DAY
3 NEUSCHWANSTEIN AND MITTENWALD
This morning we will take a day trip into the heart of
Bavaria to explore the former treasures of “Mad” King Ludwig
II. We begin with a visit to Neuschwanstein Castle,
situated on an outcrop of rock towering over a gorge in the
River Pollat. This is one of Germany’s most famous castles,
though the king himself only lived there for 172 days. Our
tour of the castle will be highlighted by the Throne
Room, which was designed in Byzantine style with
gilded mural paintings, mosaics and a huge chandelier.
Our afternoon will be spent at the Violin Making School
and Museum in Mittenwald.
DAY
4 INNSBRUCK AREA – SALZBURG AREA (1 NIGHT)
We will take the short journey to Salzburg, the Baroque city
of music forever associated with Mozart. Our sightseeing
will start with a
Walking Tour
through the Old City, a maze of meandering lanes,
curious steeples, cobbled streets and spacious squares.
Here we will view Mozart's Birthplace, the Old
Square, the Cathedral, and the Residenz.
A highlight of our walk will be the Glockenspiel, an
early 18th century carillon with 35 bells, which we
can hear from one of the cafes lining the edges of the
Mozartplatz. The remainder of the day is yours to enjoy
at leisure.
· Your
First Concert Performance will be today
DAY
5 SALZBURG AREA - ST. FLORIAN - VIENNA (3 NIGHTS)
Today we head along the Danube Valley to the historic town
of St. Florian. Here, we will visit the Abbey of St.
Florian where Anton Bruckner, recognized as Austria’s
greatest composer of church music, worked and is buried. We
will then travel east to Vienna, the capital of Austria and
for 600 years the glittering capital of the Hapsburg
Empire. Vienna has an incomparable musical heritage and is
the city of Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, Hayden, Brahms and
Johann Strauss. Upon our arrival, we will visit the
Haus der Musik.
The House of Music is an
interactive discovery museum where you can conduct
the Vienna Philharmonic from a virtual conductor’s podium,
and the musicians on the screen will tell you if you are up
to par; journey back in time to see the great classical
composers; compose your own waltz and have it played. A
total of 5,000 square meters has been set aside exclusively
for areas dedicated to a wide array of approaches to music,
and to the experience of music. Afterwards, your guide will
be pleased to accompany you on some introductory sightseeing.
DAY
6 DAY TRIP TO ESTERHAZY AND ROHRAU
Today, we study the life of the brilliant composer,
conductor and musical director Joseph Haydn (1732-1809). We
will visit Haydn’s birthplace at Rohrau and examine
an exhibition of the composer’s original scores. We will
visit Haydn’s House, where the composer lived from 1766 -
1778. We then make our way to the Esterhazy Palace
where Haydn worked, almost every evening, conducting the
orchestra of the princely court and often performing his own
works.
· Your Second Concert Performance
will be today
DAY
7 VIENNA
Our Walking Tour of the Old City will begin at St.
Stephen's Cathedral, scene of the double marriage
between the Hapsburg, Bohemian and Hungarian dynasties in
1515 that laid the foundation of the Austrian Empire. This
afternoon we will stop just outside the city center for a
visit to the 1,441-room Schönbrunn Palace, which was
designed for the Habsburgs before becoming the imperial
summer palace during Maria Theresa's 40-year reign. It was
the scene of great ceremonial balls, lavish banquets, and
fabulous receptions held during the Congress of Vienna,
including a performance by a 6 year-old Mozart. Our tour
will include the State Apartments, a stroll
through the Imperial Gardens, and a brief
visit to the Wagenburg or Carriage Museum, which
contains a fine display of imperial coaches from the 17th
through the 20th century.
· Your Third Concert Performance
will be today
DAY
8 DEPARTURE FROM VIENNA
Your enjoyable and rewarding
tour will come to an end as your tour manager/guide accompanies
you to the airport for the return flight home.
