project at the Dom / Romer station, for example, showcases works that blur the lines between art, architecture & design.

It might be more serious, but the financial district is well worth a visit too, for a true taste of Frankfurt. The towering banks & office blocks form Europe's most impressive skyline, and Frankfurt's ultimate landmark. But rest assured, the art found in this part of the city is also of international standing. Deutsche Bank, Commerzbank & DZ Bank own art collections any museum would be proud of, and these are opened to the public at certain times. Skyscrapers as art galleries ? Only in Frankfurt.

Check-in at the hotel & relax.

Balance of the day at leisure or perhaps opt for one of the many options available (we will be happy to offer suggestions & make arrangements).

Morning, meet the Tour-guide & embark on an exciting day of sightseeing.

Drive to Rudesheim am Rhein - a town located in the Rheingau landscape celebrated in Rhine romanticism. It is known for winemaking, especially of Riesling wines. The location of the World Heritage Site Rhine Gorge, makes it one of Germany's biggest tourist attractions. Some three million day-tripping coach tourists descend on Rudesheim each year.

In 1877, the first foundation stone was laid for the Niederwalddenkmal, a patriotic monument above the vineyards which would be finished in 1883. It attracted many tourists who could reach it on a cog railway. Today, a gondola lift brings visitors up to the monument for super views & a pleasant walk back to the Rhine through vineyards..

It has a picturesque Old Town, located in the Rheingau landscape celebrated in Rhine romanticism. The picturesque Old Town centre - especially its most famous feature, a kitschy & colourful medieval alley known as Drosselgasse - is lined with shops & restaurants and is famous for its bars & taverns, faux Gothic & live music.  Nearby, Siegfried’s Mechanical Music Cabinet is a museum of automated musical instruments. Medieval Bromserburg Castle is home to the Rheingau Wine Museum, exhibiting wine paraphernalia from ancient times to the present.

There is also the 20 meter high Eagle Tower – a Gothic corner tower of the old town fortification built in the 15^th century that formerly stood directly on the Rhine. The dungeon located in the basement was only accessible through an opening in the vault crown.

In the last century, the Zum Adler (Eagle) Inn, was located in the tower and it is where the tower’s name is derived from. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe is known to have stayed here on his visits to Rudesheim.Eahle

After a short ‘walking’ tour of the Town Centre, proceed to the Jetty to board a River Boat for a 3 hour cruise sailing downriver along the most picturesque stretch of the Rhine, past the Lorelei Rock to St Goar. During the cruise, you will enjoy a wine tasting (included).

The immediate vicinity of astonishingly beautiful castles, vineyards & pretty small towns makes this cruise very interesting. From here to around Koblenz, the Rhine Valley is narrow with steep slopes - often planted with vineyards - & statistically a castle every two kilometers. The easiest to recognize - if hard to pronounce by non-German speakers - is Burg Pfalzgrafenstein built on a small island in the Rhine at Kaub.

The Rhine River is a fast and strong flowing river, especially in the Lorelei Valley downstream from Rudesheim. Cruising downriver is thus much faster than sailing back upriver: to Koblenz - less than four hours against more than six hours coming back. Even to nearby Assmannshausen, the downriver cruise time is only two-thirds of the upriver time, as boats have to pass through the Bingen Gap (Binger Loch). which was impassible to most boats until the rapids where blasted into submission during the 19th century.

We disembark in St. Goar & return to Frankfurt.

Balance of the day is at leisure to relax or for Optional activities (we shall be happy to suggest & arrange).

Morning, depart for Freiburg.

Enroute, stop at Heidelberg to visit the famous Castle, followed by a tour of the historic city center ad then att Baden Baden..

Snap some panoramic photos of the lovely Neckar River before entering the town. Surrounded by forest, Germany’s oldest & most famous university town of Heidelberg is renowned for its baroque Altstadt, spirited student atmosphere, beautiful riverside setting & evocative half-ruined hilltop castle. The venerable Heidelberg University was founded in the 14^th century.

Millions of visitors follow in the footsteps of the late 18^th & early 19^th century romantics, most notably the poet, Goethe. Britain’s William Turner also loved Heidelberg, which inspired him to paint some of his greatest landscapes.

In 1878, Mark Twain began his European travels with a 3 month stay in Heidelberg, recounting his observations in A Tramp Abroad (1880). Heidelberg's rich literary history, along with its thriving contemporary scene involving authors, translators, publishing houses, bookshops, libraries, festivals & events, saw it named a UNESCO City of Literature in 2014.

Heidelberg’s Altstadt has a red-roofed townscape of remarkable architectural unity. After having been all but destroyed by French troops under Louis XIV (1690s), it was built pretty much from scratch during the 18^th century and unlike the vast majority of German cities, it emerged from WWII almost unscathed. Today, Heidelberg is one of Germany’s most enchanting cities.

Spend a couple of hours listening to historic anecdotes from your savvy guide as you explore this  beautiful town, a mosaic of Renaissance buildings & red-hued rooftops set against a backdrop of green hills.  

Stroll along the cobbled streets of medieval Old Town, peeking into cloistered courtyards & viewing impressive landmarks like the Karl Theodor Bridge, the Church of the Holy Spirit & Heidelberg University - Germany’s oldest higher-ed institution.

Marvel at its pretty Renaissance architecture & visit Heidelberg Castle, strategically perched upon a hilltop overlooking the city, where you will have time to tour the building’s impressive ruins. Explore the site’s architecturally diverse buildings & spaces, admire the sculpted portraits of famous German leaders, & check out centuries-old artifacts such as the world's largest wine barrel - the Great Barrel that once stored up to 130,000 liters (about 34,342 gallons) of wine!

Next stop will be Baden-Baden, a spa town in southwestern Germany’s Black Forest, near the border with France & the former summer residence of the European nobility.

