Day 1 - May 1st - We will meet at our Berlin Airport accommodation this morning and after a brief orientation we start our journey west. Our first stop will be Burg Bei Magdaburg, known as the “City of Towers.” There are more medieval spires, turrets, gables and lookout points here than nearly any other place in Germany. With its picturesque old town, medieval castle ruins, and beautiful countryside makes it a very charming and picturesque visit. One of the most notable attractions is the Burg Castle, a well-preserved medieval castle that dates back to the 12th century. You can explore the castle grounds, which offer panoramic views of the surrounding countryside. Another popular attraction is the Stadtmauer, a medieval city wall that encircles the old town. We will stop for Lunch and then visit Quedlinburg, the first capitol  of Germany with over 1200 years of history. It would be hard to find a more charming town than Quedlinburg! The narrow, cobblestone streets are lined with over 1300 half-timbered houses. Fortunately, the town survived the war undamaged, so the entire town was named a UNESCO World Heritage site. The town is built around a large square (Markt) and perches on two hills with the river Bode running through the middle. On one hill is a castle and abbey complex called the Burgberg, and on the other hill is the Muenzenberg. The town square is lined with great examples of medieval and Renaissance buildings. Then we get settled into our accommodation just a short ways away before our Welcoming Dinner. Dinner and Overnight Goslar. (B,L,D)

 

Day 2 - May 2nd - This morning we make our way to Hamelin, a beautifully restored historical town with magnificent timber-framed and sandstone buildings, many of which date back to the Renaissance period. Osterstrasse and the Pferdemarkt square form the Tokenistic Centre. Between these two points, tiny, winding alleyways are dotted with cafés and inns, cosy beer gardens and pretty little shops. You can follow the rat trail: The cobbles in Hamelin are painted with these little animals, who point the way to the main attractions in the town. This is, of course, associated with the legend of the Pied Piper. As the story goes, a rat catcher was called to the town in 1294 but was subsequently cheated of his fee. In revenge, he lured the children from the town by playing beguiling melodies on his flute – and they were never seen again. We then make our way to Hildesheim for lunch and a wee wander. There are numerous churches, two of them with UNESCO World Heritage status, beautiful half-timbered houses, a 1000-year-old rosebush and many quiet, green corners to relax. Everywhere there are small, lovingly run restaurants and cafés where you can experience idyll and pleasure in equal measure. Then back to Goslar where the the evening is yours to enjoy and find some dinner on your own. Goslar is the 1,000-year-old town nestled in glorious natural surroundings on the slopes of the Harz  mountains. The Old Town of Goslar was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its 1,500 exceptionally well-preserved half-timbered houses from different eras, located in the centre of the Old Town within the earlier town wall. The history of the town, which gained its wealth from mining and became the seat of the German Emperor, can be experienced at every turn, just by wandering through the narrow cobbled lanes. Overnight Goslar. (B,L)

 

Day 3 - May 3rd - This morning we visit Wolfenbüttel, a historical town filled with half-timbered houses. It is one of the best preserved historical towns in the northern half of Germany. As the first planned Renaissance town, Wolfenbüttel became the residence of the Royal House of Hanover for more than three centuries. Left largely unscathed by the wars throughout history and preserved by the locals with love and understanding, Wolfenbüttel’s Old Town still harks back to the times of holding court with its over 600 half-timbered houses. It is also where the world-famous Jägermeister herb liqueur was invented. Our next stop is the town of Wernigerode, with its historic town centre and lavishly restored and colourful half-timbered houses it is nestled on the northern edge of the Harz Mountains. The epithet "Colourful Town of the Harz Mountains" was coined by the German writer Hermann Löns at the end of the 19th century. The town hall on the market square, the crooked house, the smallest house and the oldest house are just some of these features that make up Wernigerode's rich half-timbered idyll. Also worth seeing are the remains of the town fortifications, the Krummel'sche House, the front of which is completely covered with a carved wooden façade, and of course Wernigerode Castle, which towers majestically over the town and provides visitors with interesting information about the 800-year history of the counts and princes of Wernigerode in living rooms, some of which were originally furnished by the German aristocracy. Dinner and Overnight Goslar. (B,L,D)

