A fantastic journey of music and culture
Munich - Salzburg - Vienna
11 days / 10 nights
DAY 1 Arrival in MUNICH.
Depart Airport on Chartered Coach for City Tour of Munich. After our City Tour, we will depart Munich on our Chartered Coach for Salzburg. We will stop for a light LUNCH (on your own) in one of the restaurants on the highway.
Arrival in SALZBURG. Check into HOTEL NH SALZBURG
Board our Chartered Coach to a WELCOME DINNER at ST. PETER STIFTSKELLER RESTAURANT, which is Austria’s oldest restaurant (dating back to at least 803). Legend has it the Mephistopheles met Faust here; others say Charlemagne dined here and others believe that Columbus had Salzburg Stiegl beer here just before he set sail for America.
DAY 2 SALZBURG
After a Buffet Breakfast in the hotel, we leave for a CITY WALK Guided tour of Salzburg, including a visit to the MOZART GEBURTSHAUS, where the family lived for 26 years.
The rest of day is At Leisure. Some may wish to visit the Hohensalzburg fortress, which towers over Salzburg from its perch atop MONCHSBERG. Here you can see the “hidden corners” of the fortress (including the prison), the torture chamber, the Prince Archbishop’s bedroom and secret chamber and the Golden Hall. It is the city’s chief landmark and, since it never came under military siege and was surrendered without a fight to Napoleon, the most fully-preserved fortification in Europe.
LUNCH and DINNER are on your own.
DAY 3 SALZBURG
After a Buffet Breakfast in the hotel, the morning is At Leisure.
A MINI-CONCERT (about 30 minutes) of a cappella music will take place in the SALZBURGER DOM CATHEDRAL
LUNCH and DINNER are on your own.
DAY 4 SALZBURG
After a Buffet Breakfast in the hotel, we will board our Chartered Coach for HELLBRUNN CASTLE, with its famous Wasserspiele (Trick Fountains). After LUNCH (on your own), we will travel to HALLEIN to visit the Salt Mine located in the DÜRRNBERG MOUNTAIN. Before entering the mine, you will put on a White Coverall and slide down the Wooden Slope. We will also take a “Boat Ride” on an Underground Lake of Brine and see a preserved mummy of a Celtic miner.
DINNER is on your own.
DAY 5 SALZBURG-VIENNA
After a Buffet Breakfast in the hotel, we will depart Salzburg on our Chartered Coach for VIENNA. On the way we will stop for LUNCH (on your own) at one of the Highway Restaurants before arriving in MELK, where we will visit the world-famous BENEDIKTINERSTIFT (Benedictine Abbey). Once an 11th Century fortress, it was transformed by Jakob Prandtauer into one of the most magnificent Baroque buildings in Europe and is considered one of the 2 most beautiful churches in the world. It was the inspiration for Eco’s historical novel and film, The Name of The Rose. Perhaps we will have an opportunity to sing in the abbey and experience the 12-second acoustic delay. After our visit to Melk, we will proceed to Vienna via the DANUBE VALLEY.
Check into the HOTEL AM KONZERTHAUS
DINNER is on your own.
DAY 6 VIENNA
After a Buffet Breakfast, we will board our Charter Coach for a PANORAMA CITY TOUR of VIENNA.
Vienna is a city whose history stretches back over 2,000 years. Originally a Celtic settlement, it became part of the Roman Empire in 15 BC. After the Romans were forced to leave during the 4th Century, Vienna developed until the Babenbergs declared the city a “civitas” in 1155, indicating that Vienna was developing into a well-ordered community. We will begin our tour by driving around the RINGSTRASSE, an ambitious piece of city planning by the Hapsburgs, which is based around a single street that encircles the center of Vienna. We will see the famous VOTIV CHURCH, THE UNIVERSITY OF VIENNA, STAATSOPER (State Opera House), RATHAUS (City Hall), PARLIAMENT and walk around BELVEDERE PALACE and GARDENS. We will also visit the HUNDERTWASSER HAUS, a fanciful piece of modern artistic architecture designed by Friedensreich Hundertwasser for the poor citizens and visit the JUDENPLATZ (which was the heart of the Jewish ghetto from the 13th-15th centuries.) The Panorama Tour will end at ST. STEPHEN’S CATHEDRAL. With its “Lace-In-Stone” spire, it is the symbol of Vienna and one of the most impressive of Vienna’s landmarks. After the Panorama Tour, we will continue walking through the HOFBURG PALACE complex (where you can see the vast collection of Hapsburg treasures) and the SPANISCHE HOFREITSCHULE (The Spanish Riding School), home of the world-famous LIPPIZZANER HORSES, regarded as the oldest classic horse line in Europe. Finally, to end our tour, we will visit the State Opera House for a behind-the-scenes look at this famous Opera house. As we end our tour in the pedestrian area, there are many fine restaurants available. LUNCH is on your own. This would be a wonderful opportunity to visit the Hotel Sacher for a world-famous SACHER TORTE. If you order coffee or hot chocolate, make sure you order “SCHLAG” – Austrian Whipped Cream is the best.
The rest of day is At Leisure. DINNER is on your own.
DAY 7 VIENNA
After a Buffet Breakfast in the hotel, we will board the Chartered Coach for the SCHONBRUNN PALACE for a CONCERT. After the performance, we will tour the Palace. The Palace has 1,441 rooms designed in the Rococo style, of which 45 rooms are open to the public. In the HALL of MIRRORS, six year oldMozart played for Empress Maria Theresia. After the tour, we will return to the Hotel to briefly relax before we leave for a 2:30 PM CONCERT at ST. PETER’S CHURCH. After the performance, the rest of the day is At Leisure.
LUNCH and DINNER are on your own.
DAY 8 VIENNA
After a Buffet Breakfast in the hotel, we will board the Chartered Coach to perform in the 10:00 AM WHITSUN MASS at the VOTIV CHURCH. After the performance, we will return to the Hotel to relax. The rest of the day is AT LEISURE. LUNCH is on your own.
We will board our Chartered Coach for KAHLENBERG, a picturesque area in the WIENERWALD (Vienna Woods), and a Buffet DINNER at a HEURIGEN.
DAY 9 BRATISLAVA
After a Buffet Breakfast in the hotel, we will board the Chartered Coach for a trip to BRATISLAVA, SLOVAKIA. Upon arrival in Bratislava, we will take a PANORAMA CITY TOUR of BRATISLAVA. LUNCH is on your own.
In the late afternoon, we will perform a CONCERT at the KLARIKSY CHURCH. This Gothic Church, constructed in the 13th Century, is located in the Old Town and stands on land originally used as a 1st Century BC Boii Celtic Tribe fortification. The Church, named for the Order of St. Clare nuns (more familiarly known as “The Poor Clares”), is no longer used as a house of worship and is a Concert Hall. After the concert, we will enjoy a typical Slovak DINNER in the RESTAURANT DANUBIUS, a boat anchored on the DANUBE RIVER. After Dinner, we will return to Vienna.
DAY 10 VIENNA
After a Buffet Breakfast in the hotel, the day is At Leisure. You might wish to use the time available to purchase a ticket to attend Morning Training at the Spanish Riding School (10 AM-12 PM).
LUNCH and DINNER are on your own.
DAY 11 Departure from VIENNA