Its thermal baths led to fame as a fashionable 19^th century resort. Baden-Baden's curative waters & air of old-world luxury have attracted royals, the rich & celebrities over the years - Barack Obama & Bismarck, Queen Victoria & Victoria Beckham included. This Black Forest town boasts grand colonnaded buildings and whimsically turreted art nouveau villas spread across the hillsides and framed by forested mountains.

The bon vivant spirit of France, just across the border, is tangible in the town’s central promenade, the park-lined Lichtentaler Allee with open-air cafes, chic boutiques & pristine gardens fringing the Oos River. And with its temple-like thermal baths - which put the Baden (bathe) in Baden - the allure of this grand dame of German spa towns is as timeless as it is enduring. The Kurhaus complex (1824) houses the elegant, Versailles-inspired palatial Spielbank (casino). Its Trinkhalle has a loggia decorated with frescoes and a mineral-water fountain.

From here, continue driving in the famous Black Forest region, to your final destination, arriving in Freiburg by afternoon.

It is a region for the soul, this Black Forest: dark woodlands, romantic gorges, mercurial streams, lush meadows. Traditional pompom hats (Bollenhute), cuckoo clocks, Black Forest gateau - these are the cliches of this sublime & beautiful spot on the world.

Lying in a secluded wine-rich corner of the German state of Baden-Wurttemberg, at the foot of the Black Forest’s wooded slopes & vineyards, Freiburg im Breisgau, is a vibrant sunny, cheerful laid-back, beautiful university town known for its temperate climate & reconstructed medieval old town, crisscrossed by picturesque brooks (bachle).

Known throughout Germany for its Albert Ludwig University of Freiburg, good weather & vineyards, Freiburg is considered by Germans to be a desirable place to live. Blessed with 2000 hours of annual sunshine, this is Germany’s warmest city. Indeed, while neighbouring hilltop villages are still shovelling snow, the trees in Freiburg are clouds of white blossom, and locals are already imbibing in canal-side beer gardens. This eco-trailblazer has shrewdly tapped into that natural energy to generate nearly as much solar power as the whole of Britain, making it one of the country’s greenest cities.

Its medieval Altstadt is a storybook tableau of gabled townhouses, cobblestone lanes & cafe-rimmed plazas. In the surrounding highlands, hiking destination Schlossberg hill is linked to Freiburg by a funicular. With a dramatic 116m spire, the Gothic cathedral Freiburg Minster towers over the central square Munsterplatz. Party-loving students spice up the local nightlife.

Due to its secluded location at the border triangle of Germany, France & Switzerland, and being fairly removed from any other larger German cities, locals frequently go shopping in France & Switzerland for their respective native products and go to museums & theaters in Basel or Zurich. One can find a strong local patriotism, which shows itself in the anthem of Baden (a former independent state), which can be heard more often than the national anthem.

Come see for yourself & experience the Freiburg Feeling: over a glass of Baden wine at one of the many festivals, during a stroll through the Old Town & its historic buildings from the past millennium, or on a day trip to the green environment of the surrounding Breisgau region!

On arrival, Check-in at the hotel.

Balance of the day is at leisure to relax for explore independently (we shall be happy to offer suggestions).

Early morning, meet the Tour-guide & embark on yet another full day excursion, crossing the border into France & visiting Colmar & Strasbourg. 

The Rhine River forms the natural border between Germany & France.

Arrive in Colmar after crossing the river to the other side. You will be easily tempted by this enchanting "country town".

Colmar is so pretty that it doesn’t feel real. A town in the Grand Est region of northeastern France, situated near Germany & Switzerland between the Vosges & the Rhine, Strasbourg & Mulhouse.

The capital of the Alsace wine region, Colmar looks for the world, as though it has been plucked from the pages of a medieval folk tale offering visitors an exciting glimpse of 1000 years of European history.  At times the Route des Vins d’Alsace fools you into thinking it is 1454, & here, in the alley-woven heart of the old town, the illusion is complete. With vastly contrasting terrain, from plains to slopes & mountains, it boasts 37 wine-growing communities & 30 Grands Crus.

Wonderfully preserved from the ravages of time, its homogenous historical centre is classed as a 'protected area' & has benefited from careful restoration & ongoing improvements for more than 20 years.  .

Nestled among vineyards, specializing in famous Riesling & Gewürztraminer wines, its traditional houses, canals, floral displays, amazing cuisine, wines & charming accommodation make Colmar an outstanding microcosm of Alsace - showcasing its lifestyle, conviviality & hospitality - the key features of its unique, exceptional welcome.

Dark Cobblestone streets run next to bridge-laced canals. Famous for its half-timbered medieval & early Renaissance buildings in shades of chalk-box rose, sky blue, lemon, peppermint & apricot, many dating back to the 14th century line the canals.

Colmar's remarkable merchants' homes also do not fail to impress. Famous among them is the Adolf house, the oldest in Colmar, and the Pfister house dating from the 16^th century with its ornate angelled oriel, richly painted murals & long wooden gallery. And don't miss the majestic House of Heads built in the 17^th century in German Renaissance style, decorated with 111 masks & a magnificent 3-storey oriel. The Gothic 13^th century, Eglise Saint-Martin church stands on central Place de la Cathedrale. All of them contributing to the uniqueness of Colmar.

With its 67,000 inhabitants, Colmar retains a 'country town' atmosphere which contributes so much to its charm. Locals are proud of their attractive homes, decorating them with pots of geraniums, colourful shutters, wrought iron lamps & signs, and often even more bizarre adornments. The olde worlde buildings are distinctly Germanic, but they feature elegant French shutters. It can be hard to remember you’re in France, but locals speak French and the bakeries are full of croissants and pain au chocolat.  .

Quaintness aside, Colmar’s illustrious past is clearly etched in its magnificent churches & museums, which celebrate local legends from Bartholdi (of Statue of Liberty fame) to the revered Issenheim Altarpiece. The city is renowned for its old town, its numerous architectural landmarks & its museums, among which is the Unterlinden Museum, with the Isenheim Altarpiece.

