Munich Opera House Opera in Munich With Marie-Thérèse Hill 18th – 21st January 2017 The Ultimate Travel Company Escorted Tours Schloss Nymphenburg Palace Opera in Munich With Marie-Thérèse Hill 18th – 21st January 2017 Contact Flora Scott-Williams Direct Line 020 7386 4643 Telephone 020 7386 4646 Fax 020 7386 8652 Email [email protected] Marie-Thérèse Hill Marie-Thérèse was born in Vienna and now lives in Hampshire. She was educated at the French Lycée and a language school in Switzerland, studied Piano in Vienna, and is fluent in French, English, German and Italian. Her familiarity with European culture and extensive contacts worldwide are reflected in her unique tours to destinations across the globe. Detailed Itinerary The historic city of Munich, capital of Bavaria, is one of Germany’s most historic and important cities, which has for centuries had a passionate link with the arts. The legacy of this is all too evident today in the city's magnificent architectural, artistic and musical treasures. In the course of our stay we will explore the city – not only its magnificent Baroque and Gothic churches, but also remarkable palaces such as Schloss Nymphenburg, one of Europe's most beautiful palaces, and the Residenz, former residence of the Bavarian Kings. We also see the astonishing masterpieces of the Alte Pinakothek. In addition, during a day in the beautiful foothills of the Alps around Oberammergau, we visit the eccentric King Ludwig II’s intimate neo-Rococo Schloss Linderhof, which has exquisite interiors and is surrounded by delightful grounds. Munich has had a strong musical tradition for centuries, especially for opera and the works of Wagner, making the Bayerische Staatsoper one of the most important opera houses in the world. A highlight of this very special tour will be an opera performance in this historic setting – Don Carlo by Giuseppe Verdi as well as a ballet performance of Romeo and Juliet choreographed by John Cranko and composed by Sergei Prokofiev. Schloss Linderhof Marienplatz Day 1: Wednesday, 18th January London / Munich Depart London Heathrow on a British Airways morning flight to Munich. Transfer to the luxurious five star Vier Jahreszeiten Kempinski Hotel located in the centre of town, where three nights are spent. En route you will pass the stunning BMW showroom and the Olympic Stadium. This afternoon begin with a walking tour as an introduction to this fascinating city including the Residenz to see the charming Cuvilliés-Theater built by François de Cuvilliés between 1751 and 1753 in Rococo style, before returning to the hotel. Dinner at a local restaurant serving typical Bavarian food. The Residenz The Pilates House, Oberammergau Day 2: Thursday, 19th January Munich This morning transfer to Schloss Nymphenburg, one of Europe’s most beautiful palaces, set in a delightful 500-acre park. This imposing Baroque palace has fine interiors including the vast Rococo Festsaal (ballroom) and the extraordinary Gallery of Beauties as well as the historic carriages of the Wittelsbach Collection. Lunch at Schloss Nymphenburg. Afternoon transfer to the Alte Pinakothek, one of Germany’s finest art galleries, which houses an astonishing collection of masterpieces including works by Rubens, Titian, Dürer, Rembrant and El Greco. Return to the hotel. Walk to the National Theatre for an early evening opera performance of Don Carlo by Giuseppe Verdi. Dinner under own arrangements. Day 3: Friday, 20th January Munich / Ettal / Oberammergau Depart Munich for a guided visit of Schloss Linderhof, an intimate neo-Rococo palace built by the eccentric King Ludwig II. It has exquisite interiors and is surrounded by delightful gardens. Continue for a short stop in Ettal where the Russian Soviet composer, Sergei Prokofiev, got married and lived for a short time. Transfer to Oberammergau, famous for its production of the Passion Play which is performed every ten years. Lunch at a local restaurant in Oberammergau. Afternoon visit to the famous woodcarver’s workshops before transferring back to Munich. Remainder of the afternoon under own arrangements. Walk to the National Theatre for an evening ballet performance of Romeo and Juliet choreographed by John Cranko and composed by Sergei Prokofiev. Dinner under own arrangements. Day 4: Saturday, 21st January Munich / London Morning visit to the Vikualienmarkt, a daily food market in the centre of Munich. See the vast displays of food and drink on offer – taste a white sausage with sweet mustard or a glass of local beer. Continue to the Lenbachhaus Museum, dating from 1891, the building originally served as a studio and villa for the artist Franz von Lenbach and was gradually extended over the last century to become one of Bavaria’s most important galleries, with its ‘Blue Rider’ collection of early 20th-century Expressionist paintings among its best known works. The building also completed a four-year renovation plan in 2013 which was overseen by Lord Norman Foster. Return to the hotel before transferring to the airport. Lunch under own arrangements at the airport. Depart on an early afternoon flight to London Heathrow arriving in the late afternoon. Tour Price COST PER PERSON: £2,190 Single supplement: £480 A fee of £95 per person will be charged for those who would like to travel out or back separately from the main group. The tour cost includes: top category opera ticket to Don Carlo – subject to confirmation in September top category ballet ticket to Romeo & Juliet – subject to confirmation in September economy class scheduled flights air passenger duty, passenger service charge, airline security charges, airport taxes and fuel surcharges where applicable – currently £71 (liable to change without notice) accommodation throughout as shown in the itinerary breakfast daily; 2 lunches; 1 dinner water, tea/coffee and a limited amount of wine is included with the lunches and dinners included all entrance fees, visits and excursions as per the itinerary all transportation as detailed in the itinerary gratuities in restaurants; gratuities to driver/s; porterage gratuities to guide/s local English-speaking guide/s the services of your tour leader throughout The tour cost does NOT include: travel insurance; items of personal expenditure (e.g. telephone calls / laundry etc.) government levies or taxes introduced after costing and publication of this programme on 14/07/2016 Changes to the Itinerary Please note, that certain elements of this itinerary, and/or the order of events, may well be subject to alteration due to circumstances beyond our control. Fitness to travel Whilst we do not impose any age limitations on joining a tour, participants must be reasonably fit. The very nature of the sightseeing involved in our tours (and the difficulties of direct access by coach in various places) means that a considerable amount of walking and standing is unavoidable on almost all tours. We regret that our tours are not suitable for people who have difficulty in walking, may require wheelchair assistance at any time, or are unable to keep pace with the group. If you are in any doubt as to the suitability of a tour, please make this known to us before you book and we will advise you accordingly. The Ultimate Travel Company reserves the right to decline a reservation without necessarily giving a reason. Your tour leader may also refuse to take participants on particular excursions if they feel that the rest of the group will be held up. Airline Tickets As a tour operator we have access to special airfares. While these offer good value, they do carry certain restrictions applied by the airline. Please ask us for details. Note: If you are thinking about using air miles to upgrade to a premium cabin on the flights, please check with us first as fare restrictions might not permit this. Health Requirements No special precautions are required for travel to the Germany, and no inoculations are necessary. For further advice, please consult your GP. Passport and Visa Information Passengers should hold a full passport. British passport holders do not require a visa to visit to Germany for stays less than 3 months. Nationals of other countries should consult their local German Embassy. Please ensure that your passport is valid for the proposed duration of your stay; you do not need any additional period of validity on your passport beyond this. FCO Advice Travel advice issued by the Foreign & Commonwealth Office can be viewed at www.gov.uk/knowbeforeyougo. Accommodation Hotels are chosen on the basis of category, character and location. The majority will be at least 4 star, otherwise the best available. The projected size of the group will often rule out the use of luxury boutique hotels. Sometimes the style of hotel will mean that not all rooms are of the same size or have the same outlook. .