DAY    1            DEPARTURE FROM NORTH AMERICA
Enjoy full meal service on your scheduled wide-bodied flight to Frankfurt.

DAY    2            ARRIVE FRANKFURT - ASCHAFFENBURG - ROTHENBURG
                          (3 NIGHTS)
We will be met at the airport by our tour manager/guide and transfer to Germany's Romantic Road. Our first stop will be in Aschaffenburg, a town that enjoys a scenic position on the hilly right bank of the River Main. We will visit Schloss Johannisburg, a majestic, red-sandstone castle which was once occupied by the Mainz bishop-electors. Inside, the castle houses a fine collection of European paintings from the 15th to the 18th century and the library is home to several valuable medieval codices. After free time to explore the old quarter, we continue to Rothenberg, one of the oldest towns on the Romantic Road.

DAY    3            ROTHENBURG
We will begin with a Walking Tour around the old walled city, beginning at the entrance to the old walled city, followed by a walk along the cobbled streets to the Rathaus (town hall). We will visit the town hall filled with Renaissance works and we will Climb the Tower for a beautiful view over the city. We continue with a visit to the Museum of Medieval Justice, the former headquarters of the Knights of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem, which has been turned into a museum displaying medieval attitudes towards crime and dissidence. Our day continues with a stroll along Herrngasse, famous for its mansions and courtyards, and will conclude with a visit to St. Jakobskirche, a beautifully constructed 14th century Gothic church. We will have the opportunity to view one of Germany's most precious works of art, Tilman Riemenschneider's Holy Blood Altarpiece, painted in 1504. This evening we will embark on the Nightwatchman Tour, where we join the town's nightwatchman on his rounds of the medieval city.

DAY    4            WURZBURG
Today we travel to nearby Wurzburg, a city that saw 80% of the town's buildings destroyed during an Allied raid on March 16, 1945. Wurzburg, which lies on the banks of the River Main, has risen from the ashes and once again enchants visitors with its rich heritage and historical sights. Our day commences with a visit to Festung Marienberg, a fortress that served as a residence for the Prince Bishops until 1719. Today the fortress houses a Museum, which exhibits the 1,200-year history of Wurzburg. We continue to the city center, where we will have a free time to explore before visiting Dom St. Kilian, Germany's fourth largest Romanesque church, famous for its three-nave basilica, twin-tower façade, and its group of bishop's tombs by Tilman Riemenschneider. Our afternoon concludes with a visit to the Residenz in Wurzburg, a vast complex constructed in the mid 18th century. Our tour of the palace complex will be highlighted by the Treppenhaus, with the largest fresco in the world adorning the vault of the staircase; the Garden Chamber, a vast low hall with Rococo stucco work; the Venetian Room, named for the Venetian Carnival Tapestry; the Hofkirche, and the centerpiece of the palace; and the Kaiseraal, the sumptuous emperor's chamber. We return to Rothenburg for the evening.

DAY    5            ROTHENBURG - FRANKFURT - COLOGNE (2 NIGHTS)
This morning we travel to Frankfurt, one of the economic and cultural centers of Germany. Our day in Frankfurt begins in the Altstadt (old town), which has been sensitively restored after its destruction in the air raids of World War II. We will begin with a visit to the Dom St. Bartholomäus in whose chapels the emperors of the Holy Roman Empire were elected and crowned for nearly 300 years. Our visit will include the Dom Museum, exhibiting robes of the imperial electors which were worn at coronation ceremonies. Our day continues with a Walk through the Römerberg, the historic core of the old Altstadt, famous for its magnificent half-timbered houses, which have been reconstructed after the bombings according to their original plans. We will also visit the Römer, an interconnected trio of medieval patricians' houses, which functioned as the city hall of Frankfurt as early as 1405. Our afternoon will conclude at the northern edge of the Altstadt in the An der Hauptwache, named for the old guardhouse which stands upon it. This square is the heart of modern Frankfurt, and features a modern shopping promenade. We continue to Cologne, a former Roman town and today a center for art and culture.

DAY    6            AACHEN & BONN
This morning we travel to Aachen, where we will visit the Cathedral begun by Charlemagne in the year 800, it was later completed in 1414, commemorating the 600th anniversary of the Emperors death. Inside, we will view the Ambo of Henry II, a small pulpit gilded in copper and decorated with precious stones, the Pala d' Oro, a gorgeous gold-faced frontal illustrated with scenes from the Passion and Christ in Majesty, the Charlemagne Shrine, where the emperor's bones are preserved, the Throne of Charlemagne, and the Domschatzkammer (Treasury), one of the richest in Germany. Our day continues to Bonn, birthplace of Beethoven and the former capital of West Germany. We will take a Walking Tour of the City Center, including a stroll along the Rheinufer on the banks of the Rhie River, Munster St Martin, the Baroque Elector's Palace housing Bonn University, and the Markt, highlighted by Baroque Rathaus. Our afternoon will also include a visit to the Beethovenhaus, a museum housed in the 18th century house where the composer was born and lived until the age of 22. The museum features a large and impressive collection of memorabilia from his entire life. We return to Cologne for the evening.

