MUCS European Tour 2017 PRELIMINARY TOUR SCHEDULE AND ITINERARY Prepared by Andrew Wailes (Melbourne), and Claudia Arh (Salzburg) January 2016 Proposed tour dates: Wednesday 4 January Friday 27 January, 2017 * 23 nights / 24 days Proposed route: München /Munich, Lake Chiemsee Bavaria (1) Salzburg, Werfen, Melk Austria (4) Vienna, Austria (3), Bratislava Slovakia Budapest, Hungary (2) Banská Bystrica (Slovakia), Krakow, Poland (2) Brno, Czech Republic (1) Prague, Kutná Hora, Czech Republic (3) Dresden, Leipzig, Germany (2) Bayreuth, Nuremberg, Germany (2) Munich, Bavaria (3) Tour starting point: Individual arrivals in München/Munich (Capital Bavaria, Germany) from 3-4 January. Provisional Daily Itinerary: Wednesday Jan. 4th Tour to commence with afternoon meeting point likely to be at the Marienplatz in Munich, Bavaria for short walking tour of Munich. Transfer to deluxe motor coach and move to accommodation in Munich for check-in. Evening Welcome to Europe dinner at traditional Bavarian Tavern Overnight / buffet-breakfast at accommodation in Munich. Thursday Jan. 5th Depart Munich (Bavaria) and travel to Salzburg, Austria (approx. 150 km / 2 h) with sightseeing stop en route at Lake Chiemsee. Evening dinner at a Salzburg restaurant. Overnight / buffet-breakfast at hotel in Salzburg. Friday Jan. 6th Salzburg / Mass Service and/or possible church performance in one of Salzburg s major churches (possibly Kollegienkirche, Dreifaltigkeitskirche, Andräkirche or similar, TBC). Afternoon 2,5 h walking tour of the inner city of Salzburg s Old Town Centre, including the Mirabell Gardens and Palace, the Festival Halls, the Cathedral etc, ending with a tour at Mozart s birth house (admission and self-guided tour/textbooks included). Evening dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight / buffet-breakfast at hotel in Salzburg. Saturday Jan. 7th Morning 4 hour Sound of Music Tour with local licensed English speaking guides, featuring all major sights of the movie in Salzburg and the Lake District including Mirabell Gardens and the statue of Pegasus, Leopoldskron Castle, Hellbrunn Castle and the glass pavilion, Nonnberg Abbey, 1 P age
St Gilgen and Lake Wolfgang, the beautiful village in the Salzkammergut, and the Wedding Church in Mondsee used as the location for Maria and the Baron's wedding in the film. Evening dinner and concert at a suitable venue in Salzburg or surrounding area, possibly a joint concert with a local ensemble (TBC). Overnight / buffet-breakfast at hotel in Salzburg. Sunday Jan. 8th Salzburg High Mass Service in one of Salzburg s major churches TBC). Excursion to Untersberg and Fortress Hohenwerfen. Morning: Put on your snow-gear and discover the mighty and legendary mountain Untersberg which dominates the landscape of Salzburg s surroundings (return ride by the famous alpine cable car included, one of the most famous mountain cable cars in the world, with magnificant views of the Rositten Valley and the surrounding mountains). In the late afternoon transfer to Werfen where you will climb to Fortress Hohenwerfen, a stronghold dating back 900 years. In the evening we will enjoy a Mystic Fortress Tour including a lantern-lit tour of the fortifications, along the dark passages and battlements followed by a "Knight s Feast" at the Fortress Tavern (incl. round trip elevator, fortress tour, welcome drink, a knight s feast and entertainment). Late return to Salzburg hotel. Monday Jan. 9th Morning departure from Salzburg to Vienna (approx. 300 km / 3,5 h) with stop in Melk by the river Danube and visit of the magnificent Benedictine Abbey of Melk (admission and guided tour included). Melk has been a spiritual and cultural centre of Austria for more than 1000 years, first as a castle for the Babenbergs, then from 1089 as a Benedictine monastery which towers above the town of Melk, Lower Austria, on a rocky outcrop overlooking the Danube river, adjoining the Wachau Valley. The abbey contains the tomb of Saint Coloman of Stockerau and the remains of several members of the House of Babenberg, Austria's first ruling dynasty. The Church is one of the most stunning masterpieces of the Baroque, famous for its dazzling gold and marble, as well as one of the greatest collections of rare manuscripts and religious artworks in all Europe. At the end of the tour we will get to give an informal 15 minute performance in the Abbey Church. We will then continue to Vienna and check in to our hotel accommodation. Dinner at hotel. Overnight / buffetbreakfast in Vienna. Tuesday Jan. 10th Morning 3 hour sightseeing tour of Vienna (bus/walk combination) with local guides, featuring famous statues and sights of famous composers such as Beethoven, Haydn, Strauss, Schubert and Mozart, as well as sightseeing highlights including Hofburg Palace, Belvedere Palace and Gardens, the Vienna State Opera House, the House of Parliament, the Hundertwasserhaus (exteriors only, no admissions incl.). Evening concert at one of Vienna s most important Churches, possibly Karlskirche (TBC). Dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight / breakfast in Vienna. 2 P age
