Cologne & Frankfurt

Day 1 COLOGNE

Arrival transfer from the airport to your hotel. Your tour guide will await you in the reception hall. Transfer to the city center. Walking tour (2 hrs) through the historic centre of Cologne. Our walk will cover more than two thousand years of history, starting by the arrival of the Romans until the reconstruction of the city after World War II. Of special interest is the cathedral, which is famous throughout Germany and known to be one of the highest cathedrals worldwide. The construction of the cathedral has continued for almost 800 years and of course, even today the preservation and maintenance of this building is a lot of work. The interior houses a shrine for the three wise man and the Gero Cross as well as other relics and religious artworks. After our visit to the cathedral we will continue our walk through the historic centre. We will admire the Roman aqueducts, the archeological excavations of the Middle Ages, the famous Eau de Cologne and will hear many curious stories about the people that used to live in this city. End of the tour at the hotel. Checkin and distribution of the rooms. Dinner and accommodation.

Day 2 COLOGNE - Aachen - BONN

Breakfast. Departure to Aachen. Panoramic city tour of Aachen. In the historic centre we will admire the impressive cathedral, the oldest one in Northern Europe and considered to be a monument of the Carolingian art. The cathedral was built by the order of Charlemagne in the 8^th century and in the following 7 centuries 32 emperors of the Holy Roman Empire celebrated their coronation there. After the tour we will continue our journey to Bonn. Lunch at a restaurant. After lunch guided tour (approx. 1 hr) through Bonn, the first capital of Germany after World War II and also the city where Beethoven was born. We will start the tour in the historic centre where we will get to know the most interesting sights and places like the Poppelsdorf castle. We will continue to the picturesque part at the south of the city with its perfectly preserved historic buildings. Here we can admire the Beethoven house, the old city hall, the University and the Basilica and finally the famous “Bonner Museumsmeile” (museums mile). Dinner and accommodation at the hotel.

Day 3 COLOGNE - Coblenz - St. Goar Rüdesheim - FRANKFURT

Breakfast. Departure to Coblenz. Walking tour (2 hrs) through the historic city centre of Coblenz. Located between the two rivers Rhine and Moselle, Coblenz was founded by the Romans and developed into an important economic centre for the Rhine region during the Middle Ages. A reminder of this time period is the fortress Ehrenbreitstein, located on the opposing side of the Rhine. After the tour we make our way to St. Goar to board the river cruiser “Köln-Düsseldorfer” which will take us to Rüdesheim. Lunch on board of the cruise ship. In Rüdesheim our tour bus awaits us. We will continue our journey to Frankfurt per bus. Checkin at the hotel and distribution of the rooms. Dinner and accommodation.

Day 4 COLOGNE - Excursion to HEIDELBERG

Breakfast. City tour (2 hrs) with English speaking local guide. Frankfurt am Main is the most important city in the federated state of Hessen and is considered to have excellent international relations. The city is located behind the Taunus hills and in the Rhine-Main region. Since its founding in the 12^th century, Frankfurt was considered a commercial hub in Europe. After the tour we will leave for Heidelberg. Lunch at a restaurant in Heidelberg. Heidelberg was built at a wonderful location, between the Neckar River and the Odenwald Forest and is especially popular with romantic couples. The city has a lot to offer, in particular for visitors interested in culture or local cuisine. The highlight of the tour will be the visit of Heidelberg castle (entrance fee included) which is located approx. 70m higher than the Neckar river. The castle and the adjacent buildings together with the old bridge form one of the most impressive monuments that can be visited during a stay in Germany. In the historic city centre we will explore the market square, where one of the many beautiful fountains in Heidelberg is located, and the famous Church of the Holy Spirit. Nearby is the “Kornmarkt” (grain market) located, for many the most beautiful place in Heidelberg. The University is the oldest one in Germany and has given rise to many intellectuals, among them Georg Willhelm Friedrich Hegel, Robert Bunsen or Karl Jaspers. Today the university has approx. 30.000 enrolled students. Return to Frankfurt. Dinner and accommodation.

Day 5 FRANKFURT - Würzburg Rothenburg - FRANKFURT

Breakfast. Departure to Rothenburg. At our arrival we will start with a walking tour (2 hrs) through the town. Our walk through the historic centre leads us along romantic and picturesque streets and alleyways. Every corner offers another glimpse into the different influences that have shaped Rothenburg over time. To get a better impression of the live during the Middle Ages we will cover all the important historic buildings during our walk. Lunch at a restaurant. After Lunch we will make our way to Würzburg. The history of the city is intertwined with religious, especially episcopal development. Nowadays Würzburg is blooming as a University city. The prominent baroque style architecture and the typical Franconian hospitality add a southern flair to it and make this place so attractive. Nevertheless Würzburgs image is shaped by different masterful monuments from different time periods. This mixture of art, culture and Franconian wine shape the life in this beautiful city. During our tour we will enjoy landmarks like the Würzburg Residenz (entrance included), declared Cultural Heritage by UNESCO, its gardens and the Residence Square, the fortress Marienberg and the old bridge leading over the main with its majestic figures of saints. After the tour we will return to Frankfurt. Dinner and accomodation.