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Day
1: Wednesday/Sunday
Frankfurt–
Erfurt – Leipzig (D)
Depart from Frankfurt in the morning and drive eastward to
our first stop Eisenach, dominated by the Wartburg
Castle. Visit one of Germany's most important edifices
of national heritage and see the room where Luther used to
live for many years and spent the last years of his
seclusion. Continue via Weimar to Leipzig, where,
after checking into your hotel we will visit on of Germany's
largest Christmas Markets. The main attractions are
located on the historical market square in front of the
ancient town hall. Marvel at the 25 yard Christmas tree with its thousands of lights or stroll through the many stalls with handcrafted
Christmas gifts from the region. We invite you to a very informal German style snack with Bratwurst and mulled wine at one of the numerous food stalls. Overnight at
Hotel Tulip Inn Leipzig or similar.
Day
2: Thursday/Monday
Leipzig - Meissen - Dresden (B)
In the morning we continue towards Meissen, where we visit one of Germany’s oldest porcelain manufactories. Founded in the 18th century and being continuously in operation since then, the delicate, always handcrafted products are found in royal courts and celebrities homes all around the world. Meissen is proud to be able to restore or remanufacture on demand all ever produced
designs, as the negative plaster models have been preserved through-out the centuries. See the exhibition hall and the demonstration workshops were all steps of the painting and glazing process is explained to you. Afterwards we continue onward to Dresden,
where after a city tour, highlighting all major
sights as Zwinger, Frauenkirche, Semper Opera House and many more we check in to our hotel. In the evening we will visit the Christmas market in Dresden, which is named “Striezelmarkt” after the local cake
speciality, the “Christstollen” or “Striezel” Highlights are the more than 16-yard tall Christmas pyramid, and the many stalls, where you can sample the “Strietzel”.
Overnight at Hotel Achat or similar.
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Day
3: Friday/Tuesday
Dresden - Annaberg - Schneeberg - Plauen (B/D)
Today after breakfast we are heading mostly along country roads to visit two ancient miner-villages, named Schneeberg and Annaberg. These villages are typical for the Erzgebirge (ore-mountains) and actually are the home of the German tradition of woodcarving and Christmas-pyramids. In older times, light – represented by candles - was an important symbol of life and safety for the miners, working in the dark tunnels to retrieve the ore and coal. Thus the woodcarvers combined their deep religious beliefs and used candles to illuminate the pyramids with saints and symbols from the holy night like ox, mule and
sheppard.
The Christmas market in Annaberg is dating back as far as 1510. In Schneeberg, the main attraction, aside of the Christmas market is St. Wolfgang-church with an altar from 1539, carved by Lucas Cranach, the elder.
In the afternoon we continue towards Plauen, a city famous for its handcrafted lace.
Plauen was founded in the 11th century and since the 16 hundreds an important place for cotton manufacturing. A farewell-Dinner will be served in your hotel. Overnight at Hotel Alexandra or similar.
Day
4: Saturday/Wednesday
Plauen - Bamberg - Frankfurt (B)
On the last day of the tour we are travelling through the Franconian forest to the imperial city of Bamberg. The city, founded in the 09th century also has a nicely preserved old-town which was declared UNESCO
world heritage site a couple of years ago.
We will walk through the old town and see the cathedral and the St. Benedicts abbey
Michaelsberg. The last impressions of German Christmas markets can be seen as the pedestrian zone around the cathedral hosts the Bamberg Christmas market and you can do some last – minute shopping there, if you wish. On we go through rolling hills of Franconia until reaching your final destination Frankfurt in the late afternoon.
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DEPARTURES
Dec 1, 5, 2008
Dec 2, 6 2009
Departure Points:
1. Tryp Frankfurt, Braunfelsstraße
17 (Opelrondell) – Lobby: 8:15 a.m.
2. Le Méridien
Parkhotel Frankfurt, Wiesenhüttenplatz 28 – 38 – Lobby: 8:30
a.m.
3. InterCityHotel/
Hamburger Hof, Frankfurt, Poststraße 8 – Lobby: 8:45 a.m.
4. Frankfurt Airport:
Terminal 1, Arrival Level Hall B - Meeting Point 9:30 a.m.
Please note:
No extra pick up from Hotel Express by
Holiday Inn Frankfurt Airport: free
shuttle to/from the airport Terminal 1. Pick up for these clients from
Frankfurt Airport Terminal 1 Arrival Level Hall B, Meeting Point.
PRICES
Tour price: 483
eur
(Per person in double or twin bedded room)
Single supplement:
99 eur.-
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