Today we reach Austria's Wachau Valley, a famous wine-making
region. We arrive in the idyllic village of Dürnstein where you
have time at leisure. As we sit down to lunch on board we begin
cruising along the picturesque Wachau Valley, an extremely scenic
area with green valleys and vineyards rising up from the river,
picturesque riverside towns, and commanding fortresses with
sweeping views. We then journey by coach to Melk Abbey, enjoying
entrance to this 11th century Benedictine Abbey which stands on a
rocky outcrop overlooking the Danube and is home to the Abbey
Church, considered one of the most beautiful Baroque churches north
of the Alps.
On Day 10 we disembark in Linz, where you
have a choice of excursions. You could head further into the
countryside for a day spent amidst the spectacular scenery of the
Austrian lakes. Make stops in UNESCO listed Hallstatt, one of
Austria's most photographed villages thanks to its traditional
pastel-coloured houses perched on the tiny plain between the
mountains and Hallstättersee Lake, as well as Mondsee. This pretty
town is set on the lake of the same name, and its most famous sight
is the 15th-century parish church, which featured in the wedding
scenes of 'The Sound of Music'.
Otherwise, travel by coach to Salzburg, via Mondsee, one of
Austria's most famous cities and known as the birth place of
Mozart. A guided sightseeing tour reveals the city's
internationally renowned Baroque architecture, a UNESCO World
Heritage site. We rejoin the ship in Passau
Includes
- Days 9 & 10: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner