Castles and cloisters of France and Germany 8 days / 7 nights
We invite you to an extraordinary tour through Germany and France to visit ancient castles, cloisters and cities. You will see the most famous places in Alsace, admire the Swabian Alb and plunge into the atmosphere of the Middle Ages!
Day 1. Arrival at the airport of Stuttgart / Zurich.
Transfer to the hotel. Free time in the town of Donaueschingen (transfer included).
Day 2.: Excursion to the Mont Saint-Odile Abbey and the town of Obernai.
A famous pilgrimage place – a nunnery known as the Mont Saint-Odile Abbey - is situated among the cliffs and rocks of the Vosges Mountains. According to the legend the water from the “holy spring”, located near the nunnery, is curative and returns eyesight. After visiting the nunnery you will go to a romantic town of Obernai, that fascinates the visitors with particular French charm and graceful architecture. Be sure to visit the market square, where the main attractions are located – the 60 meter high medieval clock tower, the building of the Town Hall and a fountain with a statue of St. Odile, the patron saint of Alsace.
Day 3. Trip to the Haut-Koenigsbourg Castle and the town of Selestat.
You will find fascinating the journey to one of the most beautiful castles of Alsace – Haut-Koenigsbourg. Built of red sandstone the castle stands out against the dark coniferous forests. The castle dates back to the 12th century, but the today’s appearance goes back to the year 1908 because of complete renovation. The castle is located 10 km from the town of Selestat, which is considered as the birthplace of the Christmas tree. Fine Renaissance mansions, Gothic and Romanesque churches and medieval towers impart unique charm to the small town.
Day 4. Tour to the Hohenzollern Castle and the university town of Tübingen.
You will visit the ancestral lands of the Hohenzollern dynasty – the fabulous "Castle in the Sky." This poetic name is connected with the castle location on the top of a mountain, which is often covered by clouds and mist and the castle seems to soar in the air. During the second part of our tour we will visit the capital of Swabia – Tübingen, see medieval timber framed houses, admire the beautiful embankment of the Neckar River and learn, why Tübingen is considered as classic university town.
Day 5. Tour to Colmar (France). The Old Town, the Unterlinden Museum, the Bartholdi Museum.
Colmar is the most beautiful city of Alsace and a true open-air museum. Colorful house facades and variety of architectural styles - from Gothic and Baroque to Rococo and Classicism - make this city unique. The Unterlinden Museum, that exhibits a rich collection of sculptures and paintings of different ages, and the House-Museum of Auguste Bartholdi, the Statue of Liberty sculptor, are worth a visit. If you are in a romantic mood, we recommend you to go boating through the blooming Little Venice and the Fishermen’s quarter.
Day 6. Tour to Meersburg, the Old Castle. (Optional excursion - 90 euro)
The majestic medieval castle constructed in the VII century is one of the main attractions in Meersburg. It is called "old" in contrast to the "new" baroque palace, which was built in the 18th century for the bishops of Constance. Today the castle possesses an extensive collection of furniture, weapons, objects of everyday use and works of art dating back to the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. Besides, the Dagobert’s Tower offers a magnificent view of Meersburg, Lake Constance and the Alps.
Day 7. Excursion to the Beuron Archabbey and the Sigmaringen Castle.
In the Beuron monastery we will visit the pilgrimage church of St. Martin and admire its sumptuously painted ceiling and altar created by the German sculptor Joseph Anton Feuchtmayer. The side chapel with a big round dome is painted in the Beuron art school style. And on the steep bank of the Danube River we will find the majestic castle Sigmaringen in all its splendor. We will go through the halls of the palace, marvel at the magnificent tapestries and visit the armoury, which contains the largest European private collection of armor and weapons.
Day 8. Transfer to the airport of Stuttgart / Zurich.