Grand River Voyage III – Splendours of Europe

Accompanied flight to Amsterdam, where Royal Crown awaits

2,000-year-old Cologne spans the Rhine River and has a distinctive historical charm. Here, we embark on an exciting journey of discovery into the city’s past, and visit a landmark of High Gothic architecture set amid the reconstructed Old Town, the twin-spired Cologne Cathedral which still stands proud after being hit by 14 large aerial bombs during World War II.

Standing on the foundations of an urban Roma villa, with the world-famous Dionysius mosaic, the Romano- Germanic Museum houses Roman antiquities and explores the archaeological heritage of the city and the surrounding area from the Palaeolithic period to the early Middle Ages.

Cruising through the dramatic UNESCO World Heritage site of the Rhine Gorge, we are immersed in a stunningly beautiful landscape of fairytale castles atop the steep, terraced banks before passing the legendary Lorelei Rock, where it is said the sweet songs of lovelorn maidens lured enchanted sailors to their doom.

From Rüdesheim, we venture to Schloss Vollrads, one of the oldest wineries in Germany. Situated above Oestrich- Winkel in the Rheingau it is attractively nestled in a cultivated landscape and an ideal venue at which to enjoy our tour and wine tasting. Only Riesling grapes are cultivated on the 80 hectares of vineyards, used to make unique and authentic wines. All vineyards around Schloss Vollrads descend down to the Rhine in a southerly direction and, using knowledge and a tradition of over 800 years of viticulture, they create very special Riesling wines.

This morning is spent cruising the Rhine Valley and the Main, with the opportunity to perhaps attend an enlightening talk by our guest speaker in the Lounge, or enjoy panoramic vistas from the Sun Deck.

After exploring the Old Town of Aschaffenburg, we travel to Schloss Mespelbrunn, a true jewel in the heart of Bavaria. The romantic castle is surrounded by a water- filled moat and, due to its hidden location in a quiet valley, it has never suffered any war damage. The present Renaissance building is mostly from the mid- 16th century. Still a private residence, it provides a great insight into life in a castle of yesteryear.

This morning we step ashore in the delightful Franconian town of Miltenberg, famed for its magnificent half- timbered buildings, where our walking tour allows us to discover the Old Market Place, known as the ‘Schnatterloch’ and the Gasthaus zum Riesen, Germany’s oldest royal inn.

Our next port of call is Wertheim am Main. Situated at the confluence of the Main and Tauber rivers, it is famed for its landmark castle and the medieval buildings of its Old Town. Here, we discover one of the best-preserved Cistercian monasteries in southern Germany. Bronnbach Monastery was established in 1151 and wine growing was an integral part of the cloister life of the Cistercians. The long history has left a rich legacy such as the Romanesque church with baroque altars and choir stalls and the Gothic cloister.

Today, we join Germany’s ‘Romantic Road’ in Würzburg. The city is set in a beautiful hilly location on the River Main and possesses a wealth of history, as well as playing host to a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Residence Palace. A walking tour of the city’s main attractions takes us to the Prince Bishop’s Palace for a tasting of renowned local Franconian wines.

The vine-clad hills of the Main valley glide gently by as we navigate the river to join the continent’s greatest man-made waterway, The Rhine-Main-Danube canal, at Bamberg.

Standing on seven hills, the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Bamberg, with its 11th century Romanesque cathedral, welcomes our arrival. Exploring on foot, we embrace the old town and its preserved medieval buildings, including the muraled Altes Rathaus, located on an island in the Regnitz river.

Before departing Bamberg, we travel to the New Residence, which served as the seat of Bamberg’s prince bishops. We enjoy an exclusive Champagne

reception prior to a private string quartet recital with musicians from the world- renowned Bamberg Symphony Orchestra in the newly renovated Imperial Hall.

Nuremberg – City tour and Albrecht Durers house / Roth Castle and city tour.

Situated at the northernmost point of the Danube River, the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Old Town of Regensburg is the best-preserved medieval city in Germany. Founded by the Romans in 179 AD, Regensburg has a special charm and offers world renowned sights such as Porta Praetoria, the gate to the Roman Castra Regina, the Old Stone Bridge and St.Peter’s Cathedral.

In 1146, German builders completed work on a stone bridge crossing the Danube. With the project finished, the tiny construction office, next to the bridge, found new life as a food stand serving meat dishes. Today, it still serves customers, making it one of the oldest restaurants in the world and we sample the local speciality of Bavarian sausages.

Constructed at the confluence of three rivers, the Inn, Ilz and Danube, the Baroque design of Passau is dominated by large squares, romantic promenades, winding lanes and majestic bridges. Framed by the Veste Oberhaus castle and the pilgrimage monestary Mariahilf, the historical city centre of Passau looks like a floating ship. We take a guided walk through the 2,000 year old city which culminates in a visit to the breathtaking Cathedral of St Stephen, which houses one of the world’s largest pipe organs.

We while away the afternoon on board as the stunning scenery of the UNESCO protected Wachau Valley glides gently by.

The enchanting Artstetten Castle is situated high above the Danube in a charming park and is flanked by seven characteristic towers. This is a place of commemoration for Crown Prince Franz Ferdinand and his wife, Sophie Duchess of Hohenberg. Both were assassinated in Sarajevo in 1914 and have found their final resting place here. The Archduke Franz Ferdinand Museum provides us with a look into the eventful life of the crown prince and his family.

On the banks of the Danube River, the ancient city of Dürnstein is best known for its grape growing, historic character, and castle that imprisoned English King Richard the Lionheart. Narrow cobbled streets surrounded by historic buildings are hidden behind a fortification wall, all waiting to be discovered on our walking tour. From Dürnstein, we travel to the picturesque wine-growing village of Weissenkirchen to sample the excellent local wines.

Sailing further east, the romantic city of Vienna and former capital of the Habsburg Empire beckons. A panoramic tour of this elegant capital takes us around the famous Ringstrasse and the Old Quarter, including St Stephen’s Cathedral and one of the oldest opera houses in the world.

In the evening, we are treated to a private tour, exclusive concert, drinks reception and dinner at the magnificent imperial palace of Schönbrunn, the main summer residence of the Habsburg rulers. At the end of the 17th century, Emperor Leopold I

commissioned the Baroque architect, Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach, to design an imperial hunting lodge for his son, Crown Prince Joseph, later to become Emperor Joseph I. Replacing the château de plaisance,

built on this site for the dowager empress Eleonora of Gonzaga in 1642, it was to grow into a palatial imperial residence over the course of the 18th century. During the reign of Maria Theresa, as an imperial summer residence, Schönbrunn Palace became the glittering focus of court life. From this time on, it played host to the leading statesmen of Europe.

Our cruise continues along the Danube into Slovakia, where we visit the capital, since the country’s independence in 1993, Bratislava. Bratislava is a mosaic of illustrious history: a medieval and Gothic old town, baroque palaces commissioned by Hungarian nobles, and the crowning castle, rebuilt to Renaissance finery.

Our tour of the old town includes many of the city’s historic buildings, such as the only remaining medieval fortification, St Michael’s Gate, St Martin’s Cathedral, the Baroque Grassalkovich Palace and the Neo Classical Primate’s Palace.

We conclude our visit with a string quartet recital in the gothic Klarissen Church, part of a complex of medieval buildings forming the former Convent of Poor Clares in the old town of Bratislava.

We disembark Royal Crown in Budapest for a short city tour before being transferred to the airport for our flight home.