Fall 2011

European Tour visiting France, Switzerland Austria, and Germany

September 15 – 27, 2011

revised: April 7, 2010

subject to change

 

 

Thursday, September 15, 2011 - Departure from St. Louis.

 

Friday, September 16, 2011 - Morning arrival in Paris. Meet the local guide and board the motorcoach. Transfer to the hotel to check in and drop off our luggage, then take a panoramic sightseeing tour by motorcoach. Our panoramic sightseeing tour will include views of some of the most important landmarks—the Arc de Triomphe, the elegant Champs Élysées, Place de la Concorde, the Opera, and the Eiffel Tower—the monument that best symbolizes Europe. We’ll ascend to the top level of the Eiffel Tower to take in wonderful views of the city! Enjoy a welcome dinner at the hotel. (B-in flight, D)

 

Saturday, September 17, 2011 - Take a guided sightseeing tour with a local guide including visits to Notre Dame Cathedral and the Louvre Museum. Free afternoon in Paris with independent dinner.  (B)

 

Sunday, September 18, 2011 - Transfer to Paris Gare Lyon and board the train for the 4-hour ride to Lausanne, Switzerland.* Upon arrival in Lausanne, we'll meet our driver/guide. Take a walking tour of Lausanne and see the city’s main sights before transferring to the hotel for dinner and overnight.  (B, D)

 

Monday, September 19, 2011 - This morning we’ll travel to Berne or Neuchâtel for a prolonged lunch and shopping stop. Then continue to Lucerne, Switzerland.  Transfer to the hotel located just outside Lucerne for a two-night stay.  Have dinner at the hotel this evening.(B, D)

 

Tuesday, September 20, 2011 - This morning we’ll take a boat cruise on the Lake of Lucerne to Alpnachstad. From here travel to the peak of Mt. Pilatus on the steepest cogwheel railway in the world. On the return, we take a cable car down to Kriens. Then transfer into Luzern, the popular and picturesque little city nestled amid snow-capped Alps. During our walking tour, we’ll start off with a visit to the Lion Monument. In the Old Quarter, we will walk through a maze of charming, narrow streets and little squares adorned with wrought-iron signs and lovely old buildings with painted facades. Then cross the River Reuss by way of the famous covered wooden Chapel Bridge. Free evening in Lucerne.  (B)

 

Wednesday, September 21, 2011 - Travel to Vaduz, the capital of the Principality of Liechtenstein.  A visit is planned to the Liechtenstein Center for a comprehensive look at this interesting country.  A stop for independent lunch is also planned in Vaduz.  Then continue on to Austria to reach Innsbruck, the handsome Tyrolean capital. We will take a walking tour of the Old Town upon arrival, featuring the "Little Golden Roof” of Maximilian of Habsburg and the Hofkirche, which contains his mausoleum. After this visit, check into the hotel and have dinner.   (B, D)

Hotel: Hotel Innsbruck or Innsbruck Central Hotel

 

Thursday, September 22, 2011 - This morning board the motorcoach and travel into Germany and visit the charming town of Berchtesgaden, where we will have time to look around and have independent lunch.  Then cross the border back into Austria and continue to Wals, a charming village located just outside of Salzburg. After checking in at the hotel, transfer into Salzburg for independent dinner. (B)

 

Friday, September 23, 2011 - Today will be spent in Salzburg. Often called the Sound of Music city, Salzburg enchants its visitors with its lovely setting on the River Salzach and the accessibility of its important sites and great shopping. We’ll start off with a walking tour of the Old Town to see St. Peter’s Church and Churchyard, a beautiful cemetery that abuts on the vertical rock wall of the Mönchsberg. We’ll also visit Salzburg Cathedral and Mozart’s birthplace where mementos of the great composer’s life are preserved. During your free time this afternoon, you may want to stroll through lovely Mirabell Gardens or spend some time shopping in the area of the Getreidegasse. Free evening for dinner and perhaps a show.  (B)

 

Saturday, September 24, 2011 - Travel north today to the delightful village of Oberndorf, situated on the Salzach River.  Here we plan to visit the Silent Night Memorial Chapel, located on the original site of the St. Nikolaus Church, where the popular Christmas Carol “Silent Night” was composed.   Then continue north and to Burghausen to visit the impressive German Burghausen Castle.  The castle is the longest in Europe and divided into six courtyards. Each courtyard had or has its own fortified gate, moat and wooden drawbridge. Each courtyard was built at a different time and has its own history.  After our visit, continue to Erding, located just outside Munich, and check into the hotel for a three-night stay. (B) Hotel: Kastanienhof

 

Sunday, September 25, 2011 - After breakfast, transfer to Munich and visit Nymphenburg Palace and Park, once the summer residence to Bavarian royalty. Then transfer into central Munich’s Marienplatz, the crossroads where life of the town is concentrated. On this square, near the Old Town Hall with its stepped gables crowned by bell turrets, is the New Town Hall with the famed Glockenspiel.  We will have several hours of free time before we meet up for the world-famous Oktoberfest!  A table will be reserved and we will have an allowance for our dinner.  After plenty of time to sample traditional food and beer, return to the hotel in Erding.  (B, D)

 

Monday, September 26, 2011 - TBA

 

Tuesday, September 27, 2011 - After breakfast, we will transfer to the Munich Airport to check in for our flights back to St. Louis.