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E X P E R I E N C E S I S S U E 2 3
Highlights include sailing by Budapest's
Houses of Parliament and a city tour of Vienna,
followed by a private Mozart musical recital.
The pretty Wachau Valley, a UNESCO Site,
includes a visit to Melk's sprawling Benedictine
Abbey and amazing library. Rare medieval
leather-bound manuscripts line the walls and
there are 16,000 books in one room plus
another 12 rooms are home to 100,000
precious volumes.
In Passau, in the southeastern corner of Lower
Bavaria, we head to St. Stephen's Cathedral, a
huge sparkling white baroque church, where a
17,000-pipe organ, is a centerpiece.
Walking tours in Germany's Regensburg,
Nuremberg and Bamberg showcase the old
city centres followed by beer and sausage
tasting. Bamberg wins our vote for the best
beer—even with its distinctly smoky flavour.
In Würzburg, we visit the stunning baroque
Bishop's Residenz Palace, another UNESCO
site, and in Wertheim, a guided walking tour
introduces us to the traditional German town.
Near Koblenz, we spot the famous Lorelei
Rock, where legend says sailors were seduced
by a maiden singing and lured to their doom.
Cologne's twin-spired Gothic cathedral takes
centre stage and for the best bird's eye view,
we join the Top of Cologne tour and walk
among the spires.
The last stop before Amsterdam is Kinderdijk,
known for its well-preserved 18th century
windmills. It's a scenery packed river voyage
where "castle spotting" soon becomes
addictive and lifelong memories are made.
Clockwise, from left: Inside
Marksburg Castle; Wachau Valley
vineyard; Christmas Market sausage
stall, Passau; concert performers
pose, Vienna
Miltenberg
Bamberg
Melk
Würzburg
MAIN
RHINE
DANUBE
DANUBE
MAIN–DANUBE
CANAL
Cologne
Koblenz
Nuremberg
Vienna
Budapest
Passau
Regensburg
Prague
Kinderdijk
Amsterdam
HUNGARY
AUSTRIA
CZECH REPUBLIC
GERMANY
THE NETHERLANDS
–
Cruise
•
• Overnight in Port
VIEW
VOYAGE
GETTING THERE: Consider our 15-day
Grand European Tour, from
Amsterdam to Budapest, or in reverse.
Würzburg Bishop's Residenz
