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Home , Goslar, Quedlinburg, Speicherstadt, Wismar

Pauwels Travel Bureau Ltd. 95 Dalhousie Street, Brantford, Ont. N3T 2J1 Tel. 519-753-2695 / 519-756-4900 - Fax 519-756-6376 [email protected] – www.pauwelstravel.com

The Holstentor, emblematic medieval city gate of Lübeck (This and other photos free of copyright c/o Wikimedia Commons)

"JEWELS OF NORTHERN "

Münster – – – Lübeck – - - Göttingen etc.

(Featuring seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites!)

15 days, Friday, September 15, to Friday, September 29, 2017

A leisurely exploration of the less known but superb cities and regions of , with the great seaports of Bremen, Hamburg, , and Lübeck, historic cities and quaint old such as Münster, Goslar, Göttingen. and Qudlinburg, and fascinating landscapes such as the Lüneburg Heath and the legendary Mountains, The tour features excellent hotels and most meals, and is conducted by historian Jacques Pauwels, specialist in German history, author ‘The Myth of the Good War’ and ‘Beneath the Dust of Time’.

Tour cost, based on double occupancy, from Toronto: $4,495, INCLUDING all airport taxes/security fees/fuel surcharges - “land only”: $3,575 - Single room supplement: $745

PROPOSED ITINERARY: Day 1 - Friday, September 15: Evening departure for Amsterdam with KLM. Dinner and a light breakfast will be served on board.

Day 2 - Saturday, September 16: Early morning arrival in Amsterdam. A private coach will be waiting to take us along the expressway to Essen, hub of Germany’s industrial heartland, the Area, a city closely associated with Krupp, Germany’s most famous dynasty of industrialists. Check into the centrally located first-class/four-star Hotel Handelshof (www.novum-hotels.de/hotel-handelshof-essen), and free time to settle in. Late afternoon introductory walking tour of Essen’s city centre, with the Cathedral, Old Synagogue, Grillo Theatre, Glockenspiel, and attractive pedestrian shopping area. Dinner in a restaurant near our hotel.

Day 3 - Sunday, September 17: A full day of visits in Essen and surrounding area, including the Coal Mine Industrial Complex, a fabulous UNESCO World Heritage Site (http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/975) illustrating the historical importance of the Ruhr Region; Villa Hügel, the imposing residence of the Krupp Family; and Folkwang Museum, one of the country’s finest art galleries, containing a superb collection of 19th-century German and French painting and sculpture ranging from the French impressionists to the German Expressionists. No group dinner this evening.

In the Zollverein Coal Mine Industrial Complex Signing of the 1648 Treaty of Westphalia (Photo by T. Robbin c/o Wikimedia Commons) (Wikimedia Commons)

Day 4 - Monday, September 18: Departure from Essen after breakfast. We motor north and cross into the region known as Westphalia. In the historically important of Osnabrück, we visit the town hall’s “peace chamber,” in which the famous Treaty of Westphalia was signed in 1648, putting an end to the terrible “Thirty-Years’ War” and to the religious conflicts that had raged in Germany and Europe in general for more than a century. Circumstances permitting, we may also pay a short visit to the small museum dedicated to a world-famous native son, Erich Maria Remarque, author of a renowned book about his experiences as a soldier in WW I, All Quiet on the Western Front, which inspired an Oscar-winning movie (1930) of the same name. On to the village of Kalkriese, site of the historically decisive Battle of the Teutoburg Forest, fought in 9AD, in which Germanic tribesmen under the legendary Arminius defeated a Roman army, thus preventing what is now Germany from being incorporated into the ; the local museum is unfortunately closed on Mondays, but your guide will tell the tragic story! (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Teutoburg_Forest) Then we continue along the to the seaport of Bremen. Dinner and overnight in the first-class Hotel Ramada Übersee (www.h- hotels.com/en/ramada/hotels/ramada-hotel-bremen).

Day 5 - Tuesday, September 19: Morning sightseeing tour of Bremen, a thriving seaport but also an important cultural and culinary centre, associated by the Germans with overseas products such as sugar, wine, herring, coffee, cacao, and tobacco – in addition to a renowned local favourite, Beck’s Beer! Among the highlights will be the vast Market Square with its emblematic statue of , Bremen’s “Statue of Liberty,” erected in 1404 in front of City Hall (a UNESCO site, see http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1087), St. Peter’s Cathedral, the popular statue of the Town Musicians of Bremen, the picturesque Schnoor district with its typical fishermen’s houses, and the lively Boettcherstrasse lined with interesting shops, bars, art galleries, etc. The afternoon is free to explore the city on your own, shop, and/or visit one or more of the interesting museums such as the highly-recommended Overseas-Museum, Art Gallery (Kunsthalle), and the Focke Museum with its superb collection of antiquities of the city’s golden age (for more info, see www.bremen-tourism.de). And don’t forget to enjoy a refreshment in a “Knigge,” as the locals call their traditional coffee houses! This evening, opportunity to enjoy an optional gourmet dinner in one of the fine restaurants of “North-Germany’s food capital”!

UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITES VISITED ON THIS TOUR: Zollverein Coal Mine Industrial Complex in Essen - Town Hall and Statue of Roland in Bremen – Hamburg’s District - of Lübeck – Old town of - Old Town of - Historic Goslar and the Mines of

Statue of the Bremen Musicians (Wikimedia Commons photo by 2ne1) >

Day 6 - Wednesday, September 20: After breakfast, short drive to Bremen’s sister-city, Bremerhaven, for a visit to the excellent German Maritime Museum, whose impressive collection of ships includes a WW II U-Boot. We also talk a leisurely walk along the Deichspromenade walkway to view the ships in the estuary of the Weser River. On via the ancient seaport of and the Altes Land, an area of reclaimed marshland along the banks of the , to the metropolis of Northern Germany: Hamburg. Overnight in the superior tourist-class Holiday Inn Express Hamburg City Centre (http://www.fmhos.de/en/hotels/holiday- inn-express-hamburg-city-centre). Dinner in a restaurant near our hotel.

Day 7 - Thursday, September 21: Morning sightseeing in Hamburg, “Germany’s Gateway to the World,” the country’s biggest seaport and second-biggest city, but also a veritable “city state” that is actually one of Germany’s sixteen federal states (Bundesländer). Our tour includes sights such as the City Hall Market Square (Rathausmarkt), the historical city centre (), the splendid Aussenalster Lake, the cosmopolitan Jungfernstieg shopping area, and the renovated warehouses (Kontorhäuser) of the Speicherstadt District, the latter classified by UNESCO. We conclude our tour with a harbor cruise1 Afternoon free to explore on your own, shop, visit museums such as the Kunsthalle (Fine Arts Gallery), etc. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_museums_in_Hamburg) No group dinner this evening, but there are plenty of excellent restaurants as well as lively bars and jazz clubs in this city, which witnessed the debut of groups such as the Beatles! < Panoramic view of Hamburg’s city centre (Wikimedia Commons photo by Alchemist-hp)

Day 8 - Friday, September 22: Departure from Hamburg after breakfast. We motor north to the city of Schleswig, situated very close to the Danish border, an important settlement during the Viking Age. Our local sightseeing program will include Holm, the quaint fishermen’s district, the Regional Archaeological Museum with the famous Nydam Viking Ship, and the Haithabu Viking Museum. On to Kiel, Germany’s premier naval base, strategically situated on a canal opened in 1895, the “Kiel Canal,” 100 km long and allegedly the world’s busiest canal, providing an easy passage between the Baltic and the North Sea. In late afternoon we cross the hills of “ Switzerland” on our way to the beautiful city of Lübeck, Germany’s window on the and headquarters of the , a UNESCO World Heritage Site (http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/272). Dinner and overnight in the first-class Hotel Atlantic (https://www.atlantic- hotels.de/hotel-luebeck) centrally located in the old town and close to attractions such as the Holstentor City Gate.

Day 9 - Saturday, September 23: Morning tour of Lübeck’s old town, another UNESCO World Heritage Site, featuring mostly medieval architecture, with sights such as the Holstentor Gate, symbol of the city, the impressive Gothic St. Mary’s Church, the Romanesque St. Peter’s Church, the medieval Hospital of the Holy Spirit, City Hall, and the city’s typical courtyards (Höfe) and corridors (Gänge). Afternoon at leisure. Don’t forget to try a local specialty, marzipan, in the popular Café Niederegger! (www.niederegger.de) This evening, dinner in the wonderful ancient restaurant of the Sailors’ Corporation (Schiffergesellschaft), one of the most beautiful and interesting buildings in the city, dating back to 1535! (This is also the place to try yet another Lübeck specialty, Rotpson wine, red Bordeaux imported in barrels but bottled and aged in this city, a tradition started in the Middle Ages.)

Day 10 - Sunday, September 24: Today we enjoy a leisurely excursion into former , with visits to two more exquisite towns: first, the Hanseatic seaport of Wismar, situated on an inlet of the Baltic Sear, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site on account of attractions such as its old harbor, lovely market square, and many carefully restored old houses, e.g. the -style red- Schabbelhaus (http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1067); and secondly, Schwerin, the attractive little capital of the Land (state or province) -Vorpommern, where the main sight is the “Island-Castle” (Schlossinsel), the quixotic residence of the region’s former Grand Dukes. Return to Lübeck in late afternoon and free evening.

