The Harz Mountains in Winter & Spring 2012 

We depart from St Pancras International by Eurostar to Brussels, travelling in Standard Premier Class, with a light meal and drinks served on board. Our journey continues by high-speed train to Cologne for an overnight stay at either the Grand City Hotel Cologne or in the Four Points Hotel, both located only a short walk from the impressive Gothic Cathedral and railway station. (E,D)

After breakfast we join the ICE train across northern Germany to Hanover. Here, we meet our coach which takes us through the Harz Mountains. We continue through the beautiful landscape of the Harz region to the stunningly beautiful town of Wernigerode, for a five night stay at the HKK Hotel Wernigerode, just a short walk away from the historic centre. The Harz Mountain range is an area of undulating forests peppered with pretty lakes. Such terrain is ideally suited to narrow-gauge railways and a network was built in the pioneering days of the railway. Today the Harz Mountains system offers a wonderful public transport service and steam-hauled tourist trains with beautifully restored vintage rolling stock. (B,D)

This morning we travel by Standard Class rail to medieval Goslar, nestled at the foot of the Harz Mountains. Older than Berlin, this former Free Imperial city is a UNESCOWorld Heritage site and is crammed full of old halftimbered houses dating back to the early 16th century. We take a guided tour of the picturesque town discovering some fine examples of Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque architecture. After the tour, you can have some free time to continue exploring (B,D)

Today you are free to explore Wernigerode at leisure. Nicknamed 'Bunte Stadt am Harz', which means 'the colourful town in the Harz foothills', Wernigerode is a town with special charm. Simply stroll through the historic town passing the elaborate half-timbered buildings and visit the impressive Wernigerode Castle, originally a medieval fortress whose purpose was to make safe way for the German Emperors on their hunting expeditions. If you wish to travel further afield use your included 3-day ticket for the Harz Mountain Railway network, allowing you to explore the region by train today. Alternatively relax and make the most of the hotel's facilities. (B)

Our excursion today is to the beautifully preserved town of Quedlinburg where we have the opportunity to explore at our own pace. Discover the cobbled streetspassing a collection of medieval timber-framed buildings and Romanesque architecture in the Old Town, which has UNESCO World Heritage status. Considered to be one of the best-preserved medieval and renaissance towns in Europe, it offers a wealth of history and culture, whilst also having a modern flair and fabulous examples of Art Nouveau architecture.

This afternoon we embark on a beautifully scenic journey on the historic Selketal Railway, whose terminus is now in Quedlinburg. The Selke Valley Railway is arguably the region's best-kept secret, ascending into the Harz Mountains through a varied landscape. This metre-gauge railway was dismantled by the Soviets at the end of World War II, but subsequently rebuilt as far as Gernrode in the post-war years. With reunification the Selketalbahn was acquired by the Harz Mountain Railways and the line finally extended to Quedlinburg, allowing greater tourist access to this nostalgic journey though dense forests and mountains. (B,D)

Today we embark on a scenic rail journey on the Brocken Railway to the summit of Brocken, the highest peak in the Harz Mountains at 3,743 feet (1,141m). We enjoy stunning panoramic views of the Upper Harz National Park as we wind our way up the mountain to the terminus, Brockenbahnhof, the highest narrow-gauge railway station in Germany. This towering summit has long been associated with dark forces, perhaps most famously in Goethe's Faust, and during the Cold War Brocken was a military base used for border surveillance. Until the fall of the Berlin Wall, the mountain was offlimits to all but the Soviet army. Given its altitude, Brocken Mountain was the perfect location for the world's first television antennae and today it offers one of Europe's most spectacular lookout points. (B,D)

This morning we transfer by coach to Hanover to rejoin the fantastic ICE, our high-speed service to Cologne, connecting in Cologne for Brussels. Here we join the onward Eurostar service to St Pancras International, travelling in Standard Premier Class, enjoying a light meal and drinks during the journey. (B,E)

E = Eurostar meal, B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner
These meals, where shown are included in the price of your holiday