Day 1: Following your early morning taxi pick up, we join our platinum executive tour coach and head to Kent for our short sea crossing to France. Upon our arrival we continue our journey through the French countryside to our overnight hotel.
Day 2: This morning we continue our journey crossing the River Rhine into Germany. We make our way through the Black Forest and cross into Switzerland, where we make a brief stop at the Rhine Falls in Schaffhausen. The Rhine falls are one of the most powerful waterfalls on the main land in Europe. Visitors can walk around the basin, cross the bridge above the Rhine Falls to the 'Känzeli' observation platform, a most spectacular viewpoint built directly beside the water. We then continue our journey to Austria and our hotel for the next 6 nights, the beautiful Weisses Kreuz in Feldkirch.
Day 3: After a traditional breakfast we take a short local bus ride to join our guide in the centre of Feldkirch for a leisurely guided walking tour. Feldkirch is an enchanting town on the border between Austria, Liechtenstein and Switzerland and is the second largest town in the Vorarlberg region. The history of this amazing medieval town dates back to the 1200’s with the creation of Schattenburg Castle and the town has seen numerous battles including the Battle of Feldkirch in 1799 between the Austrian and French military. Several remaining sections of the city walls and guard towers can still be seen, and the Katzenturm is one of the finest and most complete examples. This defensive tower stands at over 8 stories high and was built during the Habsburgs reign between 1491-1507 by King Maximillian I as part of the towns fortifications. At the top of the tower hangs the huge 8573kg Katzenturm bell which was added in 1857 and is still rung once a week to this day.
After our guided tour we include entry to Schattenburg Castle Museum. Originally a residence of the Earls of neighbouring Bregenz for over 200 years, the castle then changed ownership to the mighty Habsburg leaders who ruled over the estate until the late 1700’s. The beautiful building with its white walls and brown tiled roofs stands out in Feldkirch and the museum and restaurant inside are of particularly good quality. The museum is split into several different themed rooms, all of which have been restored and feature historical furniture and architecture. After your visit the afternoon is free in Feldkirch.
Day 4: Today we have a full day excursion through the Bregenzerwald with a visit to a traditional cheesemaker. We then enjoy a scenic ride onboard the little Wälderbähnle Railway. The Wälderbahn, also lovingly called the "Wälderbähnle", offers a railway adventure at the pace of days gone by. After being closed down in 1980 due to natural events, today the nostalgic train runs through the heart of the Bregenzerwald between the Bezau and Schwarzenberg train stations. You will experience picture postcard scenery as the historic steam and diesel locomotives pull the wooden train carriages through the landscape. Later we travel over the breath-taking Bodelpass before returning to our hotel.
Day 5: This morning we make our way to Lake Constance with an included railway trip at Rheineck. This beautiful lakeside city is a joy to explore and a walk around the old town of Konstance shows much has remained unchanged since the Middle Ages. We continue our day with a visit to Appenzell with its famous painted houses, before enjoying an included train ride from Appenzell to Altstätten. Our final call of the day is Hohenems for a chocolate tasting at the traditional Fenkart Schlosskaffe.
Day 6: Today we see the old city of Constance. The historic old town with its picturesque alleys and facades, stunning harbour with its Mediterranean feel and breath-taking views of the lake and the Alps makes it a great place for a stroll. We cross the lake on the ferry to Meersburg and then enjoy a visit to Salem Castle. The former Cistercian abbey and present-day Salem Castle is located in the midst of extensive parks and gardens. Since 1802, when the Margraves of Baden came to acquire the former monastery during the Secularisation, Salem Castle was used as a summer residence for the Grand Dukes. Today, Salem Castle, with its Gothic monastery church and its lovely interior and gardens, is a highly significant and popular tourist destination. Our last stop of the day is in Hagnau for an included wine tasting before returning to Feldkirch.
Day 7: This morning we head to Lichtenstein. Aside from its novelty value being one of the world’s smallest and wealthiest countries, it is like something straight out of a fairy tale. Liechtenstein sits on the banks of the Rhine with views of lush alpine landscapes, medieval castles and villages linked by a network of trails. After some free time to explore, we cross the border to Switzerland to visit its smallest village, Werdenberg. This historic town is also the oldest timber-frame settlement in Switzerland and is best known for its castle of the same name, which sits majestically on the hill above the town. The small Lake Werdenberg lends further charm to this medieval town, and is a joy to explore.
Day 8: This morning we bid farewell to our hotel as we head back through Switzerland and into France. We will pause for lunch in the Alsace area before making our way to our overnight hotel in Metz.
Day 9: This morning we continue our journey back home with our crossing to Dover, before heading back to Norfolk where our door to door taxi service will be waiting to take you home.
Holiday Information:
8 Nights Dinner, Bed & Breakfast
Price: £1624pp
Single Supplement: £198 (Will be allocated a twin or double room for sole occupancy at overnight and main hotel)
Insurance: TBC (Insurance not currently available)
Tour Reference: EUR1875
This tour will be undertaken in one of our Platinum luxury executive coaches. You will have extended leg room, airline style seats with adjustable headrests and USB charging points, along with all the facilities present on our executive touring vehicles.
Deposit Required: £70pp
Balance Due: 12 weeks prior to departure