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Day 4 - May 4th - This morning we journey south to eventually wind up in Staufenberg, but we will explore Hannoversch Münden first. Nestled between three forests and three rivers in the middle of one of the oldest nature parks in Germany lies the half-timbered, three-river city of Hann. Münden. Here these two rivers unite to form the Weser and mark the beginning of the Weserbergland. As a trading town on three rivers almost completely surrounded by water, water played an important role in the life of the city in the past, but also to this day. Our next stop is Melsungen, a romantic old town where over 400 lovingly restored half-timbered houses form a harmonious ensemble. The symbolic figure of Melsung welcomes you warmly, shows you the sights and takes you on a journey back in time to the Middle Ages. At that time there were many woodcutters in Melsungen who went into the forest in the morning with their axes called “beards”. On the way they sharpened their axes in the soft sandstone of the Fulda Bridge, which is therefore now called the Bartenwetzer Bridge. A stroll around town takes you past the pretty half-timbered town hall , where the symbolic figure of the Bartenwetzer appears on one of the towers every day at 12 p.m. and 6 p.m. We make one last stop for the day at Marburg, with a history stretching back over 800 years. The University is the oldest protestant university in the world, founded in 1527. It boasts in its alumni Emil von Behring, the first ever winner of the Nobel Prize for Medicine. Brothers Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm, who collected many of their fairytales from around the region, also studied here, making the city a popular stop on the German Fairy Tale Road. A fairy tale trail through the city will lead you through its cobbled streets to all sorts of historical sights and quirky works of art. We then get checked into our accommodation in Staufenburg before dinner. Dinner and Overnight Staufenberg. (B,L,D)

 

Day 5 - May 5th - Today we stay mainly within the district of Siegen-Wittgenstein in Nordrhein-Westfalen. Our first stop of the day is Bad Laasphe with its clear streams, rivers, luscious meadows, lowland mountains and gentle hills, it has no end of beautiful scenery to offer. Look forward to a wonderful view over the picturesque half-timbered old town with its 13th century church and Schloss Wittgenstein Palace. We will take a relaxing stroll through the old town and visit all the shops. We then make our way to the capitol of the district, Seigen which is one of the smaller university towns of Germany. You can find some lunch here on your own and then explore the majestic Lower Castle and surrounding half-timbered houses provide an idyllic backdrop that draw the gazes of visitors as they wander along the Schlossplatz. The Upper Castle provides a wonderful view of the entire city from the expansive park grounds. The castle features the collections of the Siegerland Museum and the Rubens Hall. Siegen is the birthplace of the world-famous Baroque painter Peter Paul Rubens. Consequently, Siegen is often nicknamed the “Rubens City”. Nine original paintings by Rubens are on display in the Rubens Hall. The final stop of the day is in Freudenberg, known above all for its unique, almost closed half-timbered ensemble. In the old town centre, which is also called “Alter Flecken”, more than 80 black-and-white half-timbered houses are still lined up close together and thus form an impressive backdrop. After the city burned down for the second time in the 17th century and the citizens rebuilt their houses, they were all built gable to the streets. The resulting characteristic appearance is now a perfect postcard motif. Dinner and Overnight Staufenberg.  (B,D)

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Day 6 - May 6th - This morning we are off to the old town of Limburg situated on the banks of the Lahn River is one of the best preserved historic sites in the region. The town is home to a plethora of half-timbered houses built in the 17th and 18th centuries, but some of the buildings date back to the 13th century. The oldest free-standing house in Germany can be found in Limburg. This Gothic timbered house was built in 1289 and remains largely well-preserved. Its quiet narrow alleys and stunning timber-framed houses make Limburg a pleasure to explore on foot. Many of the town’s historic buildings have been converted into cute little cafes, traditional German pubs and quirky gift shops. While strolling through the medieval centre you are likely to come across the Werner-Senger-Haus, a 13th century building which houses one of the oldest restaurants in Germany. ​Our next stop is Cochem,  sitting in a picturesque position in the Moselle River valley in western Germany, close to the borders with Luxembourg and France. This small town of around 5,000 inhabitants has been an important Rhineland wine trading centre since the days that the Romans introduced the vines to the area. The town's most distinctive feature is its castle perched high above the river, with remnants dating back to the 11th century. Underneath lies the old walled city with its narrow cobblestone lanes lined by half-timbered houses with painted decorative fronts. We then make our way to Trier where you will have the rest of the afternoon to explore this lovely town before we gather for dinner. Dinner and Overnight Trier. (B,D)

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Day 7 - May 7th - Much of today will be spent in and around Trier. Founded in 16 BC during the reign of Roman Emperor Augustus, Trier is Germany's oldest city and an important site for ancient art treasures and monuments, such as the Porta Nigra, the best-preserved city gate from the ancient world. It is also the birthplace of Karl Marx. We will have a Guided Walking Tour where we discover “the second Rome” in this unforgettable journey, visiting Germany's oldest town. See the various UNESCO World Heritage sites located in the city, visit the Konstantin-Basilika, the world's largest remaining Roman structure and the oldest German cathedral and listen to the stories of the birthtown of Karl Marx. Let the town enchant you, with its charming half-timbered houses and its many vineyards lining the Moselle and let our guide uncover the secrets of Trier. After lunch we will discover the beautiful Moselle valley from the water on a boat trip. With this one hour cruise you will get a completely different view of Trier, from the river! Once we are back on land, we will visit a winery in the middle of Trier's vineyards. A vintage bus will take us to and from the winery. During a guided tour, we will learn everything we need to know about the winery's own wine cellar. Afterwards, a tasting of four wines will quench your thirst for knowledge about the fine wines. Finally, you can enjoy a delicious tarte flambée for dinner as we reflect on the wonderful day together. Dinner and Overnight Trier. (B,L,)

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Day 8 - May 8th -This morning our first visit is Piesport, a small town on a sharp bend in the Mosel river, in the wine district of the same name. Its perilously steep northern bank, with its pure southerly aspect, is the origin of some of Germany's finest Riesling wines.The town's flagship vineyard is Goldtröpfchen (whose name means 'Droplets of Gold'). It is one of two Erste Lage ("premier cru") sites here. The second, Schubertslay, is a tiny parcel within the first. Dramatic view and equally breathtaking wines, Piesport (often seen as "Piesporter" on a label) is one of Germany's great wine towns. We will explore the town first and as we are in one of Germany's great wine towns, we must do some wine tasting! This afternoon we visit Eltz Castle or Burg Eltz is easily one of the most famous Rhineland-Palatinate quintessential romantic fairytale castle, with parts dating as far back as the 9th century. Originally a a Ganerbenburg castle (meaning it was jointly owned by multiple families), today it is still owned by one of these original three families, the Counts of Eltz-Kempenich. They continue to live in part of the castle, while the other two-thirds are open to the public. While there was once a village surrounding Burg Eltz, today it seems to just appear in the middle of the forest. There are eight towers rising 35 metres above the ground while the interior provides visitors the sight of suits of armour, weapons, artefacts and furnishings that have been there for eight centuries. We then make our way to our castle home for the next 3 nights to get settled in before dinner. Dinner and Overnight Schönburg Castle at Oberwesel. (B,L,D)