DAY    7            COLOGNE - RHINE VALLEY - RUDESHEIM (2 NIGHTS)
This morning we will explore Cologne, a We will visit the Kolner Dom, the most famous Gothic structure in Germany. In addition to its grandiose size and spectacular Gothic exterior, the cathedral also features wonderful stained-glass windows, massive Gothic oak Stalls, and a stunning High Altar. Highlighting the cathedral is the Shrine of the Three Kings, a huge Romanesque reliquary said to hold relics of the Three Kings, and the Altar of the Magi, the work of Stephan Lochner. Those that choose can also ascend to the Viewing Platform for wonderful views of Cologne. Our day continues with a Rhine River Bus Tour, one of the best ways to get a really intimate look at the Rhine Valley, a region that helped shape the history of Europe. Our tour will offer stops for magnificent views of the surrounding countryside, including vineyards and medieval castles, as well as a visit to Marksburg Castle, which towers over the river and the town of Braubach, and is the only castle on the Rhine never to have been damaged. We continue to Rudesheim, a city with a picturesque location on the banks of the Rhine River.

DAY    8            TRIER & BURGELTZ
This morning we will travel to Trier, a Roman satellite city founded by Augustus in 16 BC. Upon our arrival we will explore the Roman remains, beginning at Porta Niagra, the best-preserved Roman structure in Germany. We will also visit the Amphitheater, dating from 100 AD, and the two sets of Baths, the Imperial Baths and the Baths of St. Barbara. We will conclude our morning with a visit to the Karl Marx Haus, the birthplace of the "Father of Socialism." Today the house is a museum exhibiting Marx's personal history, and on the development of socialism in the 19th century. This afternoon we visit Eltz Castle, one of the most beautiful and best preserved castles in Germany, set in a romantic setting surrounded by an unspoilt landscape. Our tour through the castle will take us through eight hundred years of history, reflected in the layout and architecture of the rooms. Highlights include: the Rübenach Lower Hall with its impressive 15th century wooden ceiling; the Rübenach Bedroom with its filigree frescos from 1470; the splendid Knights Hall; the elegant vaulted arch of the Banner Hall, the Countesses' Room and the still intact late Middle-Ages Rodendorf Kitchen. We return to Rudesheim for the evening.

DAY    9            RUDESHEIM - MAINZ - HEIDELBERG (3 NIGHTS)
This morning we will take a Walking Tour, where we will view the remains of three castles and the historic mansions and half-timbered houses, and stroll along the famous Drosselgasse, which is lined with countless wine bars and shops. Our afternoon concludes with a Cable-Car Ascent to the Nierderwald Monument, a huge statue (34 ft) of Germania, built to commemorate victory in the Franco-Prussian War and the unification of Germany. From the base of the monument, we will be afforded magnificent views of Bingen and the Rhine Valley. This afternoon we will explore Mainz, a former Roman town, which today is the capital of the Rhineland-Palatinate. We begin in the Altstadt (Old Town), which features beautiful half-timbered houses, including a visit to Mainzer Dom, one of the most important cathedrals in the country. It dates from A.D. 975, but was continually rebuilt and restored, reaching its present form mainly in the 13th and 14th centuries. Our afternoon concludes with a visit to the Gutenberg Museum, a unique memorial to the city's most famous son, Johanes Gutenburg. Housed in the rebuilt Gutenberg workshop, the museum traces the history of printing, beginning with Johannes Gutenberg's hand press, on which he printed his 42-line-per-page Bible from 1452 to 1455, and also features two Gutenberg Bibles. We continue to our hotel in Heidelberg.

DAY    10          HEIDELBERG & WORMS
This morning we will visit Heidelberg Castle, a dignified ruin and one of the finest Gothic-Renaissance castles in Germany. Our visit will include the Palace of Friedrich IV, which features the gallery of princes and kings of the German empire from the time of Charlemagne, the Wine Vat Building for a look at the Great Cask, a symbol of the abundant and exuberant life of the Rhineland-Palatinate, and the Chemist's Tower, housing the Pharmaceutical Museum, which shows a chemist's shop from the 18th and 19th centuries. This afternoon we will journey to Worms, an important historic and religious city in Germany. We will begin with a visit to Dom St. Peter, towering physically and historically above all the other ancient buildings of the city. The basilica is a fine example of High Romanesque and the interior has a quiet elegance, with a rosette window, several memorial slabs and monuments, and the highly decorated 14th-century side Chapel of St. Nicholas, with its Gothic baptismal font and new stained-glass windows. After free time to explore or shop in Worms, we will return to Heidelberg.

DAY    11          STUTTGART & KARLSRUHE
This morning we travel to Stuttgart, the capital of Baden-Wurttemberg, and one of the largest and most important cities in Germany. We begin with Walking Tour of the City Center, where we will view Schlossplatz, Neues Schloss, Konigsbau, the Altes Schloss, Schillerplatz, Stiftskirche and Hegelhaus. Our morning concludes with a visit to the Mercedes-Benz Museum, honoring the oldest automobile factory in the world, and the invention of the first motorcar by Carl Benz and Gottlieb Daimler. The museum displays over 75 historical vehicles, from the first motor bicycle to vehicles built to achieve speed records. This afternoon we visit Karlsruhe, a vivacious young metropolis on the bank of the Rhine River. Karlsruhe is rich in culture and features a star-shaped arrangement fanning out from the Baroque Palace in the center of the city. We will begin with a visit to the Schloss (Palace) of the city's founder Margrave Karl-Wilhelm, including the State Museum housed within the Palace, and the magnificent Schlossgarten Park and Gardens. Karlsruhe is also known in Germany as the "city of law," and we will view the German Supreme Court, The German Constitutional Court and the Federal Prosecutor's Office, before returning to Heidelberg.

DAY    12          DEPARTURE FROM FRANKFURT
Our enjoyable and rewarding trip will come to an end as our guide accompanies us to the airport for the return flight home.