Wednesday Jan. 11th Morning visit of the world famous House of Music Museum one of the world s best hands-on museums; an interactive sound museum which provides a new approach to music on a playful as well as scientific level. Exhibits are spread over four floors and cover everything from how sound is created, through to Vienna's Philharmonic Orchestra (admission included). Independent lunch and free afternoon to explore Vienna, with time to explore Vienna s famous cafe s, shops and monuments. Evening mass service of one of the famous churches in Vienna (i.e. Votivkirche, Augustinerkirche, Peterskirche, Universitätskirche TBC). Dinner at accommodation/local restaurant. Overnight / buffet-breakfast at accommodation in Vienna. Thursday Jan. 12th After breakfast at the hotel, we will check-out and load coach departing east to Budapest in Hungary (approx. 250 km / 3 hour drive). Trip will include a stop in Bratislava (Capital of Slovakia) and will include possibility to independently explore the charming Old Town of Bratislava. After lunch on your own continue to Budapest (Capital of Hungary). After check in to our accommodation in Budapest, dinner at accommodation / local restaurant. Attend an optional Classical Chamber concert at the Cathedral, or a concert at Budapest Opera House, or enjoy a visit to the famous Szechenyi Baths (depending on schedule, tickets will be at additional cost). Overnight / buffet-breakfast at accommodation in Budapest. Friday Jan. 13th Morning 3 hour city tour of Budapest (bus/walk combination) with local licensed English speaking guides, incl. Sights of both the former twin cities of Buda and Pest, Fishermen Bastion, the Royal Palace and Heroes Square (exteriors only, no admissions incl.). Tour will end at the Central Market Hall for lunch on your own where you can find authentic treats such as Goulash, Fatányéros (Hungarian mixed grill on a wooden platter) paprikás, paprika stew), pörkölt, another Hungarian stew), nokedli (small dumplings), kolbász (Hungarian sausages), or palacsinta (pancakes served flambéed in dark chocolate sauce filled with ground walnuts) and Dobos Cake (layered sponge cake, with chocolate buttercream filling and topped with a thin slice of caramel). Yum. In the Afternoon we will visit the world famous Parliament Building for a guided tour, where we will see the spectacular Main Staircase, the Hungarian Coronation Jewels in the Domed Hall, the Old Upper House Hall of the bicameral Hungarian Parliament, as well as the Lounge (admission and guided tour in English included). In the evening we plan to perform a concert at St. Stephen s Basilica, the Matthias Church or similar (TBC). After the concert we will enjoy a typical Hungarian Dinner in a Gypsy Tavern in Budapest with live musical entertainment. Overnight/buffet-breakfast at 3 P age
accommodation in Budapest. Saturday Jan. 14th After breakfast at the hotel we will checkout and load the coach. We will then depart on a long road journey for Krakow (in Poland) - approx. 400 km / 7.5 hour drive). The will break the journey with several stops, including a stop half way in Banská Bystrica to stretch our legs and explore the old town together with our Tour Manager. Time for independent lunch. Banská Bystrica is a key city in central Slovakia located on the Hron River in a long and wide valley encircled by the mountain chains of Mountains. In the afternoon we will continue to the historical city of Krakow, the former capital city of Poland and one of the oldest and most beautiful cities of the country. After check-in at our accommodation, dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight / buffet-breakfast at accommodation in Krakow. Meet speaking guides for a 3 hour city walk through the old town centre of Krakow including the most important sights of the city. Independent lunch and a free afternoon to explore the city and some of the city s charming taverns and cafes (such as Stajnia Cafe in Kazimierz [the old Jewish quarter] or Jama Michalika. Return to the hotel in the evening for dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight / buffet-breakfast at Krakow Hotel. Monday Jan. 16th After breakfast check-out and load the coach, and depart for Brno (Czech Republic) - 350 km / approx. 