Colmar will also delight you with the quality of its shops & boutiques that will allow you to bring a small part of Alsace back with you in your luggage! In every street of the historic centre, you will find shops upon shops offering "made in Alsace" products: food, table accents, textiles, deco, accessories, soft furnishings...

Stroll through Colmar's vast pedestrianized zone, a listed "protected sector", enjoy its rich perfectly preserved religious & secular heritage, taking you from the Middle Ages to the 18^th century: from "Little Venice" which has become the "must" venue for photographers the world over, to the Tanners district recognisable by its grand white-fronted houses. Don't miss its majestic "Collegiale" St Martin's Church with its astonishing Gothic architectural details & colours.

1100 computer-driven light sources, using the fibre optics cable network, are skilfully distributed throughout the town & thus allow an original light show throughout the year, which varies in intensity & colour. Like a magic paintbrush, it redraws the town, applying fresh contours & new reliefs, enhancing a thousand & one architectural details. The town is illuminated from nightfall on Fridays & Saturdays throughout the whole year, and every evening during major events marking the life in Colmar: the International Festival, Regional Alsace Wine Fair & Christmas in Colmar.

Don't miss the chance to delight your taste buds in one of the Michelin-starred restaurants & stop into one of the independent vintners in the town centre or one of the region's many wine growers. Colmar will charm you with its local delicacies like sauerkraut, flammenkuchen / tartes flambees, munster, kugelhopf, & other gourmet specialties in traditional restaurants called Winstubs.

In the outdoor market, a score of local merchants offer local delicacies, while in every street of the historic centre you will find shops upon shops offering "made in Alsace" products: table accents, textiles, deco, accessories, soft furnishings...Bargain hunters won't miss out on Friday specials & the many antique shops in the town open their doors to share their passion for vines & wine.

Enjoy a typical Alsatian Lunch here.

Then, depart for another engrossing locale. Strasbourg - the official capital & largest city off the Grand Est region, formerly Alsace, in northeastern France, with its medieval past & a dynamic future. A perfect overture to all that is idiosyncratic about Alsace - walking a fine tightrope between France & Germany.

Located near the German border, with culture & architecture blending German & French influences, it is the official seat of seat of the European Parliament & is one of the de facto capitals of the European Union (alongside Brussels & Luxembourg). It also houses several European institutions, such as the Council of Europe (with its European Court of Human Rights, its European Directorate for the Quality of Medicines & its European Audiovisual Observatory) and the Eurocorps, as well as the Ombudsman of the European Union & the Central Commission for Navigation on the Rhine and the International Institute of Human Rights.

On arrival, embark on a sightseeing tour of the city.

Strasbourg's historic city centre, the Grande Île (Grand Island), was classified a World Heritage site by UNESCO in 1988, the first time such an honour was placed on an entire city centre.

Strasbourg is immersed in Franco-German culture & although violently disputed throughout history, has been a cultural bridge between France & Germany for centuries, especially through the University of Strasbourg, currently the second largest in France, and the coexistence of Catholic & Protestant culture. It is also home to the largest Islamic place of worship in France, the Strasbourg Grand Mosque.

Its Gothic Cathedrale Notre-Dame features daily shows from its astronomical clock & affords sweeping views of the Rhine River from partway up its 142m spire.

Tear your gaze away from that mesmerising Gothic cathedral for just a minute & you will be roaming the old town’s twisting alleys lined with crooked half-timbered houses a la Grimm; feasting in the cosiest of winstubs (Alsatian taverns) by the canals in Petite France; & marvelling at how a city that does Christmas markets & gingerbread so well can also be home to the glittering EU Quarter & France’s second-largest student population. But that is Strasbourg for you: all the sweeter for its contradictions and cross-cultural quirks.

The Tour concludes & you drive back to the German side, arriving at the hotel by late afternoon.

Balance of the day free for independent explorations (we will be happy to offer suggestions & make any arrangements).

After breakfast get ready to depart for Fussen,

Enroute, you will be stopping deeper inside the Black Forest area, at the internationally acclaimed production center of the ‘cuckoo clock’ & enjoy a short presentation on the process involved. Learning the history of how the clocks came to be is part of the overall unique experience of being an authentic cuckoo clock owner or an aficionado..

It is a region for the soul, this Black Forest: dark woodlands, romantic gorges, mercurial streams, lush meadows. Traditional pompom hats (Bollenhüte), cuckoo clocks, Black Forest gateau - these are the cliches of this sublime & beautiful spot on the world.

The legendary Cuckoo Clock is a treasure trove of interesting facts & intricate designs. The rich history of the cuckoo clock has his roots in the Black Forest region of Germany. Authentic cuckoo clocks are still hand-produced there today.  .

Today we are no longer able to determine exactly when the first Black Forest clock, the mother of all cuckoo clocks, was created. The period from 1670 - 1720 is often mentioned as the start of Black Forest clock production; other sources mention a time as early as 1640, or even 1629. What is certain is that the clock industry quickly expanded in the 18th century. At that time, the first major production center was the city of Furtwangen. But the popularity shot up during the 1700s.

The preferred material to work with was wood at first - in part for legal reasons pertaining to the guilds - which was used for cases & mechanisms. The heavily wooded region of Black Forest had a long tradition of great experience with wood, & additionally possessed a feel for products that brought the rural population a promising additional income. The access to quality wood as well as skilled artisans, that knew how to carve & cure the wood, let the production grow with the popularity of the clocks. 

The beginnings of Black Forest clock artistry were rather pragmatic & rustic. The first cuckoo clocks were basic wooden clocks, called Foliot clocks that featured an exposed mechanism where an oscillating wooden pendulum kept the time. It only showed the hour, with a stone serving as the weight. These early Black Forest clocks had a 12 hour movement. Metal & brass later successively replaced the wooden movement parts.