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Day 9 - May 9th - This morning you will wake up in our dream castle with a spectacular view over the River Rhine. As we are half way through the tour, the day will be entirely at your leisure after you will wake up in our dream castle with a spectacular view over the River Rhine. The Upper Middle Rhine Valley extends 65 kilometers in length from Bingen to Koblenz and has more castles than any other river in the world. Its landscape and riverfront villages have inspired fairy tails, music, poetry, and paintings for centuries. There could not be a more magical place to wake up! The day is yours to enjoy at your leisure in this amazing castle that is lovingly decorated and waiting to be explored. The fireplace room, the prison tower and the library will help you get into a relaxing mood. You can enjoy the beautiful view of the Rhine valley from the terraces or spend some wonderful hours in the cozy castle courtyard. A special treat for our use is the exclusive access to the enchanted castle garden. The garden is full of wonderful views and mysterious places. As the castle sits in the middle of the UNESCO World Heritage Upper Middle Rhine Valley all around there are vineyards, hiking paths through forests and meadows with beautiful. You will have a picnic lunch to have whenever you are hungry and in the afternoon a wine grower from Oberwesel will pick us up at the castle to take us on a 2 hour sightseeing tour through the town of Oberwesel and the surrounding vineyards with an introduction to the viticulture on the Middle Rhine and a welcome Riesling Sparkling Wine. We will visit the vineyard and wine-cellar and then have a tasting of four typical Riesling wines before we return to Schönburg Castle. This evening we will enjoy the Schönburg 4 Course Candlelight Dinner with corresponding wines. Dinner and Overnight Schönburg Castle at Oberwesel. (B,L,D)

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Day 10 - May 10th - This morning is spent very close to home here on the beautiful Rhine River. The Upper Middle Rhine Valley extends 65 kilometers in length from Bingen to Koblenz and has more castles than any other river in the world. Its landscape and riverfront villages have inspired fairy tails, music, poetry, and paintings for centuries. There could not be a more magical place to wake up! After breakfast we will explore a few of these town including Bacharach. a lovely town is hidden away along the Rhine. Once you walk through one of the Stone archways that lead into town, you are immediately transported back in time. It is absolutely enchanting! So many of the towns and villages along the Rhine River here are written about, but we had never heard of Bacharach even though it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is a medieval village of cobblestone streets and half-timbered houses, most of which were built before the sixteenth century. The name Bacharach came from Bacchus, the god of wine which is fitting, as the town sits in the valley of hills lined with Riesling and served as a major wine trading and shipping station in the Middle Ages. We will also visit Rüdesheim am Rhein, famous for its Riesling wines and Drosselgasse, one of its picturesque streets that dates back to the middle ages. Drosselgasse is cobbled, narrow, and flanked on both sides with stores, shops, and taverns sporting fancy signs, all of which contribute to its medieval charm. In the evening we will enjoy a 5 Course Gourmet Candlelight Dinner including corresponding wines in the castle restaurant within medieval walls full of atmosphere. Dinner and Overnight Schönburg Castle at Oberwesel. (B,D)

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Day 11 - May 11th - This morning as we leave Oberwesel behind we visit the town of Bingen, also situated at the the Romantic Rhine, the gateway to the Unesco World Heritage of the ‘Upper Middle-Rhine Valley’ and in the middle of four winegrowing regions.The town on the river presents itself with an attractive infrastructure, where the legacy of 2000 years of history can be vividly experienced. Come and enjoy the atmosphere, the various festivals, discover the message of Saint Hildegard at the places where she lived and worked and spend some time in a magical setting. While in Bingen we will enjoy delicious Bingen wine during a Romantic Vineyard Tour in a covered wagon. We will be comfortably coached through the beautiful Bingen landscape and experience great views of the vast, green vineyards of the Rhine city. We will taste two first-class wines from Bingen at the "Table of Encounter". A delicious pretzel with homemade cream cheese awaits you during the idyllic ride. Afterwards, you can enjoy fantastic views from the vantage point "Scharlachkopf", accompanied by two more fine wines. Back at the winery, we will be served a hearty vintner's platter with sausage, cheese and fresh bread. Our final stop before reaching our accommodation is Speyer, another one of Germany’s oldest cities, first established by the Romans on the banks of the Rhine River. Speyer means spires in English, which is fitting as it’s a city with quite a number of buildings featuring impressive spires rising into the sky. One of the most recognisable is the tower of Speyer’s Memorial Church, an impressive neo-Gothic construct that reaches a height of 100 metres. The Imperial Cathedral is also one of the most renowned buildings in the city, constructed of red sandstone and dating back to the year 1030. It’s the largest Romanesque building in the whole of Germany and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Inside the crypt are the tombs of four emperors, three empresses, and four German kings. Dinner and Overnight Baden-Baden. (B,L,D)

