Best of Austria, Germany and Switzerland

10 Day Pilgrimage to Vienna - Salzburg and Munich
with an optional two day extension to Lucerne

from $1,995 (from New York) "The hills are alive with the Sound of Music." This may not say everything about Germany and Austria, but it's certainly the dominant theme. There is no other country that has made music so central to its history, character and everyday life. Austria's musical tradition includes names like Mozart, Beethoven, Bach, Schubert, Bruckner, Brahms, Mahler and Johann Strauss. Austria is known world-wide as the home of classical music, with its great concert halls, its many small and large theaters and stages, its great musical events, particularly during the "Summer Festival."

ITINERARY

Day 1> Depart USA

Day 2> Arrive Vienna
Upon your arrival at Vienna International Airport, you will be on your way to Vienna, the Music Capital of the World!! This is the City of Mozart, Beethoven, Brahms, and Strauss!
Overnight in Vienna.

Day 3> AM/Tour of Imperial Vienna - PM/Visit the Shrine of Frauenkirchen
Today, you will tour the most important historical sights of Vienna: drive around the Ring, one of the most magnificent boulevards in the world, passing the Vienna Opera, Museums, House of Parliament, City Hall, the Burgtheatre, and the Hofburg Palace, winter residence of the Habsburg emperors. Visit St. Charles Church and the Schönbrunn Palace, the summer residence of the Habsburgs.
Continue on your excursion to visit the Shrine of Frauenkirchen in the Burgenland Lake District. Celebrate Mass at the Shrine of Frauenkirchen.
Overnight in Vienna.

Day 4> Melk Abbey - Shrine of Maria Taferl - Shrine of Mariazell
Leave Vienna to the Wachau Valley. Embark at Dürnstein for tour short cruise on the Danube River. We disembark at Melk to visit the Benedictine Abbey, crowning the rocky hill overlooking the Danube. Continue across the Danube Valley to visit the Shrine of Maria Taferl. Celebrate Mass at the Shrine of Maria Taferl. Drive across the spectacular forested mountains, rushing streams and small market towns to the little village of Mariazell, a favorite Viennese resort.
Dinner and overnight in Mariazell.

Day 5> Shrine of Mariazell - Admont - Bad Ischl - Salzburg
This morning, visit the Shrine of Mariazell, a famous pilgrimage center in Austria dedicated to the Blessed Mother. Celebrate Mass at the Shrine of Mariazell. Later, drive along the spectacular mountainous scenery to the Abbey of Admont, to visit the world’s largest library. Continue via the charming resorts of Bad Ischl, former summer residence of Emperor Franz Josef. Continue along the southern part of the Austrian Lake District, to enjoy marvelous views of the Salzkammergut region. Soon you will arrive in the Baroque city of Salzburg, a jewel set on the beautiful banks of the Salzach River.
Overnight in Salzburg.

Day 6> AM/Mass at the Shrine of Maria Plain - PM/Guided Tour of Salzburg
Celebrate Mass at the Shrine of Maria Plain in Salzburg. Enjoy a guided tour of Salzburg’s sights along Getreidegasse, the city’s pedestrian street, lined with authentic 17th and 18th century buildings including the house where Mozart was born. View Monchsberg with the fortress “Hohensalzburg” which overlooks the city. Built into the side of Monchsberg is the Salzburg Festspielhaus, home of the famous Salzburg Festival Operas. See Residenzplatz, the center square of Salzburg. Nearby stands the Cathedral, dating from 1614. Visit St. Peter's Abbey.
Overnight in Salzburg

Day 7> Berchtesgaden - Cruise on Königsee - Sound of Music Tour/ Gala dinner in Fuschl am See
Leave Salzburg and drive along the forested landscape and pass by the chief tourist attraction of the Eastern Bavarian Alps - Hitler's Berchtesgaden. Continue to Lake Königsee for a scenic boat ride across the lake. Drive to the Lake District, with marvelous views of the Salzkammergut region to Mondsee. Celebrate Mass in Mondsee at the Pfarrkirche where the Von Trapps were married. Continue to St. Gilgen on Lake Wolfgang, which offers one of the best known landscapes of the Salzkammergut. Continue to Fuschl, pictured in the beginning of "The Sound of Music," for a visit.
This evening, enjoy a special Austrian dinner with wine and music in Fuschl am See.
Overnight at hotel in Salzburg.

Day 8> Alpine Tour - King Ludwig Castle - Munich
Today you will have the opportunity to view the splendor of Southern Bavaria as you explore King Ludwig's majestic castle. Go back to the times of Wagner as you visit the royal apartments decorated with scenes from German sagas and Wagner's operas, the throne rooms and music halls.
Continue to Munich, "City of the Monks." This is the capital of Bavaria and the second largest city in Germany.
Overnight in Munich

Day 9> Highlights Tour of Munich - Dachau - Shrine of Altötting
Begin your day with a visit to the twin-towered Frauenkirche, the most familiar landmark of old Munich. Your tour will include the Marienplatz and the world famous “Glockenspiel.” Stop at the Residenz, and continue to the Olympic Park, site of the 1972 Olympics. Ascend its tower where you can have a panoramic view of Munich. Continue to Dachau. Prayer and reflection in Dachau. Leave on your excursion to visit the shrine of Altötting , home of the “Smiling Madonna.” Celebrate Mass at the Shrine. Farewell dinner Bavarian-style at the Hofbrauhaus.
Overnight in Munich.

Day 10> Return to the USA

Optional 2-day exension to Switzerland

Day 10> Liechtenstein - Lucerne
Leave Munich and Southern Bavaria via Liechtenstein passing the Prince's castle in Vaduz. Drive through the marvelous scenery of the spectacular Alps, to the northern shores of Lake Lucerne. Enjoy the lovely view of the mountain scenery, as you pass Zürichsee and Küssnacht, the Hollow Lane and Tell's Chapel.
Overnight in Lucerne, Switzerland.

Day 11> Lucerne - Shrine of Einsiedeln
Visit the Shrine of Einsiedeln, one of Europe's well-known religious shrines. The church and the monastery buildings built in the 18th century on the site of a monastery founded in the year 934 . The Abbey Church (Klosterkirche) was built between 1719 and 1735 in Vorarlberg Baroque style and it is the most remarkable example of this style in Switzerland. The Holy Chapel, built at the entrance of the nave, contains the tomb of St. Meinrad, who was martyred in 861, and the statue of Our Lady of Hermits. Celebrate Mass at the Shrine. Overnight in Lucerne.

Day 12> Return to the USA