Highlights: The Burren, Dublin, Kilmainhaim Gaol, Galway, Giant's Causeway, Aran Islands.
Hot topics: History, Religion and Monasticism, Literature (W B Yeats, James Joyce, Jonathan Swift).
Highlights: Westminster Abbey, Tower of London, Bath, Oxford, Stonehenge, Stratford upon Avon.
Hot topics: Literature, History, Theatre, Finance, Art and Architecture.
Highlights: Glencoe, Edinburgh, Skye, Iona, Stirling Castle, Clava Cairns, The Hermitage.
Hot topics: Geography/Geology, History, Literature, Politics and Government.
Highlights: Krakow, Auschwitz, Kazimierz, Warsaw, Museum of 1944 Uprising, Westerplatte.
Hot topics: World War II, The Holocaust, Jewish Culture, 20th Century History.
Highlights: Louvre, Musee D'Orsay, Versailles, Foutainebleu, Reims, Chartres, Normandy.
Hot topics: Art (Impressionists, Monet, Rodin), Literature, European History.
Highlights: Granada, L'Alhambra, Cordoba, Mesquita, Barcelona, Museo de Picasso, La Sagrada Famila, La Pedrera, Madrid, Museo Del Prado, Centro de Arte Reina Sofia, Toledo.
Hot topics: Art, Modern Art (Picasso, Miro), Architecture (Gaudi).
Highlights: Lisbon, Faro, Fatima, Coimbra, Porto.
Hot topics: Navigation and Exploration, Monarchy and Empire, European History, Religious Studies.
Highlights: Zurich, View from Felsenegg, Zermatt, Mount Rigi, Aare Gorge, Rhone Glacier, Lake Lucerne, Appenzell, Grundewald, Rhine Falls (Europe's largest waterfall).
Hot topics: Geology, Environmental Studies, Travel and Tourism, Finance.
Highlights: Amsterdam, Anne Frank's House, Rijkmuseum, Van Gogh Museum, Canals, The Hague, Bruges, Brussells, Antwerp.
Hot topics: European Politics and Government, the European Community, International Law, Art, European History.
Highlights: Berlin, Reichstag, Checkpoint Charlie Museum, Pergamon Museum, Potsdam, Bavaria, Neuschwanstein Castle.
Hot topics: World War II, Modern History, Jewish Culture, Politics and the European Union.
Highlights: Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.
Hot topics: Aliquam aliquam quam ac augue semper placerat vitae et mauris.
Highlights: Salzburg, Mozart Residence, Halstatt, the Alps, Estherhazy Palace, Eisenstadt, Castle Herberstein, The Imperial Hotel, Vienna, Graz.
Hot topics: Music, Geology, European HIstory.
Highlights: Budapest, Hungarian Parliament, Godolla Palace, Szechenyi Baths, Esterhazy Palace in Fertod, Szentendre, Visegrad.
Hot topics: The Hapsburgs, Austro-Hungarian Empire, European History.
Highlights: Dubrovnik, "The Pearl of the Adriatic", Hvar, Split, Trogir, Zadar.
Hot topics: Empire (Byzantine, Ottoman, Venetian, Hungarian), Ancient History, Archeology, Architecture, Modern European History.
Highlights: The Parthenon, Epidaurus, Delphi, Mycenae, Olympia, Meteora Pinnacle Monasteries.
Hot topics: Archeology, Classicism, Philosophy, Art, Ancient History.
Highlights: Roman Forum and Colisseum, Uffizi Gallery, San Marco, Venice, Pompeii.
Hot topics: Archeology, Art, Architecture, Ancient History.
Once we arrive in Salzburg we take the cog wheel train to the Fortress Hoehensalzburg at a height of 1600 metres. Below, the glaciated waters of the River Salzach divides the “old” and the “new” city. Baroque churches, spires, and fountains line the streets of old Salzburg and the Alps rise beyond the city.
A day to enjoy the beautiful lakes and mountains of the Austrian Alps on our way to Halstatt, a destination such extraordinary beauty and cultural significance was declared a World Heritage in 1997. While there we travel 800 metres up the mountain to delve into its undergrounds caves, where you will be dazzled by the natural wonder of the Halstatt Saltmines. On the way we stop at Gosau where we ascend in the Cable Car to have a panoramic view from Dachstein.
Start the day off at Hellbrunn Castle, a highlight of any tour of Salzburg. Built between 1613 and 1615, the palace offers spectacular views of Salzburg. But what set it apart are the pleasure grounds and trick fountains to the west of the main palace built specifically for Prince Archbishop. Be careful if you stood up during a dinner hosted by his pre-eminence as you would find yourself drenched by one of the sculptures in the nearby fountains! From there we will visit Mirabell Gardens. Do you hear the singing? This is where Maria and the Trapp Family danced around the statue of Pegasus, in the Sound of Music singing “Doe a deer, a female deer, Re – a drop of golden sun…” After lunch we enjoy the delights of the Salzburger Marionettentheater, “a large theatre with little actors”, to learn more about this traditional art form.
Hohenwerfen Castle is just 30 minutes from Salzburg and was built by the wealthy Archbishops of Salzburg in the 11th century to protect the city against its enemies. An imposing fortress on dangling atop an impressive promontory, the castle features a weapons museum and the newly renovated Princes’ rooms. From there we will visit the Eisriesenwelt Ice Caves, which are some of the largest known to man. Located in the Tennengebirge Mountains, these spectacular caves stretch for some 40 kilometres. Although, only some of the caves are open to tourists, there is ample to explore in this icy otherworldly landscape.
This morning we look at Salzburg through Mozart’s Eyes looking at the Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque cityscape that would have been his backdrop in the 18th century. After our city tour we will visit the newly reopened Mozart Residence on the Makart Square and a bit of shopping at The Getreidegasse, one of the most charming shopping districts in all of Europe.