Essential Central Europe

Itinerary

• Days 1-3: Prague (Czech Republic)
  

  Called the “Hundred-Spired City,” Prague’s beautifully-preserved Gothic, Baroque, and Neoclassical churches and palaces make it one of the great cities of Europe. Explore the UNESCO-listed city including Prague Castle, which began in the 9th century as a walled hill-fort; the Lobkowicz Palace, belonging to the noble Lobkowicz family, renowned for their patronage of Beethoven; the Charles Bridge, with its 30 Baroque statues; and the immense Gothic Tyn Church, with its tall spires built during the 14th-16th centuries.

  Learn about the rich Jewish heritage of Prague with a walking tour of the Jewish Quarter. Pay your respects at the Old Jewish Cemetery, with 12 layers of graves and more than 12,000 gravestones. Visit the Gothic Old-New Synagogue, completed in 1270; the Spanish Synagogue, designed in a Moorish style; the Klaus Synagogue, built in honor of a 1573 visit from Emperor Maximillian II; and the Jewish Museum, displaying artifacts from synagogues and homes saved from the Nazis.

  HIGHLIGHTS

  • Prague, capital of Czech Republic, called the “Hundred-Spired City”
  • Prague Castle, the largest ancient castle in the world, and the Old Royal Palace, the oldest part of the castle complex
  • Little St. George’s Basilica, originally founded in 920
  • Lobkowicz Palace at Prague Castle, recently returned to an American-born scion of the family, William Lobkowicz
  • Golden Lane, a row of tiny 16th century houses within the territory of Prague Castle
  • The 14th century Charles (Karel) Bridge, designed by King Karel’s architect,  connecting Prague Castle to the Old Town
  • Tyn Church, the most important church of the 15th century Hussites
  • The Estates Theater, built in 1783, the place where Mozart premiered his opera, Don Giovanni
  • The Jewish Quarter, Josefov, with Prague’s Old Jewish Cemetery, the Gothic Old-New Synagogue, and the Pinkas Synagogue, made into a memorial to the Jews of Bohemia and Moravia, with their names inscribed on its walls
• Days 4-5: Bratislava (Slovakia)
  

  Catch the train to Bratislava, capital of Slovakia situated on both sides of the Danube River. An introduction includes the city’s most important places such as the National Theater, the modern city center, and the Primate’s Palace. Enjoy fantastic views from Bratislava Castle and from the high ground of Devin Castle, an ancient stronghold of the Celts, Romans, and Slavs above the confluence of the Danube and the Morava Rivers. Take a walking tour of the squares, courtyards, and lanes of the Old Town, visiting Michael’s Gate, the Opera House, St. Martin’s Cathedral, and the Old Town Hall.

  HIGHLIGHTS

  • Devin Castle, ancient stronghold of the Celts, Romans, and Slavs
  • Michael’s Gate, one of Bratislava’s oldest buildings
  • Late 18th century Mirbach Palace, now an art gallery
  • Palffy Palace, location of the first public concert by six-year-old Mozart
  • Bratislava Castle, a 1950s reconstruction of 15th century defensive additions and Maria-Therese’s renovations in the 18th century
• Days 6-8: Budapest (Hungary)
  

  Take the train along the Danube to Budapest, capital of Hungary, built in the grand style of the Hapsburgs. Tour the highlights of this art nouveau city, including the monumental Parliament Building, built from 1880 to 1902. This neo-Gothic extravaganza features spires, courtyards, sculptures, frescoes, a 16-sided 96-meter rotunda, and 88 pounds of gold leaf. Visit the Church of Our Lady, commonly known as Matthias Church, originally built in 1255. Admire the city from the mock-medieval Fisherman’s Bastion, providing the most beautiful views in town. Soak in the hot mineral pools, take a plunge into the cold pool, and enjoy spa treatments at the famous Gellert Spa and Baths.

  HIGHLIGHTS

  • Budapest, capital of Hungary, with fine Baroque, Neoclassical, and Art Nouveau buildings
  • Parliament Building, the largest parliament building in the world at the time of its completion
  • Matthias Church, where King Matthias Corvinus had both of his royal weddings
  • Seven-towered limestone Fisherman’s Bastion, with beautiful views over the city
  • Jewish Quarter, with the Dohaney Street Synagogue and its Jewish Museum
  • Gellert Spa and Baths, a magnificent art nouveau thermal spa opened in 1918