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Day 12 - May 12th - Today is spent in and around Baden-Baden, the European capital of the art of living - Baden-Baden! Here, luxurious wellness oases, historic architecture, lush nature and modern lifestyles merge into an unrivalled experience. This morning we visit the Merker Mountain Funicular, longest funicular railway in Germany is at Baden-Baden, and a popular destination for excursions. You can climb all the way to the highest point in Baden-Baden with its summit of the 2,191 feet, Merkur Mountain can be easily reached with Europe’s steepest, and most technically advanced, funicular railway. In little over 5 minutes, and after negotiating inclines of between 23% and 54%, and a difference in altitude of 1,214 feet, we will have reached our target. After some time to take in of the spectacular vistas we will return to the hotel for lunch. After lunch we visit Baden-Badener Weinhaus am Mauerberghe, a wine house in Baden-Baden that combines the flair and charm of the world heritage city with excellent wines from the Baden-Baden wine region. Enjoying life in Baden-Baden also means enjoying the excellent regional cuisine and the excellent local wines, so a dream day in the city definitely includes a personal Baden-Baden wine moment! We will be welcomed into the cellar for a tour with entertaining commentary. After an informative cellar tour, we will be introduced to three representative wines from the house. You will gain an insight into their classic grape varieties and the history of this Baden-Baden wine house. Overnight Baden-Baden. (B,L)

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Day 13 - May 13th - This morning we start our journey to Rothenburg ob der Tauber with a first stop in Ludwigsburg, Germany’s Baroque gem! With a magnificent palace and gardens, a grand market square and tempting arcades, this small, friendly city has history and culture galore. We will take a tour of Ludwigsburg Palace before stopping for lunch. First-time visitors are amazed by the sheer size with 452 rooms in 18 buildings. This is one of Europe’s largest original Baroque complexes. The lavish architecture, with arches and columns, frescoes and chandeliers, reflects the power and wealth of the dukes and kings, for whom this was home. On our guided tour we will travel back through 300 years. In banqueting halls and state apartments, stories bring the past to life. Imagine the rich and famous sweeping down the imposing staircases. Admire the art in the Baroque Gallery (Barockgalerie) and tour the private apartments to see how the royal family lived. The opulence of the antiques and portraits, gilding and silk damask contrasts with the servant’s quarters, at the bottom of hidden staircases. This afternoon we stop in Esslingen, an attractive town full of half-timbered buildings in the commuter region around Stuttgart. It is one of the most beautiful medieval towns in Germany and boasts 1200 years of history and over 800historical monuments.  It is also known as Esslingen am Neckar, adding the river Neckar to the name so as to avoid confusion with another Esslingen further north in Germany. The timber-framed houses and other historic buildings in the medieval town, the city wall and towers and the vineyards around the city are all interesting reasons to explore in Esslingen, so we will do this on a guided walking tour. Dinner and Overnight Rothernberg ob der Tauber. (B,L,D)

