A German and Swiss Sonata

You will be met at the airport by your tour manager/guide where you will board our private coach for transfer to your hotel in Munich, the capital of Bavaria, and, for many, the unproclaimed capital of Germany.

We will begin by exploring the Aldstadt (Old Quarter) of Munich, beginning at the Karlstor, once a gate to the walled city.

We continue with a stroll down Neuhauser Street, Munich’s largest shopping street, with typical 19th century buildings, outdoor cafes, and shops.

Next we visit the Frauenkirche, the largest Gothic assembly building in southern Germany and the seat of the Archbishopric of Munich. With its twin towers topped with onion domes, the church has become a symbol of the city.

Next we will explore the area of Munich around the Marienplatz dedicated to the patron of the city—the heart of the Altstadt.

We will begin at the Neues Rathaus, where we will observe the Glockenspiel on the façade, the fourth largest chiming clock in Europe, which stages an elaborate performance twice a day. Those who choose will have the opportunity to climb the 55 steps to the top of its tower for a good overall view of the city center.

We will stay in a centrally located hotel in Munich for the next two nights.

This morning, we will visit mad King Ludwig's fairytale castle, Neuschwanstein Castle, situated on an outcrop of rock towering over a gorge in the River Pollat. This is one of Germany’s most famous castles, though the king himself only lived there for 172 days. Our tour of the castle will be highlighted by the Throne Room, designed in Byzantine style, with gilded mural paintings, mosaics, and a huge chandelier

We then continue to the twin villages of Garmisch and Partenkirchen, which make up Germany's top alpine resort. In spite of their urban flair, the towns maintain the charm of an ancient village, often with country folk in traditional dress. The town and its environs offer some of the most panoramic views and colorful buildings in Bavaria.

Your first concert performance will be today.

We will visit the Deutsches Museum, the largest science and technology museum in the world, before leaving Munich.

We will head east, stopping at Herrenchiemsee Castle, built on an island in Chiemsee by King Ludwig II of Bavaria. He wanted to build a replica of Versailles and emptied the coffers of 20 million marks to build this palace in which he lived only one week before his death. We will continue to Salzburg, the Baroque city of music associated with Mozart.

We will check into our hotel in Salzburg and stay for three nights.

Our sightseeing will start with a Walking Tour through the Old City, a maze of meandering lanes, curious steeples, cobbled streets, and spacious squares. Here we will view Mozart's Birthplace, the Old Square, the Cathedral, and the Residenz. A highlight of our walk will be the Glockenspiel, an early 18th century carillon with 35 bells, which we can hear from one of the cafes lining the edges of the Mozartplatz.

Your second concert performance will be today.

We begin today with a visit to Salzburg Cathedral, world renowned for its 4,000-pipe organ. Hailed by some critics as the "most perfect" Renaissance building in the Germanic countries, the cathedral has a marble facade and twin symmetrical towers.

We will conclude our afternoon on Salzburg’s most famous street, the Getreidegasse, which is lined with small shops, interesting houses, and wrought-iron signs where the remainder of the day is yours to spend at leisure.

This morning we will begin our journey to Lucerne. En route we will visit Innsbruck. Innsbruck has one of the most dramatic settings in Europe with the snow-covered Alps on display from almost every corner. We will view the Triumphant Arch, Golden Roof, and Royal Church in Innsbruck before taking our journey east across the Swiss countryside to arrive at Lucerne.

Our sightseeing in Lucerne will begin with a walk across the 14th century covered Chapel Bridge adorned with over one hundred paintings.

We will explore the picturesque Old Town before ascending the steepest cogwheel railway in the world (48% gradient!) to the summit of Mt. Pilatus. From 6,985 feet we will view a dazzling mountain panorama of the Alps and Lake Lucerne, which is famed as one of the most beautiful views in Europe.

We will spend a morning at leisure in Lucerne before making our way to Interlaken in the heart of the Bernese Oberland. Interlaken is located between Lake Brienz to the east and Lake Thun to the west and is the oldest resort town in Switzerland. On arrival, your guide will accompany you on a local orientation tour.

We will spend the day surrounded by splendid mountain scenery. Our touring begins in the Höheweg Promenade, which covers 35 acres in the middle of town between the two train stations. Once the property of Augustinian monks, it was acquired in the 1800s by hotel keepers who turned it into a park.

On our Walking Tour, we will admire the famous view of the Jungfrau Mountain and the flower clock at the Kursaal. We will have some free time to explore the many cafes and gardens.

Later we cross over the Aare River to Unterseen, built in 1280 by Berthold von Eschenbach, to visit the Parish Church, with its late-Gothic tower dating from 1471.

Your third and final concert performance will be today.

Your enjoyable and rewarding tour will come to an end as your tour manager/guide accompanies you to the airport for the return flight home.