6. RÜDESHEIM / AN EVENING AT A CASTLE Near the foot of the Niederwald, surrounded by vineyards, the ruins of Ehrenfels Castle watch over the Rhine Gorge; just around the bend, you’ll dock in the winemaking town of Rüdesheim, under the lofty gaze of the famous Niederwald Monument. The 1,000-year-old town charms with its cobblestone streets of storybook houses, cafés and wine taverns; among its must-see attractions is Siegfried’s Mechanisches Musikkabinett, a museum dedicated to antique self-playing musical instruments. Siegfried’s mesmerizing collection includes orchestrations, musical clocks, player pianos, fairground organs, self-playing violinas, and the world’s largest automated doll orchestra. Stop in for refreshments at Rüdesheimer Schloss, a historic hotel and restaurant. Then return to the riverboat for a cruise on the romantic Middle Rhine. Sentinel castles, steep sloping vineyards and towering precipices like the Lorelei Rock wind past with commentary by your Tauck Director. Land at Linz am Rhein, then drive to Engelskirchen for a visit to its neighboring castle, Schloss Ehreshoven. Built in the 14th century and later expanded in the style of a grand Baroque manor house, the estate is surrounded by a moat, landscaped gardens, and a castle park. Schloss Ehreshoven is frequently used as a film location – but this evening, it’s the elegant setting for a Tauck Exclusive reception and dinner with entertainment. Meet your riverboat in Bonn, and dock overnight. Meals BLD
7. CAPTIVATING KÖLN
Depart Bonn this morning for a short cruise to Köln. One of Germany’s oldest cities (founded in the 1st century AD), Köln was once a Roman provincial capital, and later a fabulously wealthy medieval trading port; the city was almost totally destroyed during World War II, but many of its architectural
VIEW FROM THE TOP What would a visit to Switzerland be without a
sojourn in the Alps? No need to wonder, since your stay in Bern includes a trip to the lofty Jungfraujoch, commonly known as The Top of Europe, surrounded by breathtaking vistas of glaciers and mountain peaks. From an Alpine village you’ll ride a cogwheel train on a scenic climb that is an engineering marvel, winding upward to dizzying heights in less than five miles, past the Eiger North Wall and the Sea of Ice, and through mountain tunnels to the Jungfraujoch ridge between the Jungfrau and Mönch peaks (11,371 feet above sea level). Amid the rarefied air you’ll find dazzling 360-degree panoramas of the Aletsch Glacier and snow-capped Bernese peaks that wander to the horizon. There’s also an observatory, an atmospheric research station (with a terrace where you can enjoy the views in the open air), several restaurants, a “palace” of ice sculpture, a post office, and a Swiss chocolate shop. (Sweet!)
Discover a bit of Köln past and present on a day of exploring Call your travel agent or Tauck at 800-468-2825
tauck.com/river-cruises 67
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122 |
Page 123 |
Page 124 |
Page 125 |
Page 126 |
Page 127 |
Page 128 |
Page 129 |
Page 130 |
Page 131 |
Page 132 |
Page 133 |
Page 134