DAY 1 | FLIGHT TO ROYALTY - TOUR - HAIDELBERG
Meeting at the airport <MAKEDONIA>, meeting with our escort, who has made this trip many times and knows the places, the local traditions and the mentality of the inhabitants. Check-in and direct flight to the most industrialized city of the country, Basel. Basel is located at the point known as the Triangle, right on the border with France and Germany. Its point of reference is the Rhine River, which originates in the southeastern Swiss Alps and continues its journey north to the Netherlands, where it flows into the North Sea after a 1320 km course. Among the most important sights are the red Markplatz town hall with its allegorical figures, and the cathedral which reaches a height of 67 metres marking the religious centre of the city. We then follow the cobbled street which leads us to the balcony of the Rhine, where we will enjoy the view. Finally, we depart for the famous Baden Baden spa town. Arrival in the town located on the western slopes of the Black Forest, on the banks of the Ou River, near the town of Karlsruhe. The hot springs in Baden were already known since Roman times and were an attraction for the high society of Europe around the 19th century. Aristocratic walks, casino, opera, neoclassical atmosphere, imperial baths are waiting to be discovered. We continue to Mannheim, the second largest city in the state after Stuttgart, first mentioned in a legal act of 766. In 1607 it was granted city privileges, and in the early 18th century it was rebuilt, acquiring a distinctive urban design. We will see the Opera House, the municipal park and the Water Tower, a symbol of the city since the 19th century. We will also be impressed by the baroque palaces that house university schools. Finally, we move on to the beautiful city of Heidelberg, which could have been a medieval fairy tale with castles, witches and philosophers, but is far from real. Arrival and settling into the rooms.
DAY 2 | HEIDELBERG - CITY TOUR
Breakfast and start our tour of one of the most beautiful and picturesque cities in Germany, Heidelberg. A city which has been the center of German Romanticism and boasts the oldest FREE excursion to the beautiful Colmar BOLTA in Basel & Mannheim WITH FREE flights to Basel STRASBOURG - COLMAR - HADELBERG SPECIAL ALSATIA Christmas & New Year's Day 2024-25 university in the country founded in 1386. It is no coincidence that it is called the academic metropolis of Europe. We start our tour of the fairytale city, where we will see the Palace, built on the slopes of the Konigstuhl mountain and the Philosophers' Street, from which you can enjoy the most beautiful view of the city. The main street is the Royal Mile with a length of 1.6 km, there is also the oldest hotel in town "Zum Ritter" which has been in operation since 1592. The two most beautiful churches are those of the Holy Spirit and the university. We will not miss to climb the historic bridge, where the statue of Athena and the statues - symbols of the biggest rivers of southern Germany are located. Free time for souvenirs and shopping. Late afternoon return to our hotel. In the evening don't miss to taste traditional beer in one of the traditional beer houses of the city.
DAY 3 | DEPARTURE FOR STRASBOURG CRUISE ON THE CANALS
Breakfast and departure for Alsace, perhaps the most beautiful and picturesque region of Europe! What makes it stand out is the particular architecture of its buildings, which are increasingly appearing in the Instagram profiles of ordinary travellers and travel bloggers alike. We start with a tour of the capital and main city of the Lower Rhine prefecture, Strasbourg, where the local population is a mix of French and German elements. Adding a unique touch to the scenic beauty of the region is Petite France, an area which seems to be straight out of the traditional fairy tales of Charles Perrault and the 1600s. It is trade and traditional activities that have been instrumental in its development. A glance at the Bombay dam will convince us of the scale of the defence works that took place around 1700. Protestantism is strong in the region, which is reflected in the close relationship between the town and neighbouring Germany. One of the most important historical events that took place in this city is the printing of the first book in 1450 by Gutenberg. Visiting this city we will see the cathedral, one of the highest buildings in Europe with a height of 150 meters, the impressive Rohan Palace with 3 museums and more. Strasbourg is the only city in the world, along with Geneva, that is not a capital of a state, but is home to the headquarters of important international institutions. The European Parliament, the Council of the EU and the Court of Human Rights pull the strings of the Old Continent from this city in northeastern France. For those who wish, we suggest a dream cruise on the canals. We will not miss to pick up wonderful local souvenirs and colourful folk art. Free time and transfer to our hotel. Settle in the rooms. In the evening free time to take a first walk around the beautiful city that looks like a fairy tale. Imposing buildings, little houses with playful architecture on literally the river and a historic centre made to host fairytale walks. Especially now, during the holiday season, the town puts the icing on the cake of its uniqueness: its lively streets are transformed into a "village a la Hansel and Gretel" and the whole town becomes an attraction.
DAY 4 | DEPARTURE FOR KOLMAR - TRANSFER TO KRASOCHORIA
Breakfast and departure for the picturesque town of Colmar, famous for its vineyards. The town was founded in the 9th century and is one of the few that is not crossed by the Rhine River, but is connected by a canal of the Lauch River that runs through the town. Museums, cathedrals, architectural monuments, fountains and statues adorn the city and contribute to its uniqueness. We will see the two most important churches of the city, the Cathedral of St. Martin and the Dominicans, we will admire the famous 'Little Venice' a part of the city consisting of traditional buildings, which remind us of the jewel of Northern Italy, the Pfister House, an old house in the city centre with elaborate decoration and German Renaissance architecture built in 1537 and the Municipal Library, which has one of the richest collections in France. Colmar is still famous as the home of painter and printmaker Martin Schongauer and sculptor Frederic Bartholdi, designers of the Statue of Liberty. During our stay in the city don't miss to try a traditional éclair in one of the typical pa tiserie. Then for those who wish we suggest a wonderful excursion to the famous wine villages, where in a radius of 150 km there are 67 famous wine villages. Due to the fact that this area is surrounded on one side by the Bosnian Mountains and on the other by the Rhine, a unique microclimate is created, ideal for viticulture. We will visit 2 of the most famous villages Rekvir and Egisheim. Visiting Egisheim we will see an 11th century castle built by the dukes of Alsace, while in Reckvire, known as the village of the vine growers, as most of the inhabitants are involved in grape growing, we will admire the main street of General de Gaulle, which retains its medieval character, with pastel coloured houses taking pride of place. On our way back to Strasbourg we will also pass by the European Quarter with the Parliament of Europe, built in 1998.
DAY 5 | STRASBOURG - KINGSHIP - RETURN FLIGHT
Breakfast and preparation for departure. Transfer to the airport to take the return flight. Arrival in our city with the best impressions.
All departures: 22, 26 & 30/12
All hotel options: Leonardo Heidelberg,ΑC Hotel By Marriot, Leonardo Royal Mannheim.
For more information please contact us.
