Danube Rhapsody

Melk Abbey is an Austrian Benedictine abbey and one of the world’s most famous monastic sites. The impressive Baroque abbey was built between 1702 and 1736 and is the biggest monastery complex of the Austrian baroque period. The abbey’s church, with frescos by Johann Michael Rottmayr, and the impressive library with countless medieval manuscripts and frescos by Paul Troger are particularly noteworthy.

A guided tour takes you through the abbot’s chambers, along the imperator’s walk, through the marble hall, the balconies and the library.

Situated in the heart of the magnificent Wachau valley, on the banks of the mighty river Danube, this well-known wine village offers the unique combination of breathtaking scenery, traditional architecture and places of historic interest. Walk through the picturesque old town of Dürnstein, past the town walls and the Pranger Square with its lovely view of the castle ruins. Walk along the Convent of Klarissen, past the baroque monastery and the pedestrian area, to the charming Hotel Schloss Dürnstein. Enjoy a complimentary glass of wine in this peaceful village.

The Wachau Valley is the heart of the Austrian wine region.  During this excursion, visit a Krems wine estate and learn more about its origin, its history, its culture and its unique wine.

The Krems winery unites 980 vineyards from Krems and the surrounding wine-growing villages.  Embark on a journey through the variations of the noble grape and peak behind the scenes of the wine growing industry. Taste different wines of the region before returning to the ship.

While it may take days or weeks to fully discover Vienna, this tour will give you an overall impression of the most important sights Vienna has to offer. First, you will drive along the famous Ringstrasse, passing several magnificent buildings like the stunning opera house, the parliament, the Court Theatre and Vienna’s imposing city hall.

The panoramic drive is followed by a guided walk through the city center where you will get to know Vienna at its fullest. Begin at the well-known Hofburg Imperial Palace, walk along the Kohl market and finish at Vienna’s iconic St. Stephen’s cathedral. Before returning to the ship, enjoy free time to stroll along the pedestrian area.

Travel by coach to one of the most beautiful sights of Vienna, Schönbrunn Palace. As one of the most important cultural heritage sites in Austria, Schönbrunn Palace and its gardens were declared a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site. The reign of Maria Theresia signified the most splendid era for Schönbrunn.

The castle and park were the center of court and political life. Under the personal guidance of the Empress, it was remodelled and expanded to become a royal residence; a complex with a total of 1,441 rooms and halls was created. Visit many of the ceremonial rooms and then have the opportunity to walk around the beautifully designed gardens of the palace.

The art history Museum in Vienna, which was officially opened by Emperor Franz Joseph in 1891, is one of the largest and most important art history museums in the world. The museum, located in the museum quarter on the Ringstrasse, contains pieces from the great collectors of the  House of Habsburgs from the 16^th and 17^th centuries. The museum contains the world's largest Bruegel collection, numerous major works including Raphael's "Madonna in the Green", Vermeer's "Painting", the Infanta paintings by Velazquez as well as masterpieces by Rubens, Rembrandt, Dürer, Titian and Tintoretto. Along with beautiful masterpieces, the museum’s collections also include the Egyptian and Near Oriental collection with over 17,000 pieces dating back almost 4,000 year and a section of Roman and Greek antiquities among others. Immerse yourself on a journey of exploration and discovery during the visit to this world-class museum.

Budapest, the “Queen of the Danube”, is one of the most beautiful cities in the world and has managed to retain a charm of its own with the help of renovations in recent years. The Danube flows through the heart of the city, dividing it into two parts: Buda and Pest. The tour first takes you through Pest, past the Great Market Hall with its outstanding gourmet shops and stalls.

You will see splendid Baroque buildings such as the Hungarian State Opera in Neo-Renaissance style and the incomparable parliament building, which was finished in 1904 and has been an emblem of the city ever since then. There’s an opportunity for a photo stop at the Heroes’ Square, famous for its monuments to many Hungarian kings. Continue aross one of the seven bridges into Buda and go up to Castle Hill, where you will visit St. Matthew’s Church and the famous Fisherman’s Bastion (provided that it is open to the public). Enjoy the unforgettable view over the city before returning to the vessel.

After departing the harbour we drive out of Budapest. We will have the chance to see the landscape of the country side with some villages and cultivated areas, while our guide gives us information on present day life in Hungary. Upon arrival, you will be welcomed with typical regional specialities such as Palinka (apricot schnapps) and Pogácsa, which is served as an aperitif together with salty snacks.

Afterwards, you can admire the fantastic relationship between Hungarian horsemen and their horses during a horse show. If you would like to ride a horse without saddle, you will have the chance after the show. You are also invited for a tasting of Hungarian salami and paprika and to enjoy a glass of local wine in the Csárda restaurant of the farm. At the end of the tour our coach will bring us back to the vessel.

The excursion begins with a visit to the market hall - a roofed building built in 1896. A walk through the stalls of the market hall quickly reveals some of the most popular Hungarian specialities, including the famous Hungarian paprika.

Continue by bus to the City Park, where you can admire the Vajdahunyad Castle and the Széchenyi Baths - one of the largest thermal baths in Europe. Afterwards, take the second oldest metro in Europe to the city center to the "Gerbeaud" pastry shop, and enjoy a piece of cake and a cup of coffee, and finally view the famous St. Stephen's Basilica. (Due to venue schedules, on Sundays visit the famous Budapest Opera House and go to Gellert Hill for the fantastic views of Hungary's capital in place of the Basilica and market hall).

