The Harz Mountains in Winter

We depart London St Pancras on the Eurostar to Brussels. Our journey continues to Cologne for an overnight stay. Before dinner this evening, you might like take a stroll through Cologne's Old Town, which has been lovingly and carefully restored to its pre-war appearance. Admire the pretty pastel-coloured houses as you stroll through narrow streets that wind down towards the Rhine Promenade. Afterwards, why not visit a traditional Cologne 'brauhaus' for a 'kölsch' (beer), a lovely way to warm up on a winter's evening.

Please Note - For departures 13/01/2024 and 10/02/2024 you will overnight at the Intercity Hotel in Essen.

• Dinner

We board a train this morning, travelling across northern Germany to Hanover where we continue by coach into the Harz Mountains. Driving through the magnificent winter landscapes, we soak up seasonal landscapes of undulating forests peppered with pretty lakes. Such terrain is ideally suited to narrow-gauge railways, and today the Harz Mountains system offers a wonderful public transport service and steam-hauled tourist trains featuring beautifully restored vintage rolling stock. Arriving in Wernigerode, we check into our hotel for a five-night stay.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Today takes us on a scenic rail journey aboard the Brocken Railway to the summit of Brocken, the highest peak in the Harz Mountains at 3,743 feet. We enjoy stunning panoramic views of the Upper Harz National Park as we wind our way up the snow-covered 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 off limits to all but the Soviet army. Given its altitude, Brocken Mountain was the perfect location for the world's first television antennae and from the mountain's top, we enjoy one of Europe's most spectacular lookout points, commanding wonderful views of the sloping tree-lined hillsides below.

• Breakfast, Dinner

We travel by rail to medieval Goslar, nestled at the foot of the Harz Mountains. Older than Berlin, this former Free Imperial city is a UNESCO World Heritage site and is crammed full of fantastic, historic architecture, including half-timbered 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 have free time to continue exploring independently. You could visit the Kaiserpfalz, built at the beginning of the 11th century. This impressive building, designed primarily as a summer residence, is now the largest Romanesque palace in all of Europe. Alternatively, stop at the Rammelsberg Mining Museum for a fascinating look into the industrial history of Goslar.

• Breakfast

You are free to explore Wernigerode today. A particular highlight of this beautiful town is the grand Wernigerode Castle. Sat on a hill overlooking the town, this is a building straight from the pages of a fairytale. Constructed on the site of an old medieval fortress, it was rebuilt into its current Neo-Romantic style in the 19th century. Just 15-20 minutes' walk away is the aviation museum, where you can view the exhibits and enjoy a flight simulation experience, while the fire brigade museum in the town centre contains an array of vintage engines. With its numerous half-timbered buildings and striking architecture, Wernigerode is packed with beautiful sights.

• Breakfast

Our excursion today is to the beautifully preserved town of Quedlinburg. Here, we take a guided walking tour, after which, you're free to explore at our own pace. Discover the cobbled streets, passing a fine 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 settle in for a cosy journey on the historic Selke Valley Railway. Arguably one of the region's best-kept secrets, the route ascends into the Harz Mountains through a wintry landscape of sugar-dusted forests and snow-bound mountain peaks.

• Breakfast, Dinner

We leave Wernigerode, transferring to Hanover by coach where we join the rail service to Cologne. Here, we connect with the Eurostar to London St Pancras.

• Breakfast