STANFORD TRAVEL/STUDY RANDY WILSON, ’64, FOCUS: VIENNA, 2016 SPLENDORS OF LE GRAND BAL PLUS GRAZ AND SALZBURG December 28, 2017, to January 7, 2018 Austria was the political center of Central Europe for centuries, and if you’re a seasoned traveler, you’ve likely been to Vienna at least once before. But I’ll wager that you’ve never spent New Year’s Eve at Vienna’s exquisite Grand Bal—a spectacular gala event of gourmet cuisine, graceful waltzing and rousing live performances in the elegant former palace of the Habsburgs. To make the most of our visit to Austria, we travel to two other famously beautiful and charming cities— Graz and Salzburg. Throughout our winter sojourn we enjoy exclusive openings at renowned museums and private viewings of usually inaccessible cultural treasures. Join us for this once-in-a-lifetime experience! BRETT S. THOMPSON, ’83, DIRECTOR, STANFORD TRAVEL/STUDY Highlights RING IN 2018 with ATTEND a performance ENJOY special access to champagne and waltzes at by the Vienna Boys Choir the inside of Graz’s 13th- the elegant New Year’s Eve in the ornate rococo century clock tower and ball in the gilded ballrooms Hofburg Chapel. to manuscripts and letters of the Hofburg Imperial signed by Mozart, stored at Palace. his residence in Salzburg. COVER: VIENNA TOWN HALL HALLSTATT Faculty Leader BERT PATENAUDE, MA ’79, PHD ’87, was first introduced to Vienna’s old-world charms, vibrant music culture and splendid cuisine when he spent his junior year abroad there in 1975–76. He was so smitten with the city that he returned in 1977 for a year of graduate courses at the University of Vienna before embarking on his doctoral studies in European history at Stanford. Over the years, Bert has been a frequent traveler throughout the former territories of the Habsburg Empire and has developed a passion for Austria’s fin-de-siècle art and architecture, “Bert was superb, its Wienerschnitzel and apple strudel, and the pageantry of a Strauss waltz. As a lecturer in history and international relations, well-informed, Bert has spoken frequently on the history of Vienna and Central Europe, especially its turbulent 20th century. During our program, accessible and his lecture topics will include the cultural and intellectual brilliance of late 19th-century Vienna, the rise and fall of the Habsburg Empire, articulate. I would and the fortunes and follies of Austria since the First World War. — Lecturer, history and international relations, go on another trip Stanford University, since 1991 — Research fellow, Hoover Institution just to be with — Lecturer, department of national security affairs, Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, CA, 1992–2000 — Recipient of the Naval Postgraduate School’s Schieffelin him again.” Award for Teaching Excellence, 1998 and 1999 — BA, Boston College, 1977 HOWARD FIELDS, MD ’65, PHD ’66, OPUS — MA, 1979, and PhD, 1987, both in history, MEDITERRANEO, 2015 Stanford University STANFORD TRAVEL/STUDY SIGN UP ONLINE: alumni.stanford.edu/trip?vienna2018 OR BY PHONE: (650) 725-1093 BELVEDERE PALACE, VIENNA CZECH REPUBLIC G ERMANY Vienna Munich A USTRIA Salzburg Graz HUNGARY ITALY ers, writers, artists and scien- drive west to the imposing tists who once lived here. GRAND Benedictine monastery of Melk, Itinerary HOTEL WIEN (B,L) one of Europe’s great centers of learning and theology in the THURSDAY & FRIDAY, SUNDAY, DECEMBER 31 Middle Ages. Tour the sparkling DECEMBER 28 & 29 VIENNA rococo halls and churches DEPART U.S. / Begin the day with a private tour of the monastery, and enjoy VIENNA, AUSTRIA of the Vienna State Opera and sweeping views of the powerful Depart the U.S. on overnight admire the beautiful architecture Danube River flowing by below. flights to Austria, arriving in of this world-renowned institu- Return to Vienna and relish an Vienna on Friday. After a late af- tion. Continue on a guided evening at leisure. GRAND HOTEL ternoon driving tour of Vienna’s walking tour of Vienna’s Roman WIEN (B,L) world-renowned Ringstrasse, and Medieval core. Visit the enjoy a festive welcome dinner hidden Minoriten Church, with TUESDAY, JANUARY 2 together and toast the start of its remarkable life-size mosaic VIENNA our Austrian travels. GRAND HOTEL replica of Leonardo da Vinci’s This morning visit Belvedere WIEN (12/29: D) The Last Supper, and the Palace, commissioned by Gothic St. Stephen’s Cathedral. Austria’s great general, Prince SATURDAY, DECEMBER 30 Return to our hotel to prepare Eugene of Savoy, as his sum- VIENNA for tonight’s grand festivities. mer residence; it’s one of the Spend the morning exploring This evening, travel by private most magnificent ensembles of the Hofburg Imperial Palace, the cars to the grandly illuminated baroque secular architecture in Habsburgs’ winter residence Hofburg Palace for an unforget- Europe. Enjoy a