The Elbe Valley is home to some of the most breath-taking vistas
of Europe. Beginning in Eastern Europe, in the Krkonoše Mountains,
this legendary river sweeps north and west through Bohemia and
Germany, before joining with the North Sea at Cuxhaven, near
Hamburg. On its journey, the Elbe travels almost seven hundred
miles.
Many of our Elbe river tours begin with a rail journey from
London to Nuremburg in Germany. Our trains continue on to the
vibrant city of Prague, where our guests will be given the
opportunity to explore the city, before boarding one of Great Rail
Journeys' state-of-the-art cruise vessels.
The largest concert hall in the Czech capital, the Municipal
House, is an incredible example of the city's famous architecture.
Inside, the exquisite Smetana Hall has a spectacular Art Nouveau
glass ceiling. Elsewhere, the buildings of Prague are a spectacular
amalgam of different styles, from Cubist, Gothic, Art Nouveau, and
Baroque, to Neo-Classical.
Spend your time in this pretty city soaking in all the sights
its cobbled streets have to offer (the 10th century sculpture of
Jan Hus is always popular with our guests); listen to street
musicians playing old-time favourites, such as the Polka, or relax
with Prague's most famous produce - Pils beer.
A highlight of Great Rail Journeys Elbe river cruises is the
region of the magnificent Sandstone Mountains, near the border of
Germany and the Czech Republic. The soft rocky surface of these
landforms has allowed weathering to carve unusual structures, such
as arches and the towering Hercules Pillars.
Many Elbe river tours call at the idyllic city of Dresden, where
natural and manmade beauty blends together seamlessly. The streets
of this elegant city are home to stunning examples of medieval
architecture, including the Dresden Zwinger, the Frauenkirche
church, and the water palace at Pillnitz Castle.
The Dresden Elbe Valley, a former World Heritage Site, is one of
the most spectacular regions in our itinerary. Here, amid the
characteristic deep forests of Saxony, the epic Blue Wonder Steel
Bridge stretches across the Elbe. Built between 1891 and 1893, this
engineering marvel is one of the most abiding structures in
Germany.
While on our Elbe cruises, you will also have the opportunity to
explore lesser known corners of Europe, such as the German city of
Wittenberg and the 'cradle of Saxony', Meissen, known for its
porcelain and the magnificent Albrechtsburg Castle, whose turrets
climb high into the sky.
