THE HISTORIC RHINE Legacies of World War II and the Roman Empire October 22–November 2, 2021 aboard Royal Crown SPECIAL PAYMENT TERMS For peace of mind, all payments are 100% refundable until July 16, 2021. See inside for more details Dear National Trust Traveler, Cruise along the Rhine and Moselle rivers aboard the privately chartered 45-stateroom Royal Crown riverboat from Basel to Amsterdam, exploring the region’s ancient Roman heritage and 20th-century military history. Visit classic highlights such as Strasbourg, Mainz, and the fairytale castles of the romantic Rhine; a variety of well-preserved ancient Roman cities; and important sites from World War II, including General Patton’s famous Third Army crossing in Oppenheim and Operation Market Garden at Arnhem. On many days, participants are invited to choose the excursion activity that best suits their interests. Some excursions explore ancient Rome’s impact on the region, featuring Augusta Raurica, an ancient Roman archaeological site and open-air museum; the Roman ruins at Trier, and Kalkreise, where the Germanic/Roman Battle of the Teutoburg Forest occurred in A.D. 9. Other excursions delve into World War II history along the Rhine and Moselle, from Arnhem’s Airborne Museum and Nijmegen’s Overloon Museum to the De Oversteek Bridge where American soldiers fought for the liberation of the Netherlands. Throughout the cruise, travelers will enjoy viewing gorgeous scenery, dining in a historic castle, visiting vineyard estates to taste regional wines, and sampling local craft brews. An optional 2-night pre-cruise package including stunning Lake Lucerne and an optional three-night post-cruise extension in the Netherlands are also available. The Royal Crown is an intimate vessel just over half the size of most riverboats in the region. Reserve your space now to ensure you enjoy this cruise in the cabin of your choice! Sincerely, Meg Annacone-Poretz Director, National Trust Tours For information on this or other National Trust Tours, call (888) 484-8785. Find us on National Trust Tours The NATIONAL TRUST FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION is a private, nonprofit membership organization dedicated to saving historic places and revitalizing America’s communities. For more information, visit the Trust’s website at www.savingplaces.org or phone (800) 944-6847 or (202) 588-6000. Highlights t Cruise ten nights aboard the privately chartered Royal Crown from Basel to Amsterdam, enjoying the SCENIC RHINE GORGE and the hillside vineyards and historic castles of the Moselle. t Enjoy carefully curated excursion options throughout the cruise, all included in the tour price, for SMALL-GROUP EXPERIENCES and the opportunity to focus on what most interests you. t Explore some of Europe’s best-preserved ROMAN RUINS, including Augusta Raurica, Trier, and Kalkreise, where an epic battle between the Romans and Germanic tribes was fought, and visit the Roman-German museum in Cologne. t Visit important WORLD WAR II SITES, among them Fort Schoenenbourg, a Maginot Line fortification; strategically critical Allied Rhine River crossings; and Arnhem, where the unsuccessful Operation Market Garden unfolded. NETHERLANDS Kampen Amsterdam Arnhem Rhine River GERMANY Cologne Rhine River BELGIUM Valley Remagen Koblenz Moselle River Bernkastel Mainz Trier KAMPEN LUXEMBOURG Strasbourg By Land By River FRANCE Rhine River ROMAN BATHS Basel ROMANTIC RHINE SWITZERLAND AUSTR Itinerary Friday–Saturday, Oct. 22–23 city center with 16th-century Heritage designation in 2002 HOME / BASEL, half-timbered houses and for its unique combination of SWITZERLAND a Gothic cathedral built of geological, historical, cultural, Depart home on an overnight red sandstone. Explore the and industrial reasons. This flight to Basel. Embark the city by coach and on foot, part of the Rhine also features Royal Crown and enjoy a then meander on local strongly in folklore, including welcome reception and dinner. boats through the canals of the opera Gotterdammerung. ROYAL CROWN (R,D) Strasbourg’s “Petite France” After lunch the Royal Crown (the former tanners’ and enters the Moselle River and Sunday, October 24 fishmongers’ districts). This cruises past storybook castles BASEL afternoon, choose from one and lush vineyards en route to This morning take a walking of two options. OPTION 1: Bernkastel and Trier. tour of Basel’s medieval Old Ouvrage Schoenenbourg (Fort ROYAL CROWN (B,L,D) Town. Steeped in Celtic-Roman Schoenenbourg), a Maginot Thursday, October 28 history and situated at the Line fortification. Although TRIER / BERNKASTEL crossroads of France, Germany, heavily bombarded during and Switzerland, much of the the Battle of France in 1940, Trier is possibly the oldest ancient city of Basel still stands it retains all of its original city in Germany and well and is well preserved. An structural elements. OPTION known for its Roman and important cultural center, Basel 2: A wine tasting in Alsace, medieval buildings. Visit the is home to Switzerland’s oldest an important