The enterprising people of the Black Forest soon sold their clocks on international trade routes, used by the local glass industry. Clock carriers would travel with the clocks & sell them along the well-established roads. Before long, the clocks were in high demand & an industry was born.  It was presumably these routes via which these first clocks from Bohemia or elsewhere arrived in the Black Forest, carried in a wooden frame on the backs of people working as “glass carriers”, kicking off Black Forest clock production. The profession of glass carrier was very highly regarded, and, due to the costliness of the products, called for the highest levels of trustworthiness. Soon there were also clock carriers, who can still be found today on several cuckoo clocks as a decorative element, with their typical, high carrier frame on their backs.

Black Forest wooden clocks were inexpensive & reliable. More and more people could afford clocks, wall clocks of all kinds became an important everyday commodity, and the need grew by leaps & bounds, beginning to really take off in the 1800s.

Clockmakers began to work with wholesale companies to keep up with demand & these companies would help distribute the clocks so the Clockmakers could simply focus on production. Small workshops blossomed into large factories. Black Forest clock sellers soon settled down along these routes throughout Europe, storing the clocks centrally & successfully distributing them through direct sales on site.

As time went on the cuckoo clock making process evolved. New techniques & tools meant more intricate clocks could be crafted. The invention of the spindle drill and the gear profiling machine, as well as skilled craftsmen flocking to the area, considerably reduced the same time needed to produce the handmade clocks. Case-makers, shield painters & chain-makers shared the work and rationalized & improved production processes in their areas. The number of clocks that could be produced per worker, per week, increased six-fold within 100 years. Production grew to nearly 6 million clocks by the early 20^th century! At this time, nearly half of all clocks being exported around the world were originating from the Black Forest.  

Later in the 1900’s, the production of authentic cuckoo clocks took a tumble. Both World Wars had taken a toll & the rise of cheaper clocks, made from mass-produced plastic, became popular by the 1970s. But today, the cuckoo clock is in the midst of a revival!

More people are in search of authentic, handmade items. These clocks have stayed high quality & are designed to be passed down for generations to come. Simple clocks are still the money makers of the day.

After the Presentation at the Centre & may be, a look at the factory floor, continue to a small traditional Black Forest Farm where you will enjoy a cheese tasting amidst the real Black Forest. 

Now, we drive to the small island of Lindau in Lake Constance (or Bodensee), which offers spectacular views of the Alps.

Brochures rhapsodise about Lindau being Germany’s ‘Garden of Eden’ & the ‘Bavarian Riviera’. Paradise & southern France it ain’t, but it is pretty special. Cradled in the southern crook of the Lake & almost dipping its toes into Austria, this is a good-looking, outgoing little town, with a candy-coloured postcard of an Altstadt, clear-day Alpine views & lakefront cafes that use every sunray to the max.

The harbor has a Bavarian Lion statue & a stone lighthouse with lake & mountain views. On the harbour front Seepromenade, the 12^th century Mangturm is a former watchtower with a pointed, tiled roof. Near restaurant-lined Maximilianstrasse, the Gothic Altes Rathaus (Old Town Hall) has a painted façade.

Depending on weather conditions, we will take the Alpine road from Lindau, passing through Oberstaufen & Immenstadt to the final destination of Fussen.

On arrival, Check-in at the hotel.

Fussen, nestled at the foot of the Alps, is a Bavarian town, just north of the Austrian border, the southern climax of the Romantic Road, & as the closest transportation hub for the eclectic castles Neuschwanstein &  Hohenschwangau, the highlight of many a southern Germany trip.

But having 'done' the country's most popular tourist route & seen Ludwig II's fantasy palaces, there are several other reasons to linger longer in the area. The town of Fussen is worth half a day's exploration & from here, one can easily escape from the crowds into a landscape of gentle hiking trails & Alpine vistas. Nearby Tegelberg mountain has a ski resort, a panoramic cable car and an alpine slide.

Its Gothic castle, Hohes Schloss, houses a regional art museum. The town is known for its violinmaking industry. & the museum of St. Mang's Abbey showcases Fussen's violin & lute making industry.

Balance of the day free for independent explorations (we will be happy to offer suggestions & make any arrangements).

Start the full day excursion today with a visit to Neuschwanstein Castle, built by Ludwig II, the notorious “Mad King“.

Schloss Neuschwanstein is a 19^th century Romanesque revival palace on a rugged hill above the village of Hohenschwangau near Fussen.

The setting of Neuschwanstein could not be more idyllic. Today, it is one of the most popular of all the palaces & castles in Europe.

Appearing through the mountaintops like a mirage, Schloss Neuschwanstein was the model for Disney’s Sleeping Beauty castle.

King Ludwig II planned this fairy-tale pile himself, with the help of a stage designer rather than an architect. He envisioned it as a giant stage on which to recreate the world of Germanic mythology, inspired by the operatic works of his friend Richard Wagner. The most impressive room is the Sangersaal (Minstrels’ Hall), whose frescos depict scenes from the opera Tannhauser.

Built as a romantic medieval castle, work started in 1869 & like so many of Ludwig’s grand schemes, was never finished. For all the coffer-depleting sums spent on it, the king spent just over 170 days in residence.

Completed sections include Ludwig’s Tristan & Isolde themed bedroom, dominated by a huge Gothic-style bed crowned with intricately carved cathedral-like spires; a gaudy artificial grotto (another allusion to Tannhauser); &  the Byzantine-style Thronsaal (Throne Room) with an incredible mosaic floor containing over two million stones. The painting opposite the (throneless) throne platform depicts another castle dreamed up by Ludwig that was never built (he planned many more). Almost every window provides tour-halting views across the plain below.

Seven weeks after the death of King Ludwig II in 1886, Neuschwanstein was opened to the public. The shy king had built the castle in order to withdraw from public life - now vast numbers of people come to view his private refuge. Every year 1.4 million + people visit "the castle of the fairy-tale king". On a single summer day, around 6,000 visitors stream through rooms that were intended for a single inhabitant.

