THE RHINE, SWISS ALPS & AMSTERDAM
The city of Lucerne, on the shores of Lake Lucerne, is one of Switzerland’s most beautiful cities as well as one of its most historic
1. ARRIVE ZURICH Tour begins: 6:30 PM, Bellevue Palace Bern. A transfer is included from Zurich Airport or the train station to the Bellevue Palace Bern in Bern, capital of Switzerland, surrounded by the Aar River and distant Alpine peaks. Your two-night stay is at a historic luxury hotel favored by celebrities and heads of state, and is featured in John le Carré’s spy novels. Please join us this evening for a welcome reception and dinner. Meals D
2. A DAY IN THE SWISS ALPS OR A DAY IN BERN You have a choice of sightseeing adventures today. Head for the snow-capped Alps on a full-day’s excursion to Jungfraujoch, a mountain pass known as the “Top of Europe.” Drive to the village of Lauterbrunnen for a train ride to Kleine Scheidegg, then board a cogwheel train for the scenic climb to Europe’s highest railway station; here you’ll find a restaurant, observatory, research station, a gallery of ice sculpture, and breathtaking views of the glacier-clad Bernese Alps. Alternatively, explore the eclectic charms of Bern on a walking tour, followed by time on your own to explore as you please. Medieval and modern mix artfully in an unhurried atmosphere where sights include open-air markets and cozy underground bars, the Parliament Building, the Gothic cathedral, a bear park (in honor of the town’s symbol and mascot), a house where Einstein lived and wrote his Theory of Relativity, and the Zytglogge, a 16th-century astronomical clock featuring animated figures. Spend the evening as you wish; the city’s vibrant nightlife includes trendy clubs and restaurants, and a grand casino. Meals BL
Call your travel agent or Tauck at 800-468-2825
3. EXPLORE LUCERNE / EMBARK SHIP IN BASEL Leave Bern this morning and arrive in Lucerne, nestled beside a stunning blue lake in the Alpine foothills. Features of Lucerne’s medieval old town (picturesque market squares, burghers’ houses, spired churches, and restored ramparts) unfold on an orientation tour which includes the 14th-century Chapel Bridge, the oldest wooden covered bridge in Europe, and the Lion Monument, an eloquent memorial to Swiss soldiers who died in the French Revolution. Enjoy lunch on your own, then travel to Basel, where you’ll board your riverboat. Join us for a welcome reception as you sail for Breisach, Germany. Meals BD
4. COLMAR, ALSATIAN WINE CAPITAL Dock in Breisach, then drive to the village of Colmar, France, in Alsatian wine country. The principal industry in Colmar is food and wine, but its irresistible charm lies in its beautifully preserved medieval architecture that conjures an idyllic place out of time: colorful half-timbered houses and gardens, rambling cobbled streets, arches and alleys, sculpted fountains, and canals that wind through a corner of town called Little Venice. Aside from its winemaking heritage, Colmar is known as the hometown of Auguste Bartholdi, the sculptor who created the Statue of Liberty. Visit the Unterlinden Museum, housed in a Gothic convent, whose impressive collection includes Matthias Grünewald’s famous Isenheim Altarpiece, paintings, engravings and sculpture from medieval to modern (including works by Dürer and Holbein, Picasso and Léger), and a wealth of archaeological artifacts; join us for a private reception in the
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