Discover two of Germany's most picturesque regions on this fantastic two-centre holiday. We explore the half-timbered villages and stunning peaks of the Harz Mountains by heritage railway before visiting the stunning Rhine Gorge, where the legendary Lorelei Rock still casts its spell.
All departures on this tour depart on Eurostar after 12pm, allowing morning travel into London from most of the UK. We write to all booked customers approximately 10 weeks prior to the start of their tour to advise the exact departure and return time for their particular group.
Our journey to Germany begins at St Pancras International in London, where we board the Eurostar to Brussels. Sit back in your comfortable Standard Premier Class seat and enjoy a light meal and drinks before our arrival in the Belgian capital. Our journey continues by train in First Class to Cologne for an overnight stay at the Wyndham Hotel. On Day 2 we continue across Germany by train, travelling in Standard Class to Hanover. Here, we meet our coach which takes us on a journey through the brooding Harz Mountains. The low-lying mountains surround a river-carved landscape, where rushing streams wind through the rich green forests, and rugged rocky outcrops rise up towards the towering mountain peaks above. We stop in the foothills of the mountains to visit the scenic town of Goslar, a UNESCO World Heritage destination where intricate carvings adorn the front of picturesque timbered houses. Leaving Goslar, we continue to Wernigerode, which is situated in the picturesque Harz region. We spend four nights at the HKK Hotel Wernigerode, just a short walk away from the historic centre.
Please note: Group HRJ506 will stay at the Maritim Hotel Cologne instead of the Wyndham.
This morning we begin a full-day excursion on the narrow-gauge, steam-hauled Brocken Railway. The undulating forests and crystal-clear lakes of the Harz Mountain region create a terrain ideally suited to narrow-gauge railways. The terrific Brocken Railway connects the small towns and villages of the Harz region. Today's journey takes us through the vast pine forests in the foothills of the mountains, steam from the train evaporating into the tree tops. We climb steep inclines, the mighty engine straining to tackle the gradient, as we make our way to Brocken, the highest mountain in the Harz region at over 3,700 feet (1,128 metres). After some free time for lunch, we return by train to Wernigerode.
Today we travel by coach to beautiful Quedlinburg, a gorgeous town with a delightful, peaceful Romanesque church and incredibly wellpreserved red-roofed houses that give the town the feel of a model village, as if it were created from children's toy bricks. Burgberg - 'castle mountain' - is a 10th century stronghold that looms imposingly over the town. Quedlinburg's rambling, haphazard street plan leads you through charming streets lined with more than 1,600 timber-framed buildings. On one street, Wordgasse, there is a building reputed to be the oldest timber-framed house in Germany. In Quedlinburg we join the narrow-gauge Selketal Railway for a journey through the glorious, verdant countryside of the Selke Valley.
Situated alongside the Holtemme River, Wernigerode is a quintessentially German town. With elaborate half-timbered buildings, simply strolling through the steep narrow streets of the town provides a feast for the eyes, not to mention the impressive Wernigerode Castle and the charming medieval Town Hall. The peaceful riverfront is another wonderful way to pass the time and soak up the relaxed atmosphere. Alternatively, you may wish to further explore the local railway network with a journey on the Brocken Railway, the Pan-Harz Railway or the Selke Valley Railway.
Bidding farewell to the peaceful Harz mountains, we join the train from Wernigerode, via Hildesheim and Frankfurt, to Assmannshausen (journeys on trains will be in Standard Class), a romantic German village situated in the picturesque Rhine Gorge. We spend four nights at the Hotel Alte Bauernschänke, situated in the centre of this typical Rhineland village. Assmannshausen is well-known for its red wine, Spätburgender, with a distinctive rich burgundy colour.
Today we take the short walk to the riverside to join a boat for the journey along the River Rhine through the prettiest and most celebrated section of the Rhine Gorge. Ancient castles peer from the top of the green banks, as we pass the imposing Lorelei Rock, a legendary rocky outcrop that soars 150 metres above the water line. We arrive in the riverside resort of Boppard*, one of the region's great wine producers. We enjoy some free time here; chance to sample some of the fantastic local wines and enjoy a stroll along Boppard's delightful riverside promenade. There is a good choice of restaurants here for lunch before we rejoin the cruise back upstream to Assmannshausen.
*In October the Rhine Cruise will stop at St Goar instead of Boppard.
Today is free for you to explore Assmannshausen at your leisure. Our location, close to the river and railway station, allows plenty of options for visiting towns along the river, such as Rüdesheim, another of the region's celebrated wine towns, home to the world-renowned Drosselgasse, a street lined with traditional pubs and wine taverns.
A coach excursion takes us to one of Germany's best loved cities, charming and historic Heidelberg. The town lies below its protective castle on the River Neckar and is home to the oldest university in Germany, founded in 1385. The backdrop to Sigmund Romberg's operetta, 'The Student Prince', Heidelberg was the capital of the Palatinate region for many centuries. We enjoy a guided tour and some leisure time before returning to our hotel.
We transfer by coach to Cologne, where we join our train for Brussels in First Class and connect with the Eurostar service to St Pancras International in Standard Premier Class.
Please note that while every departure of this tour will feature the same excursions, the order may differ from that shown above.
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