4.5 h drive. Upon arrival in Brno, there will be some free time for an independent lunch and some free time on your own to look at the shops and the city. In the afternoon we will meet our local licensed English speaking guide for a 2 hour walking tour of Brno s historic Old Town. Outstanding Art Nouveau, Empire and Neoclassical buildings stand in the bar and restaurant-packed old city center; (make sure to get a photo with a local landmark, the suspiciously crocodilian Brno Dragon statue!). Brno is the second largest city in the Czech Republic by population and area, the largest Moravian city, and the historical capital city of the Margraviate of Moravia. Špilberk Castle, a royal castle founded in the 13th century, was from the 17th century a fortress and feared prison. Today it is one of the city's principal monuments. Similarly important is the Cathedral of St. Peter and Paul. The cathedral was built during the 14th and 15th centuries in place of an 11th-century chapel and there are hundreds of historical sights, including one designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and eight monuments listed among the national cultural heritage of the Czech Republic. The majority of the main sights of Brno are situated in its historical centre (such as the Old Town Hall). Later in the day we will check-in to our accommodation in Brno, and in the evening enjoy dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight / buffet-breakfast in Brno. 4 P age
Tuesday Jan. 17th Morning departure for the capital city of the Czech Republic Prague, the Golden City of a Thousand Spires (approx. 200 km / 2.5 hour drive). We will travel directly into the city centre and meet with our local licensed English speaking guide for a 2 hour walking tour of Prague s Old Town; notable places in the Old Town include the Old New Synagogue, Old Town Square and the famous Astronomical Clock. It is to here that the winding lanes of the Old Town run, in order to spill out onto the most beautiful square in Prague. The elegant tower of the Town Hall with the world famous astronomical clock, the proud silhouette of the fairytale Týn Cathedral, the monumental Church of St. Nicholas and countless multicoloured houses of many styles lend this place a unique atmosphere, which will captivate all those who decide to take a look at its charm. The stunningly beautiful Old Town is surrounded by the New Town of Prague. Across the river Vltava connected by the Charles Bridge is the Lesser Town of Prague. After time to explore, including free time for an independent lunch, we will travel back to the coach and check in to our accommodation in Prague. The rest of the day will be at leisure, and in the evening there will be various options for people to enjoy... the infamous Ghost Tour (ask someone who went on the first MUCS tour about it) is definitely not recommended! Dinner at accommodation / local restaurant. Overnight / buffet-breakfast at accommodation in Prague. Wednesday Jan. 18th In the morning we will travel to the Hradschin Castle District and meet our local licensed English speaking guide for a 2 hour visit and tour of Prague Castle. We will see St. Vitus Cathedral, Old Royal Palace, St. George's Basilica and the Golden Lane with Daliborka Tower (admission to Hradschin Castle included). At noon we should be able to view the changing of the guard. In the early evening a concert in one of the beautiful churches in Prague, possibly the Salvator Church (Kostel Nejsvětějšího Salvátora) TBC. Dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight/buffet-breakfast at accommodation in Prague. Thursday Jan. 19th In the morning we will venture outside Prague to the UNESCO World Heritage town of Kutná Hora; upon arrival we will enjoy a 2 hour guided walking tour with a local English speaking guide. Many of the buildings that we will see influenced the architecture of Central Europe. One of the highlights is the St. Barbara Cathedral. This jewel of a building has five naves and construction started in 1368 and was completed in 1565 (admission St. Barbara Cathedral included). After lunch, we will continue to the suburb of Sedlec and visit the world famous Sedlec Ossuary which is also a UNESCO Heritage Site. This Bone Church is a macabre yet intriguing chapel. The ossuary contains about 40,000 human skeletons, which have been artistically arranged to form decorations and furnishings for the chapel including chandeliers which contain all of the bones in the human body (admission included). In the evening the choir will participate in a Mass Service followed by a short concert in 5 P age
