Romantic Capitals: Prague to Paris

Tour begins: Prague. A transfer from Prague Vaclav Havel International Airport or Prague Hlavni Nadrazi train station to Fairmont Golden Prague Hotel, is included. This evening, join us for a luxurious welcome reception and dinner at the Lobkowicz Palace.

Prague is the largest city of the Czech Republic with rich history and Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque architectures, nicknamed the "city of a Hundred Spires" due to the towers, turrets and steeples that paint its skyline. A great way to explore Prague and learn its history is with an option of culturally rich walking tours. Choose to see the Old New Synagogue, Gardens of Prague (where you may even see peacocks roaming around), Saint Nicholas Church, and Charles Bridge, constructed in 1357 under the rule of Charles the IV who turned Prague into an important center of culture and trade in Europe. Alternatively, take a shorter walk to see highlights of the Old Town, including the Astronomical Clock installed in 1410, (the oldest astronomical clock still in operation) and a visit to City Hall of Prague. Enjoy lunch on your own then join us for an underground tour of Prague, learning more about Vaclav Havel, a former Czech statesman, author, poet, and playwright. 

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel this morning before departing for a walking tour of Old Town Regensburg that includes sightseeing Saint Peter's Cathedral and crossing the Stone Bridge and links Old Town and Stadtamhof, until the 1930's it was the only bridge that crossed the Danube river in town. You'll have free time for lunch where you please, then it's off for Kelheim to embark your ship. Join us for a Captains welcome toast and dinner to mark the beginning of your official cruise to the romantic capitals of Europe.

As the second largest city in Bavaria, (after Munich) Nuremberg is an impressive, colorful, and mighty town, first mentioned in documents that date back to 1050. Walking tour choices today provide you a deeper insight into the history, above and below grounds. First option is to join our local guide on an underground tour to explore the labyrinthine tunnels built in the 1380's, used for fermenting and storing beer for the 40 breweries in this small city, later used for air raid bunkers in WWII. If you wish to stay above ground, take a walking tour to view well-preserved landmarks such as the Imperial Castle that dominates the city's skyline, built in 1140 during the reign of Emperor Konrad III, as well as ornately decorated churches and the walls that line the Old Town. Enjoy lunch on the ship as your Tauck Director shares an informal presentation about your journey, then join us this evening for a Captain's signature dinner.

Enjoy the morning views along the Main River with breakfast, before docking for a day of excursion choices. Drive to the town of Bayreuth to see Margravial Opera House, one of Europe's few surviving theatres of the 17th-centruy that has been extensively restored, and named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2012. You may choose to visit the former home of composer and theatre director, Richard Wagner, which has been turned into a museum, or get a true taste of genuine weissbeir with a visit to Maisel Brewery, a family-owned brewery that is one of few to make this Bavarian style beer. Everyone may enjoy free time to explore Bayreuth as you please. Lunch is back on the ship as you cruise for Bamberg, a town laid out over 7 hills where the Regnitz and Main rivers meet. If you feel like stretching your legs some more you can take the short drive for a walking tour of this UNESCO World Heritage Site town to see The Romanesque Bamberg Cathedral, cross the bridges over Regnitz River and preserved Old Town. Your evening aboard the ship includes social hour and dinner as you cruise to Wurzburg.

The "Romantic Road" in Germany is a 220-mile scenic byway through the historic cities Würzburg and Augsburg, three medieval walled towns of Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Dinkelsbühl and Nördlingen, and finishes in Neuschwanstein. Germany coined this theme name in the 1950s, for post-war positivity to begin travel again. Today, as you dock in Würzburg you'll have the option to tour one of two cities; walk from the ship to explore its lavish baroque and rocco architecture and learn about post-WWII life here, alternatively, choose the short drive to Rothenburg ob der Tauber for a walking tour with a local guide to see the medieval architecture and half-timbered houses that line the cobblestone lanes. This afternoon, back on ship you'll cruise to Wertheim. 