The Tour ends with a 20 minute film on the castle & its creator. There is reasonably priced cafe & the inevitable gift shops.

For the postcard view of Neuschwanstein and the plains beyond, walk 10 minutes up to Marienbrucke (Mary’s Bridge), which spans the spectacular Pollat Gorge over a waterfall just above the castle. It is said Ludwig enjoyed coming up here after dark to watch the candlelight radiating from the Sangersaal.

Leave at mid-day for Oberammergau, famous for its Passion Play & lovely crafts.

Enroute, stop at Wieskirche Church & Ettal Benedictine Abbey.

Located in the village of Wies, UNESCO World Heritage Site listed Wieskirche Church is one of Bavaria's best-known baroque churches, designed in the late 1740s by the legendary artist-brothers Dominikus & Johann Baptist Zimmermann.

In 1730, a farmer in Steingaden, about 30 km northeast of Fussen, witnessed the miracle of his Christ statue shedding tears. Pilgrims poured into the town in such numbers over the next decade that the local abbot commissioned a new church to house the weepy work. Inside the almost circular structure, eight snow-white pillars are topped by gold capital stones & swirling decorations. The unsupported dome must have seemed like God's work in the mid-17^th century, its surface adorned with a pastel ceiling fresco celebrating Christ’s resurrection. About a million visitors a year flock here.

Next stop will be Ettal Benedictine Abbey, the largest building in the tiny town of Ettal.

The Abbey has a little something for everyone: an incredible sanctuary for the lover of architecture, a deep history for those who can't get enough of the past & a brewery for those who like sampling new beers. And, if you are thinking of making a permanent move to the area, the Benedictine brothers also run a school here.

The Abbey's story starts with a king, as so many of these things do. Ludwig the Bavarian was a very important guy back in the 14^th century. He served as Holy Roman Emperor, King of Italy & (of course) King of Bavaria. After a particularly bad visit to Italy, he pledged to start an Abbey once he returned home. According to legend, he came back to Bavaria safe & sound, and discovered where to put the abbey when his horse bowed three times.

Whether you believe in divinely-inspired horses or not, take some time to walk around the property. Visiting the sanctuary is free. Although it is not the original building, the existing one is an excellent example of the excesses of Baroque architecture. 

Even if you are not Catholic (or religious), there is plenty to see here. Bavaria has long been a hold out for Catholicism (even today, there are very few Protestants), so seeing the power & reach of the Church here is more of a look into the culture of the region instead of an endorsement of a particular denomination. 

Now, we travel to Oberammergau.

The small town of Oberammergau in the Bavarian Alps, known for its once-a-decade performance of the 380 year tradition of mounting  Passion Plays,  its woodcarvers & woodcarvings & for its NATO Military School. Quietly quaint Oberammergau occupies a wide valley surrounded by the dark forests & snow-dusted peaks of the Ammergauer Alps.

The Oberammergau Passion Play was first performed in 1634. It resulted from a vow made by the inhabitants of the village that if God spared them from the effects of the bubonic plague then sweeping the region, they would perform a passion play every ten years. A man traveling back to the town for Christmas had accidentally brought the plague with him. The man died from the plague & it began spreading throughout Oberammergau. After the vow was made, not another inhabitant of the town died from the plague. All of the town members that were still suffering from the plague recovered.

The Play has a major economic impact on Oberammergau. There is a local expression "Die Passion zahlt" ("The Passion Play will pay for it") in explaining how the Oberammergau community financed construction of a new community swimming pool, community centre & other civic improvements. About 500,000 people visit & stay for 1 or 2 nights.

The Play is now performed in years ending with a zero, as well as in 1934 which was the 300^th anniversary & 1984 which was the 350^th anniversary (though the 1940 performance was cancelled due to the onset of the Second World War in 1939).  About half the inhabitants of Oberammergau took part in the performance of the story of the Passion of Jesus for the audiences from around the world, in 2010.  It involves over 2000 actors, singers, instrumentalists & technicians, all residents of the village. Performances have taken place between mid-May & early October.

The town centre is packed with traditional painted houses, woodcarving shops & awestruck tourists who come here to learn about the town’s world-famous Passion Play.

Oberammergau is also famous for its "Lüftlmalerei" (or frescoes), of traditional Bavarian themes, fairy tales, religious scenes or architectural trompe-l'œil found on many homes & buildings. Lüftlmalerei is common in Upper Bavaria & its name may be derived from an Oberammergau house called Zum Lüftl, which was the home of facade painter Franz Seraph Zwinck (1748 - 1792).

The village is also known as the home of a long tradition of woodcarving; the Bavarian State Woodcarving School is located there. Among the celebrated former students is the German artist Wolfram Aichele. His processional church staff depicting Christ on a donkey can be seen in the church of St Peter & St Paul.

The streets of central Oberammergau are home to dozens of woodcarver shops, with pieces ranging from religious subjects, to toys, to humorous portraits.  The House of Pilate has frescoes by Franz Seraph Zwinck & live demonstrations by woodcarvers & artists. Nearby, the Kolblhaus has a gabled roof & a painted exterior, also by Zwinck. The Oberammergau Museum features woodcarvings by local artisans.

And now, we return home to Fussen.

But one more brief stop on the way back.

Linderhof Palace is a Schloss in Germany, in southwest Bavaria near Ettal Abbey. It is the smallest of the three palaces built by King Ludwig II of Bavaria & the only one which he lived to see completed.

Ludwig II, who was crowned king in 1864, began his building activities in 1867 / 68 by redesigning his rooms in the Munich Residenz & laying the foundation stone of Neuschwanstein Castle. In 1868 he was already making his first plans for Linderhof. However, neither the palace modelled on Versailles that was to be sited on the floor of the valley nor the large Byzantine palace envisaged by Ludwig II were ever built.

