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Treasures of Imperial Cities: Krakow, Budapest, Vienna, Prague |
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Program Number: |
12259RJ |
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| Start
and End Dates: |
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| Duration: |
16 nights |
| Location: |
Czech Republic/Poland/Hungary/Austria
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| Price starting at: |
$3,844.00 - Price may vary based on date, departure city |
| Program Type:
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Arts, Misc.
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| Meals: |
41;
15 Breakfasts, 13 Lunches, 13 Dinners |
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| Meal
Options: |
Low Fat; Low Salt; Vegetarian; Gluten Free |
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From the elegance of a Chopin waltz in Krakow to the grandeur of the Habsburg’s summer palace in Vienna, embark on an exquisite journey to learn about Central Europe’s most artistically rich cities and the great thinkers and creative geniuses who called them home. Private concerts, viewings of world-class art collections and in-depth discussion of some of Europe’s leading intellectuals create a detailed portrait of these royal capital cities.
Highlights
• Enjoy a private concert at the Strahov Monastery and visit the monastery gallery, one of the best fine arts collections in the Czech Republic.
• Admire the illuminated city of Budapest on an evening river cruise along the Danube, passing such important sights as Parliament, Chain Bridge and Castle Hill.
• Explore Schonbrunn Palace, the former imperial summer residence and one of the most important cultural monuments in Austria.
Activity Particulars
Terrain includes cobblestones, city streets, uneven ground, and short uphill walks.
Date Specific Information
6-5-2013, 9-18-2013, 10-2-2013, 5-7-2014, 6-4-2014, 9-18-2014, 10-1-2014
Enjoy the latest in hearing technology — listening devices — on this date.
Itinerary Summary
Arrival Krakow (Poland), 4 nights; coach to Budapest (Hungary), 4 nights; coach to Vienna (Austria), 3 nights; coach to Prague (Czech Republic), 4 nights; departures
Overnight flight from the U.S.A. | 1 night | Arrival Krakow (Poland) | 4 nights |
Discover the impressive art collections of Krakow, where a maze of cobblestone alleyways contains the largest concentration of historical monuments and cultural treasures in Poland. Visit the Sukiennice Museum, housed in the famous Cloth Hall, and the Gallery of Polish Art of the 20th Century. At Collegium Maius, one of Europe’s first universities, see the room dedicated to Nicolaus Copernicus who graduated from the school in the 1490s. Enjoy an evening concert of music by Frederic Chopin, Poland’s most famous composer.
Coach to Budapest (Hungary) | 4 nights |
Learn about Hungary’s colorful history and present day life before embarking on a panoramic field trip to the most important sites of Budapest, from Heroe’s Square to the Chain Bridge and Castle District. Admire the Royal Palace of Gödöllö, one of the largest Baroque palaces in Hungary, where Empress Sisi, the wife of Franz Joseph, spent much of her time. Then head to the countryside to lunch at a lodge with a beautiful view over the Danube Bend and explore the picturesque towns of Esztergom, Visegrad and Szentendre.
Coach to Vienna (Austria) | 3 nights |
A lecture introduces Vienna and the major cultural institutions created by the Hapsburg dynasty. Visit one of these great museums, the Kunsthistorisches Museum and see first-hand how the Habsburgs brought together the most precious and important paintings of the celebrated Old Masters. Get a taste for fashionable Vienna with a lunch at Café Central, former meeting point for Europe’s intellectuals and artist. A flutist and accompanying musicians take you through the Vienna Classic period in a presentation on Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven.
Coach to Prague (Czech Republic) | 4 nights | Departures |
Explore centuries of Prague architecture on foot across the 600-year-old Charles Bridge, and along twisty streets past the stone houses of Prague’s Old Town to the banks of the Vltava River for a evening boat excursion. A field trip to the Museum of Czech Music is highlighted by a lecture on the great composers: Antonin Dvorak, Gustav Mahler, Bedrich Smetana and more.
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Accommodations
Krakow: Four-star hotel overlooking Old Town. Budapest: Comfortable family style hotel. Vienna: Four-star hotel near the Danube River. Prague: Three-star hotel in quiet part of town a short walk or tram ride from city center and historic sites.
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| Road Scholar Instructors | | These instructors are participating on at least one date of this program. Please note that changes may occur. | Julia Auer
| | Julia Auer is an unusually versatile performer. After studying musicology at the University of Vienna she also completed her studies of the flute and musical pedagogy at the University of Music. She has devoted much of her time and interest to intensive research in historical sources and instruments, and she is a member of several Early Music groups. Julia now performs on a variety of flute instruments and is working on a thesis concerning orchestral instrumentation in the 18th century. | | | | Zuzana Petrášková
| | Zuzana Petrášková is a native of Prague. She studied art history at Charles University and obtained her master’s degree from the University of Economics in Prague in 1981. She has shared her enthusiasm for art, history, and architecture on Road Scholar adventures since 2004. In her spare time, Zuzana loves to read literature, learn about history and art, ski, design jewelry, and create her own artwork. She loves travelling and has visited Turkey, North Africa, China, Hong Kong, the U.S., Russia, the former Soviet Union, and almost all of Europe. Zuzana currently lives in Prague with her two children. | | | | Walter Auer
| | Walter Auer is the principal flute of the Wiener Philharmoniker, a position he has held since 2003. Before coming to Vienna, he served as the principal flute with the NDR Radio-Philharmonic Orchestra Hannover with Dresden Philharmonic for one year. Walter began flute lessons at the age of 10, and was awarded first prize in youth competitions several times. He also was a member of the Gustav Mahler Youth Orchestra under Claudio Abbado. Later, he studied at the University “Mozarteum” in Salzburg and finished his studies at the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra-Academy in Berlin. Walter has played numerous concerts with the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, and frequently appears as a soloist in recitals and concerts around the world. He is in demand as coach and teacher, and teaches master classes in Europe, Australia, Asia and the U.S. As a passionate chamber musician, Walter Auer is also a member of Orsolino Quintett Berlin and Wiener Virtuosen. | | | | Bettina Mandl
| | Bettina Mandl was born in Vienna and grew up surrounded by the splendid architecture and history of her hometown. After earning her degree in economics from the University of Vienna, she began to give lectures and lead educational excursions. Her main focus in Vienna is art nouveau, especially the works of the architect Otto Wagner. | | | |
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