$273.00 PER PERSON

MAGDEBURG
CITY TOUR

Magdeburg is a city of architectural contrasts. Hardly in any other city, will you find such a striking contrast of precious Middle-Age monuments next to modern buildings. During a brief orientation tour through the city center, you will see Middle-Age churches, beautifully renovated Baroque buildings as well as buildings dating back to Communist times and modern architecture after the reunification. You will make a stop at the historical Old Market where you will see the Baroque city hall, the famous ‘Magdeburger Reiter’ (Horseman of Magdeburg) (1240 A.D.), the oldest post-Antique free standing equestrian statue in Germany. Your next destination is the Romanesque monastery ‘Unser Lieben Frauen’ (‘Our Dear Ladies’) for an external visit. It is the oldest preserved building of the city dating back to the 11th century. During an extensive tour of the interior of the cathedral, you will see the famous display of the ‘Foolish and the Wise Virgins’, the tomb of emperor Otto as well as the remains of the crypt of the cathedral dating back to Ottonian times which was built in the 10th century at the same location. Before you return to the vessel, you will drive to the city park on an island in the middle of the Elbe River. From here you will have a wonderful view onto the monastery and the cathedral. Note that during Christian holidays or worship services, a visit to the cathedral is not possible. Alternatively, you will have the opportunity for an interior visit of the monastery.

Excursion lasts about 3 hours.



MEISSEN
CITY OF PORCELAIN & SAXON WINE

Meissen enjoys a worldwide reputation as the city of the ‘Blue Swords’, the sign of the Meissen porcelain manufactory. August the Strong built the first European porcelain manufacture in 1710 for Johann Friedrich Boettger in the Meissner Albrecht castle. Until 1863, the famous Meissner china was produced here, since 1864, the plant is at a new facility at Triebischtal. During an extensive tour through the show workshop, you can observe the manufacturing of the ‘White Gold’ as this noble china is also called. You will then have the opportunity to admire the most beautiful pieces that were crafted over the last centuries that are on exhibition in the show room. Afterwards, you will visit the castle hill with the Gothic cathedral (1260) and Albrecht Castle (929). A walk past beautiful Baroque era and Renaissance houses will then lead you to the market square where you will have some time at leisure. At the famous wine restaurant Vincencz Richter you can then enjoy a snack and a good glass of Meissen wine which is famous well beyond the area of Saxony. Enroute back to the vessel, you will make a brief stop at Moritzburg hunting lodge (outside visit only), which is beautifully located in the nature reserve of the Moritzburg lakes.

Excursion lasts about 5 hours.



DRESDEN
ZWINGER AND GALLERY OF OLD MASTERS

This excursion presents highlights of European art and cultural history. You will stroll from the ship to the Zwinger, which was built in the 18th and 19th century by the famous architects Matthaeus Daniel Poeppelmann and Gottfried Semper. You will first tour this masterpiece of the Baroque era extensively on the outside and you will also walk over the terraces that run across the buildings. You can admire the impressive sculptures by Balthasar Permoser who had first made a name for himself in Florence. Afterwards you will experience a two-hour guided tour of the painting gallery of the Old Masters where world famous pieces from the 14th through the 18th century are being exhibited, lead by the Sistine Madonna by Rafael dating back to the 16th century. In addition, you will see famous works of art by Tizian, Canaletto, Rubens, Rembrandt, Jan Vermeer van Delft, Poussion and other European artists who are world famous. Many pieces have a direct relationship to Dresden. After your visit of the painting gallery, you will walk back to the ship.

Excursion lasts about 3 hours.



KLEINSCHACHWITZ
PARK & FORTRESS KONIGSTEIN

The castle facility of Pillnitz mainly consists of three parts: the water palace, the mountain palace and the new palace. The water and mountain palaces were built as mirrored images of one another from 1720-1723 according to plans by Poeppelmann and Longuelune as ordered by August the Strong. His love for the exotic and the first wave of fashion embracing influences from China are the main reason for the unusual style of the palaces. The park between the two palaces was designed in the 19th century. During a guided walk you will see the water and the mountain palace, the park, the splendor gondola and the camelia house. Afterwards you will drive to the Fortress Konigstein, located on a plateau about 360 meters above the winding Elbe River. It is a unique witness of the European art of fortress building and is not only a significant point of interest for history buffs but also for naturalists as well. From the 2.2 kilometer long parapet you have a phenomenal view onto the magnificent surrounding scenery. Especially worth seeing are the 9.5-hectar facility of the Georgenburg (George Castle) and the Magdalenenburg (Magdalene Castle) with its huge wine barrel (238.00 liters), the cistern with its extraordinary techniques to retrieve water as well as the fortress Friedrichsburg, which August the Strong had converted to a summer residence. If you want to pass on the guided walk through the facility, you have the opportunity to relax on one of the scenic benches or to enjoy a cup of coffee. You will re-board the KATHARINA in Konigstein.

Excursion lasts about 3 hours.



PRAGUE
WALKING TOUR OF OLD TOWN

On your city tour through Prague, the ‘one hundred spire metropolis’ on the Moldava River, you will see marvelous buildings of the Gothic and Baroque era. In the castle district, you will visit the St. Veits Cathedral and the Royal Palace. The Wenceslas Square, Old Town City Hall and Charles Bridge are some of the many interesting sights of Prague.

Excursion lasts about 4.5 hours.