wine-producing well-preserved Porta Nigra city university, where the German region in France. gate, the 4th-century Basilica of Constantine (Aula Palatina), philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche ROYAL CROWN (B,L,D) and a 2nd-century A.D. Roman taught. In the afternoon, Tuesday, October 26 choose from one of two bridge, still in use. After lunch options. OPTION 1: Augusta MAINZ, GERMANY visit, Bernkastel-Kues, an Raurica, site of the oldest Enjoy a morning of cruising acclaimed wine-growing center known Roman colony on the along the beautiful Rhine on the Middle Moselle and Rhine. The onsite museum River to Mainz, where native birthplace of one of the most houses important finds from son Johannes Gutenberg famous German polymaths, the excavation and details the developed movable type the medieval churchman and history of the colony. OPTION printing in 1439. Take a guided philosopher Nikolaus von Kues. 2: The Kunstmuseum Basel, tour of the Gutenberg Museum, Enjoy a private tasting of wines, which contains the most where you can view a replica primarily Rieslings, grown on important public art collection of Gutenberg’s workshop, steep-sloped vineyards. in Switzerland. observe a demonstration of ROYAL CROWN (B,L,D) ROYAL CROWN (B,L,D) his printing method, and see Friday, October 29 a copy of his 42-line Bible, KOBLENZ / REMAGEN Monday, October 25 printed between 1452 and 1455. STRASBOURG, FRANCE Then take an opportunity to After a morning of cruising, Like many of the region’s stroll along the banks of the disembark in Koblenz and border cities, Strasbourg river in the shadow of Mainz’s continue to Namedy Castle, the has traded hands several charming architecture. personal residence of Princess Heide von Hohenzollern. times between France and ROYAL CROWN (B,L,D) Enjoy a private concert and Germany; today, the French Wednesday, October 27 capital of Alsace and seat private tour while the ship of the European Parliament RHINE GORGE continues to Remagen. reflects both cultures— This morning traverse the Namedy Castle dates back linguistically, architecturally, and scenic Rhine Gorge, the to the 14th century and, gastronomically. Strasbourg popular name for the Upper since the late 20th century, features a historic UNESCO Middle Rhine Valley, which has functioned as a cultural World Heritage-designated earned UNESCO World center featuring concerts, art TRIER NAMEDY CASTLE MOSELLE RIVER AUGUSTA RAURICA exhibitions, and the annual Art Afternoon tea will be taken in the Park week. Continue in Middachten Castle, a overland to Remagen to view monumental Dutch manor the Bridge Towers and hear house originally built in the a guest lecture on the Battle 12th century. ALL: This evening of Remagen, when Allied enjoy an optional walk at troops unexpectedly captured sunset across the modern De the Ludendorff Bridge over Oversteek Bridge in Nijmegen, the Rhine in March 1945 and where the American soldiers October 20–23 seriously thwarted German who died here fighting for OPTIONAL PRE- military operations in the area. the liberation of the CRUISE EXTENSION IN ROYAL CROWN (B,L,D) Netherlands are honored every SWITZERLAND Saturday, October 30 night with the lighting in slow Spend two nights in Basel and COLOGNE succession of street lamps immerse yourself in the alpine spanning the bridge. Arrive in Cologne after a scenery of Lake Lucerne. Visit ROYAL CROWN (B,L,D) morning of on-board lectures several of the city’s chocolatiers and cruising. Germany’s fourth Monday, November 1 to learn about the history and most populous city straddles ARNHEM traditions that make Swiss the Rhine near Germany’s Today choose from one of two chocolates some of the most borders with Belgium and full-day options. OPTION 1: Visit sought after in the world. the Netherlands, and is home Frost Bridge, named after the Further details and pricing will be to one of Europe’s oldest British officer in command sent to confirmed participants. and largest universities. Tour at Arnhem, and the Airborne Cologne Cathedral, the city’s Museum, dedicated to the most famous and most beloved Battle of Arnhem. Also explore landmark and a UNESCO the Overloon War Museum in World Heritage Site. Also visit Nijmegen, located on the site of the Roman-German Museum the Battle of Overloon, a World to view a large collection of War II tank and infantry battle artifacts from the Roman that occurred in September settlement on which modern and October 1944 in the Cologne is built. This evening aftermath of Operation Market November 2–5 enjoy free time for independent Garden. OPTION 2: Explore exploration in Cologne. the Kröller-Müller Museum, OPTIONAL POST-CRUISE ROYAL CROWN (B,L,D) a national art museum and EXTENSION IN HOLLAND sculpture park that boasts Visit highlights and top sites in Sunday, October 31 Amsterdam, The Hague, Delft, ARNHEM, NETHERLANDS the second-largest collection of van Gogh paintings and a and Haarlem, including a canal Today choose from two fine assemblage of modern cruise and viewings of timeless optional activities.