Musical Interludes - Noble Caledonia

The Reichsburg and the town of Cochem
The mighty Rhine, for so long one of Europe’s
main trading routes contrasts beautifully with
our exploration of the Moselle, surely one of the
loveliest rivers in all Europe. We will also visit the
historic city of Heidelberg on the Neckar River,
one of Europe’s great seats of learning. Most
trips on offer along the Rhine are based on four
to six days and concentrate on only one section
of the river. Here you have a most
comprehensive journey including some of the
most interesting places in the Netherlands,
combined with the great wine producing areas
along the Moselle and the historic cities of
Cologne, Koblenz and Heidelberg as well as the
enchanting resort of Baden-Baden.
Added to these riches are visits in France to
Strasbourg, an endlessly fascinating place in
the delightful Alsace region. This detailed
look at two of Europe’s great rivers will offer a
captivating and romantic journey. The
scenery is stunning and makes an excellent
combination with the artistic riches we shall
see along the way from the wonderful
collections on show in the museums and
galleries to the fairytale castles and medieval
charms of the towns and villages.
Page 24 • 020-7752 0000
A NAVIGATION OF THE RHINE &
MOSELLE RIVERS FROM SWITZERLAND
TO THE LOW COUNTRIES
ABOARD THE MS JOHANN STRAUSS
WITH HUMPHREY BURTON
21st April to 2nd May 2013
Palace and Gardens of Het Loo
Rivers of Music
Musical Interludes
Not only have we organised one of the most comprehensive trips along
these two great rivers, but have added the extra dimension of music. The
journey along the Rhine with its strong connections with the lives of
Beethoven, Mendelssohn, Schumann and Mozart is all the more enjoyable
when accompanied by the music of the masters. We will have the pleasure
of listening to London Festival Opera perform both on board and ashore as
well as other highlights such as a Chopin concert in the moated castle in
Koblenz and a string quartet recital in the medieval castle of Burg
Konradsheim in Cologne. The joy of music performed in such special places
puts the finishing touch to a splendid trip. In addition, our guest speaker
Humphrey Burton will add much to our understanding. Information on
London Festival Opera and all our guest speakers can be found on page 5.
The Itinerary
Day 1 London Heathrow/
Manchester to Basle. Fly by
scheduled flight. On arrival, you
will be met and transferred to the
MS Johann Strauss for
embarkation. Welcome drinks and
dinner on board. Moor overnight.
Day 2 Basle. This morning’s
excursion will take us to the old
market square with its brightly
painted Town Hall and along
Minster Hill, past many handsome
18th century houses to the Minster
N O R T H
S E A N E T H E R L A N D S
Amsterdam •
Het Loo
The Hague • Delft Arnhem
• •
•
Rotterdam
G E R M A N Y
Cologne
with its slender twin spires. The oldest parts of the building date between the
9th-13th centuries, although much was rebuilt in the Gothic style after the 1356
earthquake. Spend the afternoon at leisure or join an optional excursion to the
Black Forest. After dinner enjoy a performance by London Festival Opera.
Day 3 Strasbourg. From the port of Kehl, join a morning guided tour which
will introduce us to the delights of Strasbourg including the fascinating old
quarter. Start with the Quai de la Petite France where the River Ill splits into a
number of canals, see the Ponts Couverts, a series of wooden bridges dating
back to the 13th century, the Place Gutenberg and the Cathedral of Notre
Dame, the tallest medieval building in Europe. Afternoon at leisure, and this
evening we hope to attend an optional performance at the Opera National
du Rhin. Performance details are not available at the time of going to press.
This evening moor overnight in Kehl.
Day 4 Baden-Baden. This morning we drive inland to the spa town of Baden-
Baden. This beautiful belle-epoch resort is one of Germany’s best kept secrets.
The spa assembly rooms and famously elegant casino form the focal point of the
town, both architecturally and socially. In the spa park, the Lichtentaler Allee runs
for several kilometres from the pump room to Lichtental Convent past the neobaroque
theatre. The old quarter is full of elegant houses, exclusive boutiques
Maas
Antwerp
• • Bonn
•
B E L G I U M
Koblenz
Cochem• •
Bernkastel• F R A N C E
•
Trier•
Rhine Rüdesheim
Moselle
Rhine
•
•
•
Mannheim
• •Heidelberg
Neckar
Baden-Baden
Strasbourg•
Kehl
•Basle
S W I T Z E R L A N D
Main