Kutná Hora (TBC). Dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight / buffet-breakfast at accommodation in Prague. Friday Jan. 20th After breakfast at our hotel we will check-out and load the coach, and depart for the German city of Leipzig (approx. 250 km / 3 hour drive) via the romantic landscape of the Elbe Sandstone Mountains, where wild canyons and sandstone stacks, tors and mesas serve as the hallmarks of Saxon Switzerland. En route we will stop in the famous city of Dresden; there are few city silhouettes in Europe more striking than Dresden s. The classic view from the Elbe s northern bank takes in spires, towers and domes belonging to palaces, churches and stately buildings, and indeed it's hard to believe that the city was all but wiped off the map by Allied bombings in 1945. We will enjoy a 2 hour walking tour of Dresden s Old Town with a local licensed English speaking guide which includes visits to the most beautiful building complex in Dresden the Zwinger, as well as the Residence Palace, Theater Square with the famous Semper Opera House, the Catholic Court Church, the Procession of Princes and passes by the newly rebuilt Frauenkirche (Church of our Lady) and the Brühl s terrace the Balcony of Europe (exteriors only, no admissions included). After an independent lunch we will carry on to the German City of Leipzig and check-in at our accommodation. Dinner at our hotel or a local restaurant. Overnight / buffet-breakfast at our Leipzig hotel. Saturday Jan. 21st In the morning we will meet our local licensed English speaking guide for a 2 hour curated walking tour on the Leipzig Music Trail. Composers associated with Leipzig include Johann Sebastian Bach, who assumed office as choirmaster and organist of the world famous boys choir of the St. Thomas Church in Leipzig, Georg Philipp Telemann who achieved success as a composer here, Robert Schumann, who fell in love with Clara Wieck here, and Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy who worked as orchestra director of the Gewandhaus and who founded a conservatory to instruct his musical protégées. Others include Richard Wagner, Gustav Mahler and others the musical Leipzig offers a broad choice for us to cover on this interesting tour. After lunch there will be free time to discover this amazing city further on your own. Dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight/buffet-breakfast at accommodation in Leipzig. Sunday Jan. 22 nd. After breakfast we will check-out and load the coach. In the morning we have planned for the choir to participate in a morning service in one of Leipzig s major churches (TBC). Afterwards we will depart for the historic German City of Nuremberg (approx. 290 km / 3.5 hour drive). On the way we will visit Bayreuth, famous for Wagner s operas and its two important opera houses. Even without its Wagner connections, this town would be an interesting detour for its streets of baroque architecture and impressive palaces. But it s for the annual Wagner Festival 6 P age
that opera devotees from around the world make a pilgrimage to Bayreuth. We will enjoy a guided tour of the famous Bayreuth Festspielhaus (admission and guided tour included TBC subject to availability). After lunch we will continue to Nuremberg and check-in at our hotel. Dinner at the hotel. Overnight/buffet-breakfast at accommodation in Nuremberg. Monday Jan. 23rd In the morning we will drive into the middle of the city to meet our local guide for a 2 hour sightseeing tour of Nuremberg (bus/walk combination). The tour will provide a comprehensive picture of the city and it s historic sites, including the outdoor facilities of the Nuremberg Castle, St. Lawrence's Church, St. Sebald's Church, Church of Our Lady the St. John s Cemetery (Albrecht Dürer) and the former Nazi party rally grounds (exteriors only, no internal admissions included). In the afternoon there will be time for an independent lunch followed by a free afternoon at leisure so that you can either rest or go shopping, or further explore this fascinating city and its many interesting sights. Dinner at hotel or a local restaurant. Overnight / buffet-breakfast at Nuremberg hotel. Tuesday Jan. 24th After a leisurely breakfast at the hotel we will check out and load the coach and depart for Munich (approx. 170 km / 2 hour drive). Upon arrival in the Bavarian Capital, there will be a formal photo and an opportunity for lunch (and some shopping) on your own. We will then check-in to our accommodation and in the evening we have planned a concert in Munich (possibly an exchange concert with a local choir in one of the city s major churches (i.e. Katharinenkirche, Peterskirche, Frauenkirche, Michaelskirche, or Ludwigskirche TBC). Dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight / buffet-breakfast at Munich hotel. Wednesday Jan. 25th After breakfast we will meet our local licensed English speaking guide for a 3 hour city tour (bus/walk combination) of Munich. We will see the major and most beautiful sights of Munich such as King s Square, the Angel of Peace monument, the elegant buildings and shops along Maximilian Street, the National Theatre (opera house), the New Residence (Royal Palace), the traditional Viktualienmarkt (an open air food market with colourful stalls), the medieval city gates, the Palace of Nymphenburg and many more (exteriors only - no admission fees included). After lunch there will be some free time and in the evening evening we have planned participation in a mass service in a church in Munich. Dinner at the hotel. Overnight/buffet-breakfast at accommodation in Munich. Thursday Jan. 26th (Australia Day) After breakfast we will go by bus to Nymphenburg Palace, about 5 km northwest of the Inner City of Munich. This commanding palace and its 7 P age
