Glacier Express
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THE GREAT JOURNEY THROUGH E UROPE The Netherlands u Germany u France u Switzerland cruising aboard the Exclusively Chartered Deluxe Amadeus Silver III July 18 to 28, 2020 Featuring the Glacier Express 10/19-1 Dear K-State Alumni & Friends: Retrace the “Grand Tour,” an elite tradition undertaken by enlightened ladies and gentlemen of the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries on this Great Journey through Europe. Traverse four countries and the western heart of the Continent on this carefully planned, exclusive itinerary. Cruise the storied UNESCO World Heritage-designated Middle Rhine Valley, passing the hillside vineyards of the renowned Rheingau wine region, and meandering through the Netherlands’s expansive waterways flanked by polder land reclaimed from the North Sea. Experience three of the world’s great railway journeys and delight in the opportunity to experience six astounding UNESCO World Heritage sites. Spend two nights beside lovely Lake Lucerne in the Five-Star Bürgenstock Resort’s Waldhotel, surrounded by glorious Alpine panoramas. Then, cross Switzerland’s mountainous backbone aboard the ingeniously engineered Glacier Express railway to Zermatt. Marvel at the iconic Matterhorn as you travel aboard the Gornergrat Bahn, the country’s oldest cog railway. From Zermatt, journey through the foothills of the Bernese Oberland Alps to Basel. Stop in medieval Bern, where the storybook Old Town is a celebrated UNESCO World Heritage site. Cruise aboard the exclusively chartered, deluxe Amadeus Silver III, one of the finest ships to ply the waters of Europe, from Basel to Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Port calls include the lovely Alsatian city of Strasbourg, France, a fusion of both French and German cultures; Mannheim (for Heidelberg), Rüdesheim, Koblenz and Cologne, Germany. This popular Great Journey through Europe travel program is an excellent value with all excursions and deluxe accommodations included. This exceptional itinerary sells out year after year so book now while Early Booking Savings and space are still available. Sincerely, Terin Walters ’05 Assistant Vice President of Development and Communications K-State Alumni Association a U.S./Zurich, Lucerne/Andermatt/Zermatt e S h Tuesday, July 21 rt Switzerland/Lucerne No Saturday, July 18 and Relax during a scenic morning transfer Sunday, July 19 from Lucerne to Andermatt. After lunch in Depart the U.S. for Zurich. Andermatt, board the fabled Glacier Express, Rhineland “the world’s slowest express train,” and Coat of Arms Transfer through the scenic Swiss landscape to the delight in the surrounding beauty through lakeside, Five-Star Bürgenstock Resort’s panoramic windows along this ingenious Waldhotel, overlooking Lake Lucerne. rail route. Admire Switzerland’s stunning After checking in, enjoy the Welcome archetype of snowcapped peaks, crystal-clear Reception in the hotel on July 19. glacial lakes and densely wooded forests. Arrive in the Alpine resort of Zermatt, and Lucerne check into the deluxe Hotel Schweizerhof Monday, July 20 Zermatt, located beneath the dramatic The rugged grandeur of Mounts Pilatus and pinnacle of the iconic Matterhorn. Rigi reflected in a deep blue lake make Lucerne a long-favored travel destination. Zermatt Begin your walking tour amid historic Wednesday, July 22 burghers’ houses in the Weinmarkt Ascend through pine and larch forests, crossing (wine market); then, see the Hofkirche meadows ablaze with wildflowers and (Court Church), an exceptional example of passing distant peaks blanketed by snow, German Renaissance architecture, and the aboard the highest cog railway in Europe, Lion Monument, dedicated to the Swiss Guards the Gornergrat Bahn. Sweeping vistas of who gave their lives defending Louis XVI breathtaking Alpine scenery unfold from atop during the French Revolution. Walk underneath the 10,100-foot summit, where the serrated tableaus of Swiss history and mythology profiles of the Matterhorn, the Liskamm and painted on the arched roof of the 14th-century the Dufourspitze mountains and the vast wooden Chapel Bridge, Lucerne’s most Gorner Glacier extend beyond your periphery. famous landmark, spanning the Reuss River. Return to Zermatt at your leisure; enjoy Reach Mount Pilatus’ 7000-foot summit stops including Riffelberg featuring a by panoramic gondola for a 360-degree panoramic view of the Monte Rosa and vista of central Switzerland’s unforgettable the Matterhorn. topography and lunch in a summit restaurant. Zermatt/Bern/Basel Board the Pilatus Railway, the world’s Thursday, July 23 steepest cogwheel railway, and descend nearly Early today, journey from the soaring Alps 5400 feet in less than three miles to through the Bernese Oberland. Admire the Lake Lucerne. Cruise