Germany & Czech Republic

Visiting

Berlin, Potsdam, Charlottenburg Palace, Spreewals

Leipzig, Prague, Dresden, Karlovy Vary, Kutna Hora

Rise and shine for an early trip to Prague and on arrival start exploring this enchanting city. Delight in viewing the Castle, hosting the oldest surviving church within the complex, the Basilica of St. George.  Advance to more impressive buildings when you visit St. Vitus Cathedral and the Royal Palace. Take a  leisurely stroll with a local guide, and proceed to  have a good look at Charles Bridge, a landmark of the city of Prague.  Walk the romantic lanes of Kampa Island and be mesmerised with how colours blend with the surroundings. Scrutinize further the city of Prague, this time the Old part to admire the different architectural buildings amongst them the Gothic Our Lady Before Tyn Church. Try to be at the main square and near the Town Hall on the hour and be amazed by the workings of the astronomical clock.  Do not pass up the occasion of taking a  pic against the Jan Hus Memorial, depicting victorious Hussite warriors and Protestants at the end of the Old Town Square.

Cherish the Bohemic greenery as you travel to the spa town of Karlovy Vary.  Being a spa town, don’t fail the experience of the Spa Colonnades. Spend time investigating the  Maria Magdalene Church.  Prepare for the discovery of the historical centre of this town with enough time for shopping if your heart desires it. Don’t miss out on the  opportunity to admire the marvelous fountain works at Križíkova Fontána.

Don’t loose the opportunity to explore another town on the UNESCO Heritage list, that of Kutná Hora, renouned in medieval times for silver mining. Roam leisurely around the town and stop for a pic or two of elegant palaces, the best being the Italian Court. Continue with the same pace to Santa Barbara Basilica.  Your trip will not be complete unless you make a stop over at the Sedlec Ossuary. Very simple on the outside, you will encounter a different story on the inside. Do not bother to count the skeletons used in a decorative manner. There are 40,000 of them! The manouvering of such a great number of human skeletons makes this church earn its name as the Bone Church. Change the scene soon after when you start preparing to attend a folklore night, where music and good, traditional food will put you in quite a jolly mood.

Leave the Czech Republic behind and commence your journey to Poland. Head to the charming city of Krakow and on the way stop to admire what the city of Brno has to offer. Be intrigued by the Spilberk Castle, right at the top of the hill, a superb  building which has dominated the city’s skyline for over seven centuries.  Be transported to the Gothic era at St. James’ Church located in  James’ Square.  Do not miss out on the Old Town Hall, a splendid, historical building which today hosts many cultural activities. Leaving the city behind you, make your way to  the comfort of your hotel in Krakow.

Wake up in  Krakow and after breakfast get ready to discover the wonders of the city. Stay close to your  local guide to understand better the history of Krakow.  Visit the Old Town, the Royal Road and Wawel Castle, represtenting three architectures styles,  medieval, renaissance and baroque.  Meet Jewish culture at Kazinierz, an old Jewish Quarter. Visit the interesting Sukiennice, the Cloth Hall of Krakow.  Complete the city tour by calling at the Basilica of St. Mary to marvel at the intricate masterpiece of Veit Stoss Altarpiece.

Although your journey’s joyful atmosphere will be dampened when visiting Auschwitz-Birkenau, this may be the most impressive part of the whole trip and for sure not one to be left out. The fear for death by the millions of victims of the Holocoust  can be felt when you come close to the Death Wall, the national memorials,  the railway track and the barracks. All in all, one can say that this will be an experience that you will never erase from your memory, thus showing respect to all sufferers.  Wipe away the sadness of the Holocoust and make your way to Wieliczka Salt Mine.  Stroll along the winding saline corridors of the mine.  Be appalled by the massiveness of this underground Salt Cathedral and appreciate the saline sculptures and small chapels. Be grateful that you had the opportunity to spend time in the most spectacular mine in the whole world before you commence to journey back to the hotel.

Put your mountain clothes on as you will travel to the Tatra Mountains and experience the skiing resort of Zakopane. Walk freely amongst other tourists in the main street of Krupowki and move out of the way from the horse driven carriages.  Look out for the shrine of Our Lady of Fatima, a modern architecural building featuring beautiful stained glass.  Sip a hot coffee before you hop on the cable car which will take you to the top of the mountain to see a bird’s eye view of the city.

Focus on the spirituality of Saint Faustina Kowalska, who rests peacefully at the Divine Mercy Sanctuary, just on the outskirts of Krakow. Continue to the Calvary Santuary in Kalwaria Zebrzydowska, a vast complex hosting many churches and chapels which complement the central basilica and the Franciscan Monastery.  Spend the better part of the day at the welcoming village of Wadowice, the birthplace of Pope John Paul II.  Wander about until you come across the house, today a museum, where Karol Wojtyla was raised.

Cross over from Poland to Germany and enter the beautiful city of Berlin, Germany’s capital and home to many attractions. Visit this city once with us and you are sure to want to come back for more.  Listen attentively to your local  guide as he unfolds the history infront of your eyes starting off at the Brandenburg Gate, an 18th century neoclassical monument.  Drive through the amazing Unter den Linden, the boulevard which leads you from the gate to the City Palace, a boulevard lined with lime trees from which it got its name. Be awed by the magnitude of the Reichtag, Germany’s parliament up to 1918 with its remarkable glass dome, an addition to the Reichtag building.  Advance to Museum Island, a priority on this trip.  Be dazzled by the natural beauty it holds, overlooking the river Spree and the five significant museums it proudly hosts.  Stop at the Berlin Cathedral and gape at its allure.   Feel part of the cultural gem the city of Berlin offers when visiting the Berlin State Opera, another extraordinary building not to be missed.  Be transferred back to recent history when you call at the Gedenkstatte Berliner Mauer, the wall which commemorated the division between the East and West and the deaths that occurred there, and the Check point Charlie, known as the best point of crossing. Spare time to enjoy the open space at the Gendarmenmarkt, a large square surrounded by the most notable buildings of the Konzerthaus and French and German Churches.  Proceed to  Berlin’s largest inner city park, the  Tiergarten and head straight to its centre to see from up close the Berlin Victory Column.  Look forward to visit the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church, a prominent Protestant Church. Complete your Berlin experience when you visit the old residential area known as the Nikolai Quarters and if you have time, walk along the Keurfustandamm, the boulevard which resembles the Champs-Elysees of Paris. Be stunned at your final stop for the day when you experience the Charlottenburg Palace and its surrounding gardens.

Anticipate a day well spent at Potsdam, the city on the border of Berlin, best known for its many castles. Set aside time to experience the Sanssouci Palace, the summer residence of the former King of Prussia. Head on to the magnetising city centre. Use the time here to roam around, count the numerous lakes, get that last souvenir and relax while tasting local cuisine.  Thrilled by what the three countries had to offer, you are now ready to start your journey to home sweet home.