lavish gardens began in 1664 as a villa for Electress Adelaide of Savoy, the stately pile was extended over the next century to create the royal family's summer residence. Franz Duke of Bavaria, head of the once royal Wittelsbach family, still occupies an apartment here. The park's chief folly, the Amalienburg, is a small hunting lodge dripping with crystal and gilt decoration; don't miss the amazing hall of mirrors (admission and audio-guided tour included). An independent lunch followed by a free afternoon to explore Munich, go shopping, visit a museum or simply relax. Farewell Dinner at a traditional Bavarian restaurant with after dinner drinks party at the famous Hofbrauhaus Munich (TBC). Overnight/buffet-breakfast at accommodation in Munich. Friday Jan. 27th Munich Departure (B,D) Breakfast at accommodation, check out and load coach. Transfer to Munich International Airport for return flight to Australia. End of tour. 8 P age
Payment details: NOTE THAT FINAL PAYMENT DETAILS WILL BE CONFIRMED VERY SHORTLY BUT THIS INFORMATION IS INTENDED AS A VERY CLOSE ESTIMATION OF ARRANGEMENTS An initial tour registration fee and deposit of around $750.00 will be payable immediately to secure a place on the tour. The registration fee of $150.00 included in that amount will be non-refundable. In the case of withdrawals or cancellation, last date for cancellation with full return of $600.00 deposit and any tour fee instalments paid will be September 1, 2016 Tour Deposit of $600.00 will be non-refundable for any individual tour withdrawals or cancellations after 1 September 2016. Balance of tour will be refundable until Thursday 15 December, 2016. Last cancellation date for individuals without charge (other than deposit) will be 20 days prior to arrival (Thursday 15 December, 2016). Cancellation or withdrawal after this time will be subject to all charges and no further refund will be possible. COST OF TOUR AND PAYMENT ARRANGEMENTS Final pricing to be confirmed but it is now expected that the final total will be CONSIDERABLY LESS THAN FIRST ESTIMATED (UP TO $1000.00 LESS!!!).! For shared rooms (usually 3-4) in hotels we expect the Tour costs to be around AUD $4900 - $5100.00 excluding airfare For double or twin rooms in hotels it will probably be AUD $250 - $300 extra per person For single rooms for the duration of the tour it will probably by around $900.00 extra per person. Payments will be by bank transfer to a provided Tour Account. After the initial Registration and Deposit, there are expected to be around 4 instalments spread apart throughout the year. This payment schedule will be provided shortly. AIRFARES: Note that tour cost does not include Airfare. Current advice from airlines is that our original estimate will be quite accurate a group flight will be arranged (probably Emirates or Etihad) for around $1900.00 each return but it is not possible to get exact prices until 4 February. NB.There will be no option to deviate from the group flights either way if you wish to be a part of this group flight. People wishing to participate in the group flights will also need to pay for the entire fare up front by dates specified by the Airline. People will be able to purchase any airline ticket on any airline themselves and make their own arrangements to get to Munich, use Frequent Flyer points etc, and either arrive early or leave late via any other city of their choice. NB. Any accommodation prior to or after the official tour itinerary will be subject to your own cost. It is possible to fly into Munich directly via many European cities quite cheaply, and most major Air Hubs such as Dubai, Frankfurt, London, Singapore etc. It is strongly advised that people plan to arrive on 3 Jan or 4 Jan in the morning so as to ensure that you make the start of the tour if there are delays caused by snow or fog etc. It is also possible to travel to Munich by train from any major German city. For example the fare from Frankfurt to Munich return is about $180.00 and the duration of the trip is around 3 hours. You may wish to consider this when making your travel arrangements. 9 P age