along its placid UNESCO World Heritage-designated waters—the glistening namesake of Jungfrau, an imposing summit known as the Beethoven’s “Moonlight Sonata,” surrounded “Top of Europe.” by the magnificent Swiss Alps. Cover photo: View the unforgettable peak of the iconic Matterhorn from the top of the highest cog railway in Europe, the world-renowned Gornergrat Bahn. Photo this page: Medieval castles and bucolic terraced vineyards capture the romance of Germany’s legendary UNESCO World Heritage-designated Middle Rhine Valley. THE NETHERLANDS a e Amsterdam S th or Rhine R N iv e r Middle GERMANY Cologne Rhine Valley Koblenz Rüdesheim er Rheingau iv R le l Mannheim e s o FRANCE M Heidelberg Strasbourg SWITZERLAND Basel Zurich Bern Lucerne UNESCO Andermatt World Heritage Site Cruise Itinerary Täsch Air Routing Matterhorn Zermatt Land Routing Visit medieval Heidelberg Castle overlooking 18th-century Alte Brücke and Train Routing ITALY Heidelberg’s Old Town, where Mark Twain once lived. Visit Switzerland’s capital, Bern, and poet Goethe, rises “like a most sublime, enjoy lunch in a former 18th-century wide-arching tree of God.” High Baroque-style granary, today a The Petite France district evokes a traditional Bernese restaurant. Tour its fairy tale, with its historic miller, tanner and beautifully preserved Old Town, fishermen’s quarter of half-timbered houses a UNESCO World Heritage site framed by along the Ill River. Nearby, member nations its signature 15th-century arcades and the of the European Union engage in the daily Aare River. discourse of the European Parliament. Continue across the bucolic Swiss Enjoy the afternoon at leisure countryside to Basel and embark the deluxe in Strasbourg. Amadeus Silver III. Attend the Captain’s Welcome Reception this evening. Mannheim, Germany, for Heidelberg Strasbourg, France Saturday, July 25 Friday, July 24 This morning, transfer from Mannheim The lively Alsatian city of Strasbourg fuses to Heidelberg, where luminaries such Old and New Europe with French and as Goethe and Schumann once came to German influence. In the UNESCO World experience the intellectual atmosphere Heritage-designated Old City, cobblestone of Heidelberg University, the oldest in lanes weave around medieval houses, and the Germany, founded in 1386. To many th 13 -century Ponts Couverts, bridges flanked on the historic “Grand Tour” of Europe, by watchtowers, span idyllic canals. Heidelberg epitomized Germany, nestled in In Strasbourg, John Calvin first the densely wooded valley of the Neckar River established a reformed parish; view remnants and alive with the spirit of Romanticism. of the Reformation in St-Pierre-le-Vieux, On the walking tour, see the preservation a simultaneum used by Protestant and of Heidelberg’s authentic Renaissance-Baroque Catholic parishioners. See the Gothic character, manifested in sites such as Cathedral of Notre Dame, whose graceful the eight remaining arches of its famous sandstone exterior, according to the Alte Brücke (Old Bridge). Visit the stately ruins of Heidelberg Castle, Walk across Strasbourg’s Ponts Covverts in the enchanting the 13th-century embodiment of Petite France district on the Grande Île (Big Island). the city’s medieval past, perched above the river. Later, cruise through pastoral Rheingau, Germany’s most famous wine-growing region, renowned for its Riesling. Rüdesheim/Koblenz Sunday, July 26 Dock in Rüdesheim, the medieval heart of Germany’s wine country. Enjoy a tour aboard the whimsical Winzerexpress mini-train, while traveling through bucolic Visit medieval Heidelberg Castle overlooking 18th-century Alte Brücke and Walk across the oldest wooden bridge in Switzerland, the beloved Chapel Bridge, built in Heidelberg’s Old Town, where Mark Twain once lived. 1333 and embellished with paintings of historic Lucerne. vineyards en route to a private wine tasting, including medieval stained-glass windows, which highlights local Rieslings, including the the bejewelled sarcophagus of the Shrine of crisp Klosterberg. Three Kings, the monumental, 10th-century Cruise through the dramatic UNESCO Gero Crucifix and richly carved 14th-century World Heritage-designated Middle choir stalls. Rhine Valley, where with nearly each Spend a leisurely afternoon bend in the river, terraced vineyards rise cruising along the picturesque on steep slopes, medieval castles crown Rhine River and later, attend the remote crags and tranquil villages emerge Captain’s Farewell Reception and Dinner. along peaceful banks. See the famous Lorelei Rock—legend holds that a beautiful Amsterdam, the Netherlands/ siren once lured sailors here with her U.S. enchanting song. Tuesday, July 28 Stop in historic Koblenz, strategically Following breakfast, disembark the ship and positioned at the confluence of the continue on the Golden Age of Amsterdam Rhine