Instead, the new building developed around the forester's house (designated as the "Royal Lodge") belonging to his father Maximilian II, which was located in the open space in front of the present palace & was used by the king when crown prince on hunting expeditions with his father.  Linderhof Palace, the eventual result of a long period of building & rebuilding, is the only large palace King Ludwig II lived to see completed.

There are plenty of walking trails & scenic spots perfect for lingering on the palace grounds. There are also a few food options near the parking lot where you can get pretzels, small flatbread pizzas, beer & pastries. 

Drive back to the hotel in Fussen.

Balance of the evening s at leisure.

Morning, depart for Munich, Bavaria’s capital.

Tall tankards and high-tech cars, edgy art & Lederhosen - Munich is a city where traditional & modern sit side by side like few places on earth.

Munich’s various quirks, the things that make the city the place it is, might be what stick in the memory most. Whether it be the inebriated oompah band, that special knife for eating monster radishes, the Bavarians outrageous dialect, the mad hat traditions of the Oktoberfest or the surfers on the Eisbach wave – you are sure to discover some freakish aspect of Munich life every day. And then there is the local garb - nowhere else in central Europe do the locals don their traditional costume - the famous Lederhosen & Dirndl - as readily as the Munchners, so why not join them?

The natural habitat of well-heeled power dressers & Lederhosen-clad thigh-slappers, Mediterranean-style street cafes & Mitteleuropa beer halls, highbrow art and high-tech industry, Germany’s unofficial southern capital, Munich is famous for its beautiful architecture, fine culture & the annual Oktoberfest beer celebration.

Munich has long been known as the ‘city of art & beer’, so before you head off to the pub, take some time to savour the local art scene. The Kunstareal, Munich’s art quarter, is the place to start, with four major venues displaying everything from Dutch masters to 1960s design.

The locals have a word for it - Gemutlichkeit - that untranslatable intermingling of cosiness, well-being & laid-back attitude. In Munich, you will sense it most under the fairy lights of a summer beer garden, people-watching in the English Garden & behind the wheel of a BMW heading south. It may be just the local character, but a large share of Gemutlichkeit must come from the fact that the Bavarian capital is one of the most affluent cities on the planet, it’s economy larger than most small countries, its infrastructure well-tended.

Munich's cultural scene is second to none in Germany, with the Museums even considered by some to outrank Berlin in quality & many travelers to Munich are absolutely stunned by the quality of the architecture. If you are looking for Alpine cliches, they are all here, but the Bavarian metropolis has many an unexpected card down its Dirndl.

Munich is rich in history, continental & local, and the architecture, streets, churches, gardens & public spaces reflect the best of centuries of competing cultures.

On arrival, immediately proceed for a short ‘walking’ tour of the City, visiting the main attractions, concluding the tour at the Marienplatz Square with its famous clock tower.

Munich’s walkable centre retains a small-town air but holds some world-class sights, centuries-old buildings, especially art galleries & some world-class museums focusing on topics as diverse as Oktoberfest, porcelain & BMW cars.

In the Altstadt (Old Town), central Marienplatz Square contains landmarks such as Neo-Gothic Neues Rathaus (town hall), with a popular glockenspiel show that chimes & re-enacts stories from the 16^th century.

Throw in royal Bavarian heritage, an entire suburb of Olympic legacy & a kitbag of dark tourism & it is clear why southern Germany’s metropolis is such a favourite among those who seek out the past but like to hit the town once they are done. And if that weren't enough, there are still royal palaces to explore - the legacy of 700 years of rule by a single family, the Wittelsbachs.

The Tour ends at the Marienplatz Square with its famous clock tower (the Tour-guide will gladly offer tips on how to navigate & reach your hotel).

You will then be transferred to the hotel. 

Balance of the afternoon is free for independent explorations (we will be happy to offer suggestions & make any arrangements). Perhaps, you may want to spend time enjoying the Oktoberfest.

The city is known for its annual Oktoberfest celebration and its beer halls, including the famed Hofbrauhaus, founded in 1589.

Beer has been part of Munich life for at least seven centuries & the brewing tradition is very much alive & kicking today. Nowhere else in Europe has a beer tradition quite like the Bavarian capital with six mammoth breweries pumping out world-class suds to hundreds of beer gardens & beer halls. And the climax to the Munich beer year is, of course, the famous Oktoberfest, attended by over six million people. Germany’s ‘purity law’ guarantees there’s nothing in your Mass (1L tankard) that shouldn’t be, so if you can lift the thing ‘Prost!’ (Cheers!).

Bavarian beer, cuisine & culture combine to make this one tour of Germany you don’t want to miss. Imagine singing along with tens of thousands accompanied by ‘oom pah pahs’, while locals clad in lederhosen and feathered hats dance on tables. This is Oktoberfest!

Easily one of the world’s largest festival, Oktoberfest is a two-week celebration of beer held in the heart of Bavaria. Every year, more than six million people come to participate in the general revelry, drinking liters of beer & eating countless traditional pork sausages.

Known locally as the Wiesn (nickname for the Theresienwiese - fairground) you get to try a huge variety of beers in 14 different tents while traditional German folk music plays in the background.

At noon on 22^nd September in the Schottenhamel Tent, the Mayor of Munich will have the honor of tapping the first keg of Oktoberfest beer during the official opening ceremonies. Once the barrel has been tapped, all visitors will then be allowed to quench their thirst. The festival will go until 7^th October.

You can enter the tents without any reservation. But, unless you have a seat in a tent you will not get served so consider booking a table. Tents fill up very quickly! When the tents are overfilled, you cannot enter anymore. On weekends, the entry is often closed before 11.00 am because of overfilling. During the week the tents are normally open until afternoon.

On the festival Sunday (23^rd September this year)  the Parade event takes place with 8000 participants dressed in historic festival costumes such as dirndles & lederhosen, followed by rifle clubs, decorated carriages, and marching bands, it makes for quite a sight.