Your ship arrives near Wertheim this morning for a choice of excursions. Stretch your legs on a walking tour to see the landmarks Wertheim is best known for including the redstone castle and medieval town center and learn about the history of glassmaking here. Alternatively, take the short drive to nearby village of Homburg to explore the historic paper mill and tour a unique piano shop with a collection of locally made classic pianos. Lunch and dinner are aboard the ship as you cruise onward for Frankfurt. 

As the largest financial hub in Europe, Frankfurt is considered a global city. Downtown has many high-rise buildings that form its renowned Frankfurt skyline, and is one of the few cities in the European Union to have such a skyline. Before World War II, the city had many different styles of architecture, such as Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque, and Classical. Many central locations in Frankfurt have been restored to its original architectural style, and today you'll have the choice to explore these quarters on walking tours; one is more active to view historic cathedrals, and ornately gabled half-timbered houses lining picturesque streets and squares, and learn about its role post-WWII. Along the way you'll taste local culinary products before finishing the tour by the Old Town Square. Alternatively, set off on a more leisurely walking tour of the Old Town Square, also enjoying local goods as you explore. Join us this evening for a Tauck Exclusive evening at Schlosshotel Kronberg, a luxury castle hotel built in 1893 under the commission of Empress Victoria Friedrich, and where the movie Spencer, was filmed to represent Princess Diana's Sandringham estate in Norfolk.

After breakfast aboard the ship, as you cruise along the Middle Rhine, join us for a scenic e-bike ride spot-finding the hidden castles and vineyards along the way. Alternatively, drive to Nürburgring, the 13-mile motor racing track, built in the 1920s. The top record set here was 6 minutes, 11.13 seconds with a top speed of 229mph. You'll have the chance to view racecars with a local guide and learn about the history of racing here. Everyone returns to the ship for dinner as you cruise along the Middle Rhine heading to Cochem.

Located in Western Germany, Cochem is a picturesque small town that borders Luxembourg and France. It is an important Rhineland wine trading centre since the Toman days. You'll have choices of walking tours here, one to view the iconic castle perched high above the river and dates back to the 11th century, or remain in town to explore the old walled city with narrow cobblestone lanes lined with half-timbered houses decorated with painted fronts and flowerboxes. Lunch is on the ship as you cruise to Trier.

Your last morning on the ship begins with a light breakfast buffet in the Compass Rose. Choose between two guided walking tours through Trier, one that is less active to learn about the city's rich Roman history or a faster walking pace to see more monuments and cathedrals that are listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Trier was founded by the Romans in the late 1st century and is considered Germany's oldest city.  Enjoy lunch on the ship cruising along the Moselle River, with commentary from your Tauck Director. Join us this evening for a Captain's farewell toast and dinner.

Arrive in Luxembourg by morning to disembark your ship. This small European country is surrounded by Belgium, France and Germany, and gained full independence from the Netherlands in 1867. Despite its size, Luxembourg is the most powerful investment management centre throughout Europe. Enjoy a walking tour of the town then lunch on your own. Afterwards, we'll hop on the train en route to the "city of love," Paris.

This morning, drive to the Latin Quarter, famed for its bookshops and student-filled cafes, for a visit to the Cluny Museum, best known for ruins of the 2nd-century Gallo-Roman baths, French medieval art, and the most famous Lady and the Unicorn tapestries. After you'll drive through Paris, the "City of Light" for an orientation tour to get your bearings and see iconic architectural masterpieces such as Arc de Triomphe, the "gateway to the city", Palais Garnier, a historic 1,979 opera house, and the Place de la Concorde, the largest square in the French capital and originally designed as the site for a statue of King Louis XV to celebrate his recovery from a serious illness. The rest of the afternoon is yours to explore Paris and enjoy French cuisine as you please.  Join us this evening for a farewell reception and dinner at your hotel.

Tour Ends. Paris, France. Fly home anytime. A transfer from L'Hotel du Collectionneur to Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport, Gare de Lyon Station, Charles de Gaulle Station and Gare du Nord Station is included. Please allow a minimum of three hours for flight check-in at the airport.