Classical Danube Shore Excursions Passau – Budapest 2020 Dear Amadeus River Cruises Traveler, We are pleased to present an exciting program of shore excursions that are available to customize your cruise experience. These excursions can be booked in advance as a package at a discounted rate or booked onboard after you embark. We look forward to welcoming you onboard! Amadeus River Cruises Team EXCURSION INFORMATION Some excursions involve a fair amount of walking, sometimes over uneven surfaces. The following coding system has been used to assist you with this. ● Level 1: It is your choice whether you get off the bus during the excursion (to take pictures, for example). You will walk only short and even paths. ●● Level 2: The excursion by bus is followed by a moderate walking tour. You may need to climb some stairs. ●●● Level 3: The excursion by bus is followed by a longer walk. You may need to climb several stairs. ●●●● Level 4: Moderate walking tour. You may need to climb some stairs. ●●●●● Level 5: Considerable walk with longer distances. This may include uneven surfaces and some stairways WALKING TOUR OF REGENSBURG After a short tour of the abbey church you can taste Regensburg is one of the best-preserved medieval the famous dark beer of Weltenburg, which is brewed cities in Germany, and its historic buildings are very here in the oldest monastery brewery in the world. impressive. Among these architectural treasures are Duration: approx. 5 hrs Walking grade: ●●● churches, monasteries, the town hall, and one of Europe’s oldest bridges that has spanned the Danube WALKING TOUR OF PASSAU since the 12th century. During this walk you will feel During this walk around the old quarter of Passau, the former power and wealth of this city, which once your knowledgeable guide will point out many controlled the trade route to the Orient. During a short buildings that bear witness to the historical visit to the Regensburg Cathedral, dedicated to St. importance of the so-called “three-river city”. You can Peter, you can admire this masterpiece of Gothic admire picturesque lanes, promenades and squares architecture in southern Germany (Visits depend on and find out some interesting facts about the the opening hours of the Cathedral and/or if a mass is Bishopric. High above the rivers the Veste Oberhaus celebrated etc.). Castle and the Maria Hilf monastery are enthroned. In Duration: approx. 2 hrs Walking grade: ●●●● particular, you will be impressed by the Baroque St. Stephen’s Cathedral, with the world’s largest organ, EXCURSION TO WELTENBURG ABBEY the new Bishop’s residence and the town hall. A coach brings you to Weltenburg, with a brief detour Duration: approx. 2 hrs Walking grade: ●●●●● to the “Hall of Liberation” which is a historical, classical monument on Mount Michelsberg, above the city of Kelheim. It is an impressive marble building, FULL-DAY EXCURSION TO SALZBURG INCL. fashioned after the Parthenon in Athens. It towers high SALZKAMMERGUT AND LUNCH above the Danube and can be seen from afar. A two-hour coach ride will bring you to Salzburg – the Afterwards, you board an excursion boat, which takes city of music. The old town with its world-famous you past the former city of the Wittelsbacher Dynasty Baroque architecture is one of the best-preserved city and through the nature reserve, “Weltenburger Enge”, centers north of the Alps. It was adopted by UNESCO to the Benedictine abbey of Weltenburg. The in 1997 and is included on its list of World Cultural monastery, founded by Irish or Scottish monks in Heritage Sites. Salzburg is also the birthplace of about 620 AD, is the oldest monastery in Bavaria. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Page 1 of 5 Classical Danube Shore Excursions Passau – Budapest 2020 During the guided tour through the old town you will most famous monastic sites. The impressive Baroque see the birth house of the musician (outside only), as abbey was built between 1702 and 1736. The abbey’s well as other well-known attractions, such as the church and the impressive library with countless Getreidegasse. This long yet narrow shopping street medieval manuscripts and frescos are particularly runs parallel to the river in the center of town. The noteworthy. A guided tour takes you through the street is famous for its old-style signage outside each abbot’s chambers, along the imperator’s walk, through store, indicating the profession found within. You will the marble hall, the balconies and the library. continue to the Mirabell Palace, a beautiful castle with Continue your tour to Dürnstein, one of the best- gardens, built by an archbishop for his beloved known wine villages in the Wachau. Situated in the courtesan. Look out for the Garden of Dwarfs and the heart of the magnificent valley, on the banks of the Garden of Roses, as they are especially beautiful. mighty river Danube, the charming town offers the After the included lunch, you will head to the unique combination of breathtaking scenery, picturesque village Mondesee, which was the film traditional architecture and places of historic interest. location for the well-known movie “The Sound of A walk through the town allows you to appreciate its Music”. Enjoy the beautiful scenery as you head back glorious position before returning to Emmersdorf. to the ship. There, we invite you to enjoy a glass of wine at the end Duration: approx. 