POLAND – CZECH REPUBLIC -AUSTRIA – GERMANY

POLAND – CZECH REPUBLIC -AUSTRIA – GERMANY.

THE BEAUTY OF MORAVIA AND BAVARIA

CRACOV · LAGIEWNIKI · WIELICZKA · AUSCHWITZ · OLOMOUC · MARAVSKY KRAS · BRNO · LEDNICE-VALTICE · ČEJKOVICE · VIENNA · SALZBURG · PRIEN AM CHIEMSEE · MUNICH · NEUSCHWANSTEIN · HOHENSCHWANGAU · ETTAL

DAY 1

Arrival in Cracov. A stroll along the city and free time. Drive to the hotel for dinner and an overnight stay.

DAY 2

Breakfast. We drive to the area close to the Wavel Hill, where we’ll visit the gothic cathedral of st Waclaw and st Stanislaw. After this we continue to the undergrounds i.e. the necropolis of the polish kings and national heroes. Heading over to the Royal Castle and in there – the royal chambers. A stroll along the Kazimierz district and to the Main Square, where we’ll see the basilica of Holy Mother Mary. Taking a look at the Historical museum in the undergrounds of the city square – a real treassure of Cracovs’ past. Return for dinner and an overnight stay.

DAY 3

Breakfast, after which we head over to the Sanctuary of Gods’ Mercy in Lagiewniki. Visitting the chapel of the Assembly of the Sisters of Mother of God Mercy. Our next stop is Wieliczka. Exploring the saltmine and the Museum of Saltworks, along the pilgrimage route. We’ll see the wonderful underground lakes, majestic carpentry constructions and unique salt statues. The cultimating point of the stroll, will be the beautiful chaple of st Kinga. Dinner and an overnight stay.

DAY 4

Breakfast. We drive up to Oświęcim and visit the Auschwitz Museum. We’ll see : the entry gate with the ”Arbeit macht frei” sign, the Death Block, The Wall of Loss, the gas chamber and crematorium, the ramp, the quarantine baracks, living baracks of the female camp. While looking over at the main display – the ground where Auschwitz I was situated and the national displays and multiple historical displays i.e. photographs, photocopies of documents, prison clothing, wooden cots and other equipment, which was situated in the prison rooms, personal things which were taken from Poles, deported Jews and prisoners of other nationalities. Dinner and overnight in Olomouc.

DAY 5

Breakfast. Sightseeing at Olomouc, where we’ll visit the gothic city hall with an original astronomical clock, a column of the Holy Trinity, st Marys’ column, the cathedral of st Wacław with a 100 meter tower, bishops’ palace and the baroque fountains. We stop for a while at the Morawski Kras caves. After this we continue with a touristic train set to the Punkevni cave, which will be visited by foot and with a boat; since the programme will include a cruise along the Punkvi river. We continue with a visit to a 138 metre Macocha Gulf – the deepest sinkhole in the Czech Republic. Drive to Brono and visitting the st. Peter and Paul cathedral, Assumption Basilica, the Augustinians’ Monastery, the Capuchin monk monastery and church, city hall wih the city symbols – a circle and a dragon. Dinner and overnight.

DAY 6

Breakfast. Drive to Lednice. Visitting the Lednicko-Valticki palace-park complex. Admiring the green area, covered with ponds that have lillies growing around them, rich forests, meadows full of flowers and the upstanding stand  and romantic buildings, which give this place its unique beauty. Heading over to the wine cellars in Čejkovice. They were built by the Teutonic Knights, which came here from France in 1248. Sightseeing, connected with wine tasting. Drive to Vienna for dinner and overnight.

DAY 7

Breakfast. W continue with a detour around the Ring – a representantional artery of Vienna. We drive up to the edifice of the National Opera, Wotywny Church, the University, Castle Theatre, city hall with the park, the edifice of the parliment, Justice Palace, Maria Teresa palace, the Museum of Fine Arts and the Nature Museum (exterior), Karlsplatz: St Charles Borromeo church, Belveder. Strolling along the picturesque streets of the Vienna Old Town, where we’ll see the St Stephen cathedral, Graben square, the courtyards of the cesarian Hofburg residence. Dinner and overnight.

DAY 8

Breakfast. We start our day with a visit to Schonbrunn – the old summer residence of the Hasburgs. It was the place of many historical events, here the Vienna congress took place, Napoleon had his conferences and in the Mirror hall the six year old Mozart played his pieces. We stop for a while at the caesarian auditoriums and having a stroll in the gardens. Visiting the italian bakery, nurturing the old tradition of making pastries. We head to Grinzing – an old winery village, current a villa district with multiple wineries and restaurants. We drive to the Kahlenberg valley. From here in 1683, the king of Poland Jan Sobieski III, lead the winning fight for Vienna with the turks. Visiting the ”Sanctuary of the Polish Pilgrimigers” – St Joseph church. Dinner and overnight.

DAY 9

Breakfast. We head to Salzburg – one of the most beautiful cities in Austria. Next we drive to the baroque old town, the St Rupert and St Wirgilius cathedral, the house of Mozarts’ birth, Mozarts’ house - currently a museum documenting the history of the house and the composers’ family, old town hall, middle ages bishop headquarters, the Mirabel palace and gardens. Next we head over to the Hellbrunn palace, surrounded by the broad park and the water garden. Dinner and accomodation at the hotel.

DAY 10

Breakfast. Transfer to Prien at the Chiemsee lake, which is the biggest bavarian lake on which three islands can be found. Sailing overto the Herreninsei Island, where the next product of king Ludwig II is – a  palace, made to look simmilarly to the Versaile palace. Because of its excellent proportions and elegant construction, the castle is considered to be his greatest work. We’ll admire the glamorous chambers, the porcelain office and the post beautiful castle auditorium – the Mirror Auditorium. Return for dinner and overnight.

DAY 11

Breakfast. We visit Monachium: the Marienssaule column, St Paul church with a clock tower and the Holy Mother Mary cathedral. At Marys square, we’ll see the old and new city hall with the famous chime, the Fish fountain, the Bergersal and St Martins’ church, the Holstein palace, the winter residence of the Wittelsbachs’ and the Bavarian Catholic Academy. VWe end this day with a visit to the baroque Nymphenburg palace – the main summer residence of the Bavarian rulers. Dinner and overnight.

DAY 12

Breakfast. Visiting the castles of Ludwig of Bavaria: Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau, where Ludwig II was visitting the great composer – Richard Wagner. We then continue to the Ettal basilica and monastery – one of the oldest pilgrimage destinations in Germany. There will be an opportunity to buy local beer and excellent Ettaler Klosterlikor liqueur, made for years by the benedictians living in the area. Dinner and accomodation.

DAY 13

Breakfast. Transfer to the airport and flight back. The end of the pilgrimage.