Other important events are the Parade of Oktoberfest Landlords & Breweries, the Official Tapping of the Keg, the Oktoberfest Mass or the "Bollerschieben" (handheld canon salute) in front of the Bavaria statue.

Don't worry if you are not a beer expert or brewer though, we have had non-beer people "dragged along" with a beer loving friend or spouse only to discover that the trip & the beer were much more interesting than they originally thought.

In time, return to the hotel (on your own).

Evening, around 07.00 pm, you will be met by a Journeys rep & proceed for dinner at a traditional Bavarian restaurant right in the heart of Munich where the waiters are dressed in traditional Bavarian clothing during the world’s one & only Oktoberfest season..

The food is rich & tasty, just be prepared for a higher than normal fat content. Bavarian fare does not consist only of sausages and sauerkraut. You will have the chance to sample hearty foods such as pig's knuckle, schnitzel, haxe, creamy sauces with locally produced mushrooms, suckling pig, creamy cheeses etc.

Transfer back to the hotel.

Morning, meet the Tour-guide at 07.30 am & proceed for a 5 hour excursion to visit Berchtesgaden.

Berchtesgaden is a typical traditional Alpine village at the foot of Mount Watzmann - Germany’s second highest mountain, in the Bavarian Alps on the Austrian border.

Plunging deep into Austria and framed by six high-rise mountain ranges, the Berchtesgadener Land is a drop-dead-gorgeous corner of Bavaria steeped in myths & legends. Local lore has it that angels given the task of distributing the earth’s wonders were startled by God’s order to get a shift on & dropped them all here by accident.

Much of the area is protected by law within the Berchtesgaden National Park, which was declared a biosphere reserve by UNESCO in 1990. The village of Berchtesgaden is the obvious base for hiking circuits into the park.

The region’s attractions include the salt mines & Salzbergwerk Berchtesgaden illuminates the mine’s 500 year history.

Away from the trails, the area has a more sinister aspect - the mountaintop Eagle’s Nest was a lodge built for Hitler & is now a major dark-tourism destination while the Dokumentation Obersalzberg Museum chronicles the region’s Nazi past. 

High in the mountains near Eagles Nest, there is a restaurant in Kehlsteinhaus - a Third Reich era building erected atop a rocky outcrop at the summit of the Kehlstein, which offers picture postcard alpine views.

After a visit to the infamous Eagle’s Nest (depending on the weather conditions), you will have time to enjoy a boat cruise (not included - direct payment) in the pristine Konigssee, perhaps Germany’s most photogenic body of water, if you want to.

Return to Munich by afternoon.

Balance of the day free for independent explorations or Optional activities (we will be happy to offer suggestions & make any arrangements).

Early morning, depart for Nuremberg.

Enroute, stop at Rothenburg ob der Tauber, one of the oldest & most beautiful cities along the Romantic Road. 

Rothenburg ob der Tauber is a thousand years of history!

A true medieval gem, Rothenburg ob der Tauber (meaning ‘above the Tauber River’) is a town in the Franconia region of Bavaria, known for its well-preserved medieval old town, a destination for tourists from around the world.

With its web of cobbled lanes, higgledy-piggledy houses & towered walls, the town is fairy-tale Germany the hordes of tourists come to see.  Urban conservation orders here are the strictest in Germany – and at times it feels like a medieval theme park - but all’s forgiven in the evenings, when the lamplight casts its spell long after the last tour buses have left.

Exploring Rothenburg brings the Middle Ages & the Renaissance to life before your eyes & find out what life was like in a medieval town.

Walk through the historic Old Town with its romantic alleyways & picturesque squares offering an overview of the various aspects & epochs of the history of the town. Visit the Gothic St. James' Church, which, besides other art treasures, also houses the fascinating Holy Blood of Christ altarpiece by the great Wurzburg wood-carver Tilman Riemenschneider.

Sightseeing tour of this lovely medieval town will conclude with a Schneeballen (snow ball) tasting, a pastry considered the signature dish of Rothenburg. 

Continue on to Nuremberg,

When people think of Nuremberg, they usually think of gingerbread, toys, Christmas, the Nazi Party Rally Grounds or the Nuremberg Trials. Bavaria’s second-largest city & the unofficial capital of Franconia, is an energetic place where the nightlife is intense & the beer is as dark as coffee. As one of Bavaria’s biggest draws it is alive with visitors year-round, but especially during the spectacular Christmas market.

For centuries, Nuremberg was the undeclared capital of the Holy Roman Empire & the preferred residence of most German kings, who kept their crown jewels here. Rich & stuffed with architectural wonders, it was also a magnet for famous artists, though the most famous of all, Albrecht Durer, was actually born here. ‘Nuremberg shines throughout Germany like a sun among the moon and stars,’ gushed Martin Luther. By the 19^th century, the city had become a powerhouse in Germany’s industrial revolution.

The Nazis saw a perfect stage for their activities in working class Nuremberg. It was here that the fanatical party rallies were held, the boycott of Jewish businesses began & the infamous Nuremberg Laws outlawing German citizenship for Jewish people were enacted. After WWII the city was chosen as the site of the war crimes tribunal, now known as the Nuremberg Trials.

On 2 January 1945, Allied bombers reduced the city to landfill, killing 6000 people in the process. Later, the painstaking reconstruction - using the original stone - of almost all the city’s main buildings, including the castle & old churches in the Altstadt, returned the city to some of its former glory.

On arrival, Check-in at the hotel.

Later in the afternoon at 02.00 pm, meet the Tour-guide & proceed for a sightseeing tour of the city.

Visit Nuremberg’s historic city center & learn more about its impressive history with a tour of the well-preserved castle, Gothic churches, romantic houses & peaceful squares.

Nuremberg is distinguished by medieval architecture such as the fortifications & stone towers of its Altstadt (Old Town).