private view- and an agglomeration of six table New Year’s celebration: Le ing of the Upper Belvedere, centuries-worth of building Grand Bal. Savor a sumptuous renowned for its collection of activity. Attend a concert by gourmet dinner feast featur- Viennese paintings that includes the Vienna Boys Choir in the ing the very best of Viennese works by Klimt and Schiele. palace’s Hofburg Chapel, and cuisine, dance to live music by See the interior of the Church stop at the Imperial Treasury, members of one of the city’s of St. Charles, the baroque home to one of Europe’s most professional orchestras, and masterpiece of Fischer von astounding collections of enjoy performances by re- Erlach. After lunch, continue cultural and artistic treasures. nowned singers and dancers. to the Secession Building, Enjoy lunch at the Kunsthisto- Stroll through the elegant rooms Vienna’s favorite symbol of ar- risches Museum (Museum of of the palace, which are open tistic freedom, featuring Gustav Fine Art) and a guided tour of tonight for guests to explore. Klimt’s famous 112-foot-long the museum’s incomparable GRAND HOTEL WIEN (B,D) Beethoven Frieze, a pictorial Old Masters collection. The expression of Beethoven’s Ninth remainder of the day is at leisure MONDAY, JANUARY 1 Symphony. Finish the afternoon to explore Vienna on our own, VIENNA / MELK with a private viewing of an perhaps going on a walking After the late-night revelry of Le 1888 villa designed by the great tour to the former homes of the Grand Bal, enjoy a quiet morn- architect, Otto Wagner. Enjoy many world-famous compos- ing at leisure. In the afternoon, dinner on our own and time CZECH REPUBLIC G ERMANY Vienna Munich A USTRIA Salzburg Graz HUNGARY ITALY KUNSTHAUS, GRAZ for independent pursuits in ride up to the Schlossberg, born in 1756, with a special Vienna this evening. GRAND located on the hill in the center tour of the Mozart Sound and HOTEL WIEN (B,L) of the city. After lunch, gain Film Collection. Enjoy access to special access to the inside of the “autograph vault,” normally WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 3 the city’s 13th-century clock closed to the public, to see VIENNA / GRAZ tower to view the old clock- highlights of the museum’s col- Check out of our hotel and work. Visit the nearby Kunst- lection, including autographed drive south to Graz, named a haus (Museum of Modern Art) manuscripts and letters by UNESCO World Heritage site to admire the building’s unusual Mozart himself. Following an due to the harmonious coex- design by British architects independent lunch, discover istence of architectural styles Peter Cook and Colin Fournier. the countless architectural and from different epochs. Take a Take a highlights tour of the artistic highlights of Salzburg on guided tour of Graz to see its museum’s collection and a an historic walking tour. See the iconic historic buildings and special architectural tour of the world-famous baroque gardens courtyards. Gain special access building. The remainder of the of Mirabell Palace, featured to the Landstube, the beauti- day and evening are at leisure. in scenes from the film, The ful baroque wing of the Styrian SCHLOSSBERG HOTEL (B,L) Sound of Music. Stroll along Parliament building. Continue to Salzburg’s famous shopping the Burg, another imperial resi- FRIDAY, JANUARY 5 lane and view the sumptu- dence, and enjoy a privileged GRAZ / HALLSTATT / ous interior of the Residenz view of the very first Habsburg SALZBURG Palace. Our tour concludes at emperor Friedrich III’s private Depart from Graz on our scenic the Salzburg Cathedral, which chapel. Conclude our city tour drive toward Salzburg, stop- represents the most impressive at Graz’s Gothic cathedral. Note ping en route at the picturesque early baroque edifice north of its lavish baroque interior, which Alpine village of Hallstatt for a the Alps. This evening, bid auf is in stark contrast to the mod- guided stroll and lunch. Con- wiedersehen to Austria and our est exterior of the building, and tinue to Salzburg, a UNESCO new friends during a memo- view the cathedral’s multitude World Heritage site where the rable farewell dinner. HOTEL of treasures, including the genius composer Wolfgang GOLDENER HIRSCH (B,D) cathedral’s ornate high altar, its Amadeus Mozart was born. magnificent organ and a 15th- Arriving in the late afternoon, SUNDAY, JANUARY 7 century fresco. Dine together at check in to our luxury hotel in SALZBURG / MUNICH, a local restaurant this evening. Salzburg’s Old Town directly GERMANY / U.S. SCHLOSSBERG HOTEL (B,L,D) opposite the Festival Hall and a After breakfast, transfer as a few steps away from Mozart’s group from Salzburg to the THURSDAY, JANUARY 4 birthplace. HOTEL GOLDENER Munich Airport in Germany GRAZ HIRSCH (B,L) for independent flights back Begin our day with a private to the U.S.