9.5 hrs Walking grade: ●●● of the tour. Duration: approx. 4.5 hrs Walking grade: ●●● WALKING TOUR OF LINZ Linz was founded by the Romans, who called it CITY TOUR OF VIENNA “Lentia” but there was already a Celtic settlement While it may take days or weeks to fully discover there before called “Lentos” – probably the Celtic word Vienna, this tour will give you an overall impression of for the winding of a river. It was a provincial and local the most important sights Vienna has to offer. First government city of the Holy Roman Empire, and an you will drive along the famous Ringstrasse, passing important trade center, connecting several trade several magnificent buildings like the stunning opera routes. As the city where the Habsburg Emperor house, the parliament the Court Theatre or Vienna’s Friedrich III spent his last years, it was, for a short imposing city hall. period of time, the most important city in the Empire. The tour is followed by a guided walk through the city It lost its status to Vienna and Prague after the death of center where you will get to know Vienna at its fullest. the Emperor in 1493. You will start at the well-known Hofburg Imperial There are many things to worth seeing in Linz. Take a Palace, walk along the Kohl market and finish at stroll down the main street, which leads to the main Vienna’s iconic St. Stephen’s cathedral. Before square. In addition to the medieval town square in the returning to the ship you have some free time to stroll historic old town and the Mozarthaus, you can see the along the pedestrian area. Renaissance villas, the old cathedral with the Bruckner Duration: approx. 3.5 hrs Walking grade: ●● organ, or the new cathedral. Visits depend on the opening hours of the cathedral and/or if a Mass is GUIDED TOUR OF THE SCHOENBRUNN being celebrated. Visible from afar is the pilgrimage PALACE basilica on the mountain Poestling, the landmark of A coach takes you to one of the most beautiful sights of the town. A modern counterpart are the Lentos art Vienna, the Schoenbrunn Palace. As one of the most museum and the Ars Electronica center, which striking important cultural heritage sites in Austria, glass facade offers a diverse play of color in the Schoenbrunn Palace and its gardens were declared a darkness. If time allows, you can taste a piece of the World Cultural Heritage by UNESCO. The reign of famous Linzer Torte (Linzer Cake) in one of the local Maria Theresia signified the most splendid era for bakeries. Schoenbrunn. Duration: approx. 2 hrs Walking grade: ●●●● The castle and park were the center of courtly and political life. Under the personal guidance of the WACHAU EXCURSION INCL. MELK ABBEY AND Empress, it was remodeled and expanded to become a WINE TASTING royal residence and a complex with a total of 1,441 Start the excursion at Melk Abbey, which is an rooms and halls was created. You will visit most of the Austrian Benedictine abbey and one of the world’s ceremonial rooms and then have the opportunity to Page 2 of 5 Classical Danube Shore Excursions Passau – Budapest 2020 walk around in the beautifully designed gardens of the comprising a magnificent palace, beautifully designed, palace. terraced gardens and an idyllic country estate. Under Duration: approx. 3.5 hrs Walking grade: ●● its later owner, Empress Maria Theresa, an additional story was added to the palatial building, which was CONCERT VISIT “SOUND OF VIENNA” remodeled in the style of French Classicism in In the very place where Johann Strauss himself once accordance with the tastes of the time. It is unique in directed his orchestra from his position as first violin, Europe and has become a top destination for those the true essence of Vienna’s classical music can once who seek to delight in culture, nature, and the again be heard daily. The “Salonorchester Alt Wien”, fascinating world of the Baroque. one of the best-known interpreters of classical After visiting the inside of the castle you will have Viennese music, presents an evening full of Viennese enough free time to see the beautiful garden and the charm with the lilting sound of waltzes, polkas, arias Maierhof with its numerous animals.