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Africa, Asia, Australasia, Europe, North & South America …between
these diverse and contrasting continents, the 30 travel professionals
that make up Casterbridge Tours have got the globe covered. Indeed, our
Directors and UK Groups Managers, with a combined wealth of well over
70 years with the company, have between them lived, worked and travelled
extensively in each of these continents. Our travel experiences translate
directly into the ability to customise creative and innovative itineraries
that can feature out-of-the way towns and villages as well as the most
well known cities and sights in a range of fascinating destinations worldwide.
To maintain our educational
values, we probably have more Research and Planning Staff per tour operated
than any other company in the travel industry. However, this has ensured
that the very name ‘Casterbridge’ has become synonymous with
excellence in Cultural and Special Interest Group Travel. Quite simply,
we offer an incomparable degree of personal service and attention to detail,
both in the important planning stage and in the operation of every tour
that we organise.
We can offer no better
testimony to our services than the fact that repeat bookings and personal
recommendations account for well over half of our business each year.
When only the best will do for your group, choose Casterbridge as your
Tour Operator. We look forward to being your travel partner this year
and for many years to come.
To custom design the
tour of your choice, call us on 0800 093 0810.
The Treasures
of Denmark - a recommended hidden treasures tour
he Treasures of Denmark Tour is based on the book 'The Treasures of Denmark'
by renowned author Patrick Howarth, who has himself designed the itinerary.
Each group member will receive a copy of the book before the tour. The
book tells the story of the visual arts of Denmark, from the Vikings to
the present day, divided into eight chapters. The tour itinerary follows
the book chronologically and a unique feature of the itinerary is that
it follows the same pattern; the first day being devoted to the Viking
age, the second to Medieval, and so on up to the late 20th century. As
a result, those taking part in the tour are, in effect, travelling through
time as well as through the fascinating landscapes of Denmark, a country
which, for so many of us, is one of Europe's undiscovered destinations.
HIGHLIGHTS
(Admission Costs Included):
** Frederikssund: Viking Ship Museum and Viking Boat Building Yard **
Roskilde: Cathedral ** Odense: Cathedral ** Aarhus: Cathedral, Den Gamle
By, Botanical Gardens ** Ebeltoft: Town Tour ** Hillerod: Frederiksborg
Castle ** Fredensborg: Palace and Gardens ** Kronborg: Castle (Elsinore)
** Copenhagen: National Museum, Rosenborg Castle, Thorvaldsen Museum,
Amalienborg, Tivoli Gardens, Royal Copenhagen Porcelain Factory, Hirschsprung
Gallery, National Museum for Fine Arts, Canal Cruise, Louisiana Museum
of Modern Art, Bagsvæd Church **
ITINERARY
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DAY 1
LONDON - COPENHAGEN (Viking and Medieval themes) Our
flight arrives in Copenhagen early afternoon and we jump right into
our exciting itinerary with a visit to the National Museum.
Our guided tour of the Viking and Medieval sections shows golden horns
and warriors' shields, silver hoards, gold and silver brooches with
intricate patterns, runestones and the strange Viking creatures known
as gripping beasts. The Medieval section includes the famous Aby crucifix,
golden altars, bejewelled illustrated manuscripts, triptychs, granite
fonts, chalices, ivory and aquamaniles. We then check into our hotel
where dinner is included. The rest of the evening is free for a stroll
around the lively city centre or walk along the waterside to see Copenhagen's
well-known symbol, the Little Mermaid. |
DAY 2
COPENHAGEN - FREDERIKSSUND - ROSKILDE - ODENSE - AARHUS (Viking
and Medieval themes) This morning we drive to Frederikssund where
we visit the Viking Ship Museum and Viking Boat Building
Yard and see a film show. We will then continue to Roskilde
Cathedral for an introduction to the Medieval Period. Our guided
tour will pass through the chapels, which are burial places for Danish
kings and queens, and thereby gain a brief outline of Danish history.
Lunch is included at the atmospheric Raadhus-Koelderen in the
cellar of the old Town Hall. We continue to Odense where we visit
the Cathedral, which contains a magnificent Claus Berg altar.
We then drive to Aarhus where we are staying at the Radisson SAS Hotel,
featured in the book 'The Treasures of Denmark'. |
DAY 3
AARHUS (Gothic and Renaissance themes) Aarhus Cathedral
is mainly late Gothic, with splendid frescoes, a striking bronze font
and a spectacular Bernt Notke altar. We then visit Den Gamle By,
frescoes, a striking bronze font and a spectacular Bernt Notke altar.