Day 11 - Monday, September 25: Departure from Lübeck after breakfast. We drive south to Lüneburg and take our coffee break in the charming old town, which survived WW II virtually unscathed. On into the Lüneburg Heath, a vast area of heath, bogs, and forests, much of it classified as a nature reserve; the heath was the scene of the unconditional surrender of German forces in northern Germany and in Montgomery’s headquarters on May 4, 1945. Our next stop is in , a town full of timber-framed houses in addition to the imposing palace of the prince-electors and kings of Hannover, ancestors to British royalty. In late afternoon we enter the Harz Mountains, a very scenic anomaly in the great plain that covers most of northern Germany. Dinner and overnight in the first-class Hotel Achtermann (http://www.der-achtermann.de) in the picturesque medieval town of Goslar.

Goslar and the Harz Mountains on a lithograph by M. Merian (c/o Wikimedia Commons)

Day 12 - Tuesday, September 26: Morning sightseeing in Goslar, with as highlights the Market Square, City Hall, the Imperial Palace, the Hospital of the Holy Spirit, the Siemens House, and the many beautiful old houses in the traditional style of the Harz Mountains. Afternoon at leisure. If you are not claustrophobic, you may want to join the optional tour of the historic Rammelsberg Mine, classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site together with the old town of Goslar (http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/623). No group dinner this evening.

Day 13 - Wednesday, September 27: Leisurely full-day excursion in the wonderful Harz, a mountain range steeped in legends and dominated by the 1,140m-high Brocken, the highest peak in Northern Germany. Our tour will include stops on top of the Brocken and in most if not all of a trio of small but very picturesque towns: with its amazing Cathedral; Quedlinburg, in former East Germany, another UNESCO site (http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/535); and , whose medieval centre features rows of timber-framed houses and a veritable fairytale castle. Today, lunch OR dinner in a typical restaurant.

Market Square in Quedlinburg (Wikimedia Commons photo by Jayapura)

Day 14 - Thursday, September 28: Today we leave Goslar and motor south to the city of Göttingen, whose prestigious university was founded in 1737 by Britain’s King George II. (The latter was also sovereign of this German territory, the principality of Hannover; the British royals would therefore also become known as “Hannoverians” or “Guelphs” – not to worry, your guide will explain this too!). Walking tour of the city and free time for lunch, shopping, and a little exploring on your own. In the afternoon we continue to the quaint medieval town of Warendorf, called Germany’s “horse capital” since it is home to a famous stud farm as well as the country’s Equestrian Olympic Committee. “Auf Wiedersehen”-dinner and overnight in the first-class Hotel Im Engel (www.hotel-im- engel.de/en). < Old Münster (photo c/o Wikimedia Commons)

Day 15 – Friday, September 29: After breakfast, leisurely walking tour of Münster’s historical city centre, with the beautiful Market Square, the Cathedral, and the St. Lambert Church, features a macabre memento of a dramatic event in the city’s history, the Anabaptist rebellion of 1534-35 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M%C3%BCnster_Rebellion). Then we depart for Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport, whence our return flight to Toronto departs around 5PM. Arrival in Toronto around 8PM.

Tour cost, based on double occupancy, from Toronto: $4,495, INCLUDING all airport taxes/security fees/fuel surcharges - “land only”: $3,575 - Single room supplement: $745

Included in the tour price are: - Return flight with KLM, including all airport taxes/security fees/fuel surcharges; - Overland travel by private coach; - Accommodation in excellent hotels (mostly of the 4-star/first-class category), as shown in the above itinerary, and based on double occupancy – the single room supplement is $745; - Breakfast (mostly buffet-style) and a total of eight dinners (or sometimes full lunch); - All transfers, sightseeing, and excursions as described in the itinerary;

Not included are: - All items of a personal nature; - Wine, beer, mineral water and similar beverages with dinners; - Gratuity for the coach drivers, $30; - Travel Insurance is available on request, please call for rates.

PAUWELS TRAVEL BUREAU LTD. 95 Dalhousie Street, Brantford, Ontario N3T 2J1 Tel: 519-753-2695/519-756-4900 Fax: 519-753-6376 Email: [email protected] Ont. Reg. #1034992

TERMS AND CONDITIONS RESERVATIONS AND DEPOSITS: Reservations should be made as early as possible to ensure the departure of your choice. A deposit of $750.00 is required at the time of registration. Your reservation is confirmed upon receipt of your deposit and application form. No reservations will be accepted without a signed application form.