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Day 14 - May 14th - This morning you will have free in Rothenberg. There are very few places elsewhere in the world with such a wealth of original buildings dating from the Middle Ages as there are here. You will feel as if you have gone back in time as you amble through the Old Town with its secluded squares and tucked-away corners with towers, fountains, gates and wine taverns. You will love the Largest Christmas Shop in Europe, but he main highlight of Rothenberg, is walking around its streets and admiring its stunning architecture. The main streets are Klostergasse, Herrngasse and Schmiedgasse (which turns into Spitalgasse). These three roads radiate out from the towns beautiful Market Square, making it very easy to traverse the whole town. Many people’s favorite part of town is Plönlein and you will instantly recognize it from the multiple picture you will have seen. The town walls, however, are the real highlight as you walk up any one of the several staircases that will immediately transport you back in time to the town’s imperial heyday. The wall covers almost two miles around town, providing many great views. Along the way, you also pass through many of the original guard houses. In the evening you may want to join the Night Watchman Tour, a free that will take you on a walk back in time. The meeting point is at the market square in front of the town hall at 8:00pm and lasts about an hour. See you all in the morning. Overnight Rothenberg ob der Tauber. (B)

Day 15 - May 15th - This morning we start our day off with a journey to Bad Wimpfen, at the confluence of the Neckar and Jagst rivers, is one of the most stunning towns of the Neckar Valley. The Romans built a fortress and a bridge here, on the riverbank site of an ancient Celtic settlement, and if you climb the 167 steps to the Blue Tower’s viewing platform, you’ll be rewarded with stunning views of this medieval town. In the 1st century AD the Staufen emperor Barbarossa chose this town as the site of his largest Pfalz (residence). The ruins of this palace still overshadow the town and are well worth a stroll. Upon a stroll around town you will think you stepped into a fairy tale, with towers and spires popping up against the skyline of this ancient town on Germany’s historic castle route. We then make our way to Würzburg, a 1300 year old city steeped in history and culture sitting on the banks of the Main River in northern Bavaria. You can find some lunch here on your own and then explore this Baroque city offering southern German flair and Franconian hospitality. Architectural masterpieces from various eras shape the cityscape. Even from afar, the two imposing towers of St. Kilian Cathedral – the fourth largest Romanesque church in Germany – point the way to the city. Würzburg's famous landmarks are the Würzburg Residence with its Court Gardens and Residence Square (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), the Marienberg Fortress and the 180-metre-long Old Main Bridge, which is lined with impressive statues of saints. Gracefully straddling the banks of the Main River amid idyllic vineyards, the location alone is reason enough to visit Würzburg. Dinner and Overnight Rothenberg ob der Tauber. (B,D)​​

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Day 16 - May 16th - Although Nuremberg is not a small town or village, the cenre of this city feels very much like one. The historical center of Nuremberg, Old Town Altstadt) is easily differentiated from other parts of the city. Divided in two by the Pegnitz River, the district represents a complex architectural ensemble with a maze of historical lanes packed with half-timber houses, linked by centuries-old bridges, such as Maxbrücke, and set against the picturesque backdrops of large churches like St. Sebaldus' and St. Lawrence's, as well as medieval sites like the Heilig-Geist-Spital found along the banks. The city is best explored on foot and with a local guide, so we will have a Guided Walking Tour. We then make a final stop in Regensburg, a quaint and well preserved medieval city in Southeast Germany with its famous 12th-century, 16-arch stone bridge that crosses the River Danube. Right near where the stone bridge enters the Old Town is a famous sausage house, Regensburg Sausage Kitchen that is the oldest continuous open public restaurant in the world, so we will stop here for lunch. There is also a German Mustard Store here called Händlmaier’s, where they have over 28 varieties of mustard in tubes. Imagine, a store just for mustard! We will then take some time to explorethe 1,500 listed buildings, 984 of which comprise the UNESCO World Heritage 'Old Town with Stadtamhof' ensemble. The Stone Bridge, the cathedral and the Krauterermarkt square with the Collegiate Church of St. John, the Cathedral Treasury Museum, the patrician town house and the historical Adler Pharmacy count among Regensburg's most significant architectural monuments, but represent just a few of the vast number of outstanding sights. We then get settled into tour accommodation before dinner. Dinner and Overnight near Munich International. (B,L,D)

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Day 17 - May 17th - This morning we make our way to Munich International Airport for the journey home.

 

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