Musical Munich

We will have use of a private coach and driver, while touring for the next six days.

Stop in Theresienwiese, the former fairgrounds on which the Oktoberfest festival began after the marriage of Ludwig I and Therese von Sachsen-Hildburghausen.

Visit the Neo-Classical Ruhmeshalle (Hall of Fame) built by Leo von Klenze. This open hall, fronted by 48 Ionian columns, contains the busts of 77 prominent Bavarians, guarded by gigantic statue of a Bavarian Goddess. Munich is the capital city of Bavaria. It was founded in the 12th century, and named for a settlement of Benedictine monks.

Munich is now a cosmopolitan city that is at the forefront ofthe financial and publishing industries, and notable for its role in the development of music and the arts. Our centrally-located Munich hotel will be our home for the next six nights. We will havebreakfast at the hotel daily.

Stroll down Maximilianstrasse, Munich’s “Golden Mile.” The city’s most elegant and expensive boutiques and restaurants are located here.

We will dine this evening in a local restaurant.

During the course of our tour we will gain from the knowledge and insight of one half-day local guides while we are here in Germany.

Enjoy a Walking Tour of the Altstadt (Old Town) of Munich, beginning at the Karlstor, once a gate to the walled city. We will then view the Altes Rathaus and Peterskirche.

Stroll down Neuhauser Street, Munich’s largest shopping street, lined with typical 19th century buildings.

Visit the Frauenkirche, the largest Gothic assembly building in southern Germany, and theseat of the Archbishopric of Munich. With its twin towers, topped with onion domes, thechurch has become a symbol of the city.

Discover the area of Munich around Marienplatz, which is dedicated to the patron of the city. See the Neues Rathaus and observe the Glockenspiel on its facade. This is the fourth largest chiming clock in Europe, and stages an elaborate performance twice a day.

At the Neues Rathaus, take the opportunity to climb the 55 steps to the top of its Tower for a good overall view of Munich’s city center.

We will dine on local fare in a nearby restaurant.

Venue options include: Asamkirche, with its outstanding rococo interior; the Bürgersaal; Theatinerkirche St. Kajetan (Theatine Church of St. Cajetan); St. Michael's Church; and the Frauenkirche, which dominates the Marienplatz in the heart of the city.

In 1933, what had once been a quiet little artists’ community became a tragic symbol of the Nazi era, the first German concentration camp. The Audioguided tour of the camp includes the memorial chapels and two of the rebuilt barracks. The Museum is housed in the large building that once contained the kitchen, laundry, and shower baths.

Explore the Alte Pinakothek, one of the world’s great art museums. It houses a large and important collection that represents the greatest European artists from the 14th to the 18th century, including Botticelli, Raphael, Titian, Dürer, Holbein, Rembrandt, Rubens, Bruegel, Hals, and El Greco.

We will enjoy German fare at a local restaurant.

Visit Wittelsbacherplatz, a beautiful square laid out by Klenze, which is lined on three sides by Neo-Classical palaces. View the monument to the Elector Maximilian I in the center of the square.

Tour the Residenz, home of the Wittelsbach dynasty up until 1918. See the magnificent State Rooms, the Grotto Courtyard, Court Chapel and the spectacular Antiquarium, the largest Renaissance ceremonial hall north of the Alps. The visit to the Residenz complex also includes the Cuvilliés Theater, one of the finest Rococo theaters in the world, and the Treasury, which houses the crown and orb of the Bavarian kings.

We will dine this evening in a local restaurant.

Your concert performance will be today. Venue options include: Asamkirche, with its outstanding rococo interior; the Bürgersaal; Theatinerkirche St. Kajetan (Theatine Church of St. Cajetan); St. Michael's Church; and the Frauenkirche, which dominates the Marienplatz in the heart of the city.

Visit Neuschwanstein Castle, situated on an outcrop of rock towering over a gorge in the River Pöllat. King Ludwig II himself only lived here for 172 days, but the highlight of the castle tour is the Throne Room, designed in Byzantine style, with gilded mural paintings, mosaics, and a huge chandelier.

Visit the unique Wallfahrtskirche zum Gegeisselten Heiland (Pilgrimage Church of the Scourged Savior, also known as the Pilgrimage Church of Wies). This is the most resplendent example of South German Rococo and is a designated World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

Explore Linderhof Palace, one of Ludwig II’s residences. After touring the extravagantly decorated rooms of the palace, spend time in the extensive Park, featuring French-style formal gardens, Italianate terraced gardens, and the Grotto.

We will dine this evening in a local restaurant.

Visit the Deutsches Museum, one of the most important museums in the world for scientific and technical matters. Enjoy a series of working models and demonstrations, tracing the history of science and technology from the beginning of time to the present day.

Explore the BMW Museum, which brings BMW’s heritage to life through an innovative, multisensory experience and spans a history of more than 90 years. The museum is also notable for its architecture, particularly its listed circular building, known as the “bowl.”

We will continue to explore German fare in a local restaurant.

Your concert performance will be today. Venue options include: Asamkirche, with its outstanding rococo interior; the Bürgersaal; Theatinerkirche St. Kajetan (Theatine Church of St. Cajetan); St. Michael's Church; and the Frauenkirche, which dominates the Marienplatz in the heart of the city.

Our rewarding and enjoyable tour comes to an end as our Tour Director accompanies us to the airport on our final day.