The old town of Nuremberg probably comes closest to many tourists' expectations of a typical German city: on the one hand one can find half-timbered houses, gothic churches within a medieval city wall in the shadow of the towering imperial castle, which was one of the most important residences of the emperors of the Holy Roman Empire.

On the other hand, Nuremberg & the surrounding cities are home to many well-known German companies, e.g. Adidas, Diehl, Faber-Castell, Playmobil, Puma & several divisions of industrial giant Siemens. Finally, Nuremberg even can live up to culinary expectations with breweries and beergardens and its most famous dish, the Nuremberg sausages with Sauerkraut.

At the northern edge of the Altstadt, surrounded by red-roofed buildings, stands Kaiserburg Castle. The Hauptmarkt (central square) contains the Schoner Brunnen, the gilded “beautiful fountain” with tiers of figures & Frauenkirche, a 14^th century Gothic church.

Come back to the hotel.

Balance of the day free for independent explorations or Optional activities (we will be happy to offer suggestions & make any arrangements).

Early morning, meet the Tour-guide in the lobby & proceed to visit the city of Bamberg, which is famous for its beer & old town.

Bamberg is a town in northern Bavaria, laid out over 7 hills where the Regnitz & Main river meet,

Generally regarded as one of Germany's most attractive settlements, the town is bisected by rivers & canals and was built by archbishops on seven hills, earning it the inevitable sobriquet of ‘Franconian Rome’. Students inject some liveliness into its streets, pavement cafes, pubs & no fewer than ten breweries cooking up Bamberg's famous smoked beer, but it is usually wide-eyed tourists who can be seen filing through its narrow medieval streets.

The city impresses with buildings listed for preservation, medieval charm & baroque architecture. Its old town preserves structures from the 11^th - 19^th centuries including the muraled Altes Rathaus (town hall), which occupies an island in the Regnitz reached by arched bridges. The Romanesque Bamberg Cathedral, begun in the 11^th century, features 4 towers & numerous stone carvings.

A disarmingly beautiful architectural masterpiece with an almost complete absence of modern eyesores, Bamberg's entire Altstadt is a UNESCO World Heritage Site & one of Bavaria's unmissables.

After spending time there, drive on to Bayreuth

Bayreuth is a town on the Red Main river in Bavaria. Bayreuth’s glory days began in 1735 when Wilhelmine, sister of King Frederick the Great of Prussia, was forced to marry stuffy Margrave Friedrich. Bored with the local scene, the cultured Anglo-oriented Wilhelmine invited the finest artists, poets, composers & architects in Europe to court. The period bequeathed some eye-catching buildings, still on display for all to see

At its center is the Richard Wagner Museum in the composer's former home, Villa Wahnfried. Wagner's operas are performed at the Bayreuther Festspielhaus, home of the annual Bayreuth Festival. On the eastern outskirts, the Hermitage Gardens surrounds the Altes Schloss Eremitage palace & the Temple of the Sun (Sonnentempel), honoring the god Apollo.

Even without its Wagner connections, Bayreuth would still be an interesting detour from Nuremberg or Bamberg for its streets of sandstone baroque architecture & impressive palaces. But it is known for the annual Wagner Festival when 60,000 opera devotees make a pilgrimage to this neck of the Wald.

Return to Nuremburg by late afternoon.

Balance of the day free for independent explorations or Optional activities (we will be happy to offer suggestions & make any arrangements).

Morning, depart for Frankfurt, travelling along the Romantic Route.

Enroute, stop at Wurzberg. denoted as the northern terminus of the Romantic Road, Germany's most popular tourist route.

Founded in the 10^th century, Wurzburg - a city in Bavaria, served as the home of powerful prince-bishops for many centuries.  It was the center of the kingdom known as Franconia. In the 19^th century, Napoleon merged Franconia with Bavaria, by which the city is ruled to this day.

Straddling the Main River, scenic Wurzburg is renowned for its art, architecture & delicate wines. A large student population guarantees a lively scene & plenty of hip nightlife pulsates through its cobbled streets.

Wurzburg experienced heavy demolition during a 20 minute bombing raid in 1945 which destroyed some 80% of its city buildings. Much of the city has since been rebuilt, though not as painstakingly true to its original architecture as some other historic German communities. Wurzburg has been home to a large US military installment since post-World War II reconstruction. As a result, most of the locals are familiar with American customs. Anyone eager to visit this town to study its historic architectural structures should be prepared to see its restored buildings placed next to several post-war modernistic houses.

It is renowned for the 18^th century UNESCO World Heritage listed Residenz regarded as one of one of the finest palaces in Europe, known for its lavish baroque & rococo architecture with ornate rooms, a huge fresco by Venetian artist Tiepolo & an elaborate staircase.

Though there is plenty more to see besides. Home to numerous wine bars, cellars & wineries, Wurzburg is the center of the Franconian wine country, with its distinctive bocksbeutel (bottles with flattened round shapes).

Wurzburg is also home to one of the oldest churches in Germany, built in the 8^th century on top of a former pagan shrine. Another famous structure, Festung Marienberg is a fortress which now surrounds the church.

Enjoy a sightseeing tour of the city.

Later, drive on to Frankfurt, stopping at yet another popular tourist attraction in the town of Mespelbrunn, between Frankfurt & Wurzburg.

Mespelbrunn Castle - a late-medieval / early-Renaissance moated castle, built in a tributary valley of the Elsava valley, within the Spessart forest

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On arrival, Check-in at the hotel.

Balance of the day at leisure or perhaps opt for one of the many options available (we will be happy to offer suggestions & make arrangements).

Finally, it is time to say good-bye.

Check-out of the hotel by 12:00 noon (if the departure time is later in the evening, we will request the hotel to allow the use of the hotel facilities & leave the luggage at the Bell Desk if you have the time to walk out). 

In time, you will be met by a Journeys Rep, who will ensure your comfort & transfer you to Terminal? - Frankfurt International Airport for your onward journey.  B

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