Esztergom, the former residence of the Hungarian kings and seat of the Archbishop, is one of the highlights of this excursion. Your tour starts with a visit to the vast domed basilica, the largest cathedral in Hungary. Built in the early 19th century, it incorporates an ornate red marble chapel from an earlier church.

After visiting the impressive cathedral, the excursion continues along the Danube to the imposing ruined fortress of Visegrad where you have a glorious view of the “knee” of the Danube. Drive along the banks of the Danube to the artists’ village of Szentendre. The town has been the home of many generations of Hungarian artists since the early 20th century. There are many museums and contemporary galleries representing the rich traditions of the visual arts. One of the most visited museums of the whole country, the Margit Kovács Museum, is also located here. Foetér, the main square, is particularly well worth seeing, as it is surrounded by impressive buildings from the time of the Rococo and the Baroque. From Szentendre you continue south to Budapest along the scenic west bank of the Danube. The towns and villages along this stretch of the river are a popular retreat for the inhabitants of Budapest.

During this tour you will get to know the capital of the young Slovakian Republic. The gorgeous old town has maintained its Gothic-Baroque style. The tour passes St. Martin’s Cathedral and the Grassalkovich Palace and continues up to the hill, where you will have a stunning, panoramic view of the city and surrounding areas.

Afterwards, you have the opportunity to participate in a guided walking tour through the restored old town. From Michael’s Gate you will take a leisurely stroll through the historic city center, where you can admire sights such as the Primatial Palace and St. Martin’s Cathedral, a former coronation cathedral for Hungarian kings, as well as the Academia Istropolitana, the oldest university of the city, which dates back to the 15th century. In addition to numerous palaces, you will also walk past the main square with the old City Hall, the Opera House and Maximilian Fountain.

Travel by coach along the Marchfelder Schlösserstraße to Hof Castle in Austria. The magnificent complex was built in the early 18th century through the efforts of two of the most important personalities of the Baroque era. General Prince Eugene of Savoy was a legend in his own lifetime; as a lover of art, he provided almost unlimited funds for its construction. The brilliant architect Lucas von Hildebrandt was responsible for the execution of the masterful concept, which encompassed a magnificent palace complete with gardens and an idyllic country estate.

The palace was acquired by Empress Maria Theresa, who had the central building extended by one floor and remodeled in the style of French classicism. After her reign, the Habsburgs' interest in the country estate waned, but today the imperial living quarters, banqueting hall and chapel present themselves again as they were once designed by the best artists of their time.

From Bratislava, a coach will take you to the archaeological park of the Roman city of Carnuntum, Austria. This was an important Roman cosmopolitan city in the upper Danube, on the border of the Roman Empire, from the 1st to the 4th century AD.  Due to its important location for securing the border, and its proximity to major amber trade route, Carnuntum developed into the capital of the province of Upper Pannonia in AD106. During the Civil Wars of the Tetrarchy in 308AD, the Emperor emeritus Diocletian chaired a historic meeting, the Conference of Carnuntum with co-emperors Masimian and Galerius to solve the rising tensions within the tetrachy. In 374AD Carnuntum was destroyed by Germanic invaders.

Bringing history and basic scientific research to life is the goal of the Roman City of Carnuntum. The Roman Quarter with reconstructed ancient houses, the amphitheaters and the Carnuntinum Museum as the treasure house of Carnuntum, bring the ancient world back to life.

Discover the upper Austrian state capital Linz on a walking tour. It was a provincial and local government city of the Holy Roman Empire, and an important trade center, connecting several trade routes. As the city where the Habsburg Emperor Friedrich III spent his last years, it was, for a short period of time, the most important city in the Empire. It lost its status to Vienna and Prague after the death of the Emperor in 1493.

There are many things worth seeing in Linz. Take a stroll down the main street, which leads to the main square. In addition to the medieval town square in the historic old town and the Mozarthaus, you can see the Renaissance villas, the old cathedral with the Bruckner organ or the new cathedral. Visits depend on Cathedral and Mass openings/times.Visible from afar is the pilgrimage basilica on the mountain Poestling, the landmark of the town.

A modern counterpart are the Lentos art museum and the Ars Electronica centre, with its striking glass facade offering a diverse play of colour in the darkness. If time allows, you can taste a piece of the famous Linzer Torte (Linzer Cake).

Walk along the banks of the Danube to Linz's main square, where the Pöstlingsberg narrow gauge train or ‘mountain tramway’ awaits. The railway up Linz's highest hill was built in 1898 and reconstructed in 2009. This impressive rail system is one of the steepest adhesion railways in the world. After the ride to the summit, which is 539 meters (1,768 feet), it is only a short walk to the church "Seven Sorrows of Virgin Mary" which was built from 1742 to 1747.  This beautiful church is now a Linz landmark and a local pilgrimage destination. In the 19th century, Archduke Maximilian Joseph of Austria built a fortification around Linz, building towers on Pöstlingsberg Hill marking the highest point. Located in one of the towers is a popular observation terrace providing magnificent views of Linz and the surrounding countryside. (Terrace recommended weather permitting)