We then visit Den Gamle By, a remarkable assembly of some 70
houses, predominately half-timbered, many in Renaissance style, which
were transported from different towns of Denmark. A visit to the Botanical
Gardens, adjoining Den Gamle By is included. The Gardens include
an early apothecary's garden, arboretum, rockery and a flower valley
with mainly Danish plants. |
DAY 4
AARHUS - EBELTOFT - HILLEROD - FRESESBORG - HELSINGOR (Renaissance
and Baroque themes) We will drive from Aarhus to Hillerod with
a stop at Ebeltoft en route. We will take a short tour of Ebeltoft,
a delightful small town with merchant houses, harbour, the smallest
town hall in the world and the church with an early 16th century ship's
model. In Hillerod we see Frederiksborg Castle, perhaps the
most ambitious of all Christian IV's creations. The castle seems to
rise directly out of lakes. Our tour will include the Chapel, where
a number of Danish kings were crowned, the Great Hall and the Audience
Chamber. Next, we drive to Fredensborg, another royal residence.
There is a beautiful blend of baroque gardens and the palace consists
of 28 buildings, including an Orangery and a Chapel. We will walk
in the wooded park with views over Lake Esrum. We continue to Helsingor
where dinner is included tonight. |
DAY 5
HELSINGOR - KRONBORG - COPENHAGEN (Renaissance and Baroque
themes) Our first stop is Kronborg Castle (Hamlet's Elsinore),
a remarkable blend of two Dutch Renaissance styles. Our visit includes
the Chapel, Great Hall with portraits, and Lesser Hall with some of
the finest tapestries to be seen in Denmark. We drive to Copenhagen
and visit Rosenborg Castle, where most of the afternoon will
be spent. Rosenborg was another of Christian IV's homes. When the
castle was converted into a museum it was decided, contrary to the
prevailing practice, to divide the rooms, not according to the type
of content but in chronological order of exhibits. We make the journey
through time, seeing portraits and other paintings, gold and amber,
porcelain and tapestries, silver lions guarding a throne and the Crown
Jewels of Denmark. |
DAY 6
COPENHAGEN (Neo-classical and other late 18th and 19th
Century themes) This morning we visit Thorvaldsen Museum
for a guided tour. Such was Thorvaldsen's standing as a sculptor that
a large building, itself a fine example of the Neoclassical, was created
to house his work. After lunch, we will see the Danish Royal Residence
of Amalienborg, with its Caritas Fountain with water pouring
from four lions' mouths and the remarkable multi-style Marble Church.
This evening admission is included to the Tivoli Gardens, the
famous amusement park, a world of relaxation and delight. There is
a wide variety of free music and entertainment at various points around
the gardens and Tivoli also has a great range of restaurants and gastronomic
delights on offer. |
DAY 7
COPENHAGEN (19th Century and Early 20th Century themes)
This morning we visit the premises of Royal Copenhagen to see early
and later Jensen silver, Flora Danica and other porcelain glass. This
afternoon we tour the Hirschsprung Gallery and National Museum for
Fine Arts to see paintings of Denmark's Golden Age, the Skagen School,
Willumsen and Hammershoi. This evening we will take a Canal Cruise
to gain a different perspective of the city's splendid architecture.
A farewell dinner in a local restaurant is included. |
DAY 8
COPENHAGEN - LONDON (Modern Style) This morning we drive to Humlebaek
to see the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art. Among the Picassos
and Giacomettis are works by 20th century Danish artists, such as
Jorn, Bille and Heerup. The works of later Danish artists, Kirkeby
and Norgaard among them, can then be studied. Time too can be agreeably
spent in the gardens, looking at the statuary or across the sound
to Sweden. After lunch we will drive to Bagsvæd Church, one
of the many outstanding modern Danish churches designed by the creator
of the Sydney Opera House. Your enjoyable and rewarding Treasures
of Denmark tour will come to an end as your Guide accompanies you
to the airport for your return flight home. Do not forget to look
at Copenhagen Airport in the light of what you may have read at the
beginning of the final chapter of 'The Treasures of Denmark'. |
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Special Note:
This is a new kind of tour, which may well be a pointer to the future.
The country chosen for our first 'Hidden Treasures' theme tours is Denmark,
not least because the wealth of its art treasures is so little known.
In addition to the novelty of seeing the greatest art treasures in strict
chronological order, the tour will be exciting, sophisticated, comfortable
and blessedly free of crowds.
What is Included
1.Return flights using the scheduled flights of major international airlines.
2.Airport arrival and departure services in Denmark.
3.Accommodation in 3 Star Superior Tourist and 4 Star First Class Hotels
in twin/double rooms with ensuite facilities.
4. Hotel porterage of one suitcase per person.
5. Buffet breakfasts throughout, lunch on Day 2 and dinners on Days 1,
4 and 7.
6. All excursions and visits as described in the itinerary, including
those admission costs highlighted bold.
7. The exclusive services of a Tour Manager/Guide.
8. Expert Guides at three museums/galleries.
9. Transportation by private air-conditioned coach.
10. A copy of Patrick Howarth's 'The Treasures of Denmark'.
11. All taxes. 12.ATOL bond protection (ATOL 5151).
What is Not Included:
1. Lunches and dinners other than those specified.
2. Tips or gratuities for the Tour Manager/Guide and drivers.
3. Travel Insurance, which we can provide at the very competitive cost
of £20 (see under Insurance for details).
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