REFUND OF UNUSED ARRANGEMENTS: Because the rates of Pauwels Travel Bureau Ltd. are based on group participation, no refund can be made for any tour accommodation or tour service or tour feature not taken. If cancellation occurs while the tour is in progress, no refund can be made for the tour portion not taken. We strongly suggest that to allow for any unexpected contingencies, you purchase the all-inclusive insurance.

CANCELLATION POLICY: Refund of deposit is made in full if cancellation is received in writing by Pauwels Travel Bureau Ltd. more than 90 days prior of the departure date of the tour less a $500.00 non-refundable administrative fee per person. For cancellation received in writing 90 days prior or less the following cancellation charges apply: 90 days to 46 days before departure: 25% of tour cost 45 to 31 days before departure: 50% of tour cost Within 30 days prior to departure: 100% of tour cost

RESPONSIBILITY: Pauwels Travel Bureau Ltd. reserves the right without notice, to withdraw any part or all of the tour. Factors such as airline schedule changes, hotel overbookings, inclement weather, etc. February necessitate changes in the itinerary as outlined. There may also be other circumstances in which changes become necessary or advisable. Any savings realized by these changes will be passed on to the passengers, any resultant expenses shall be borne by the passenger. Pauwels Travel Bureau Ltd. acts only as an agent in securing hotel, transportation and other travel services and in no event shall be held responsible for the failure by any person or company to render any transportation, lodging or other travel service to be provided on the tour. All hotel, transportation and other travel services are provided to tour members subject to all the terms and conditions under which they are offered to the public generally. The acceptance of the initial service to be provided under the tour shall be considered an acceptance by the tour member of those conditions. Pauwels Travel Bureau Ltd. also reserves the right to decline, to accept or retain any person as a member of the tour, in which case equitable refund will be made at the discretion of the tour operators.

AIR TRANSPORTATION: Transatlantic economy flight by scheduled IATA carrier(s), based on an economy class group fare. All fares are subject to specific rules and regulations, to changes and to government approval. Deviations from the group flights are possible but subject to higher rates. Pauwels Travel will research any request for date or routing changes at the time they are requested. Should any individual rate be less than the group fare plus airline and administrative fees, the lower rate will be offered to the tour participant. Individual airfares are subject to immediate ticketing and the fare plus taxes must be paid at the time the ticket is issued by the participant requesting the change. Should the group airfare be the lowest available rate, an administrative fee of $50.00 plus any airline charges will apply. APPLICATION FORM

Please book ___ seat(s) on the “Northern Germany Tour” from September 15 – 29, 2017. Enclosed is my/our deposit of ______($750 per person, plus insurance premium if taken.) Please indicate with an X if you intend to travel on Group flights______or Land only______. Deposit and insurance premium, if taken, are due with registration. You will be invoiced for an interim payment of $1000.00 and the balance due 45 days prior to departure. WE REQUIRE A COPY OF YOUR PASSPORT (INFORMATION PAGES ONLY) VALID 3 MONTHS AFTER TOUR TO BE SENT IN WITH YOUR APPLICATION. PASSPORT NAME(S): Please indicate the appropriate title (Mr., Mrs., Miss, Dr., Ms.) Surname______First______Middle(s)______Surname______First______Middle(s)______If applicable, give your commonly used first name as you would like it to appear on your name tag: (e.g. “Liz” for “Mary Elizabeth”) ______ADDRESS______Postal Code: ______PHONE: ______(Email) ______If traveling alone, is a SINGLE ROOM REQUIRED? YES_____ NO_____ If sharing, what is your bed preference: twin______double______? SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS: We find the earlier a request is made, the more success we have in filling it, so please list any dietary requests, allergies, any special physical needs or frequent flyer numbers etc here. We cannot ensure requests made 30 days or less prior to departure will be possible. ______Insurance, Please call the office for premiums then record it on application and add premium to deposit. I /we would like to purchase (please check and record your rate): Name: ______Date of Birth:______Name: ______Date of Birth:______All-inclusive Package ______Non-medical Package ______Other ______OR Decline Insurance ______PAYMENT: Cheque payable to Pauwels Travel Visa Mastercard American Express Amount Paid: ______Card Number: ______Expiry: ______Security Code: ______Signature: ______“I/we agree to the terms and conditions attached to the program, have indicated our insurance choice, indicated any special requests and included payment”. Date______(Signature)(s)______Please forward this completed and signed form, copy of passport and payment to: PAUWELS TRAVEL BUREAU LTD. 95 Dalhousie Street, Brantford, Ontario N3T 2J1 Tel: 519-753-2695/1-800-380-3974/519-753-2695 – Fax: 519-753-6376 Email:[email protected]