A 21st Century Castle Adventure (Germany, Austria & Prague)

Austria, Germany and the Czech Republic may be situated next to each other, yet each country offers distinctly different sights, cuisines and experiences. From the castles of Bavaria, to the rich cultural heritage of Austria, to spectacular medieval churches in Prague, you’ll come away enriched by the experience.

Highlights
This 16-day trip kicks off from the city of Frankfurt where you will follow loosely the historical castle route down towards Fussen. Departing from the original route, you will visit the historical spa town of Baden-Baden to try your hand at the roulette table in the town’s famous casino. Continuing your journey, you will visit the castle that inspired Walt Disney’s Sleeping Beauty Castle – Neuschwanstein, and stop by Berchtesgaden, to check out Hitler’s home at the Eagle’s Nest.

Passing through the town of Salzburg and Vienna in Austria, you will end up in the romantic city of Prague, where the famous astronomical clock and Charles Bridge await.

The Trip
Day 1
Your trip begins in the town of Frankfurt. While more commonly regarded as a financial centre, there are many sights to dazzle the visitor. Here you can visit the numerous museums and art galleries, take pictures of the city’s stunning architecture (Saint Bartholomeus’ Cathedral, Römer, Saint Paul’s Church and Alte Oper), or hit one of the nightclubs for a night of fun.

Accommodation in Frankfurt is at a luxurious 5-star hotel, which is linked to the airport via a glass-covered walkway.

Day 2
Your adventure on the autobahn begins as you start your drive out of the city towards the town of Heidelberg. In this medieval city, you can take the cable car up the mountain to see Heidelberg Castle. Attractions at the castle include the gigantic 18th-century Grosses Fass (one of the world’s largest wine barrels) and the pharmacy museum.

Back in the city, stroll along the major street of Hauptstrasse to do some shopping or watch the mimes in action. A pleasant way to end the day is by crossing the Neckar River on the Alte Brücke and walking through Schlangenweg to get to the Philosophen Weg (Philosopher’s Way). This will give you a spectacular view of the city basked in the golden rays of sunset.

Accommodation for the next two nights is at a cutting-edge boutique hotel in Heidelberg, where each room is named after cities around the world. Even the elevator uses city names, rather than floor numbers.

Day 3
Moving on to Schwetzingen, 15 minutes from Heidelberg, and you will come upon a baroque-styled castle, surrounded by hedgerows and French gardens. The prized produce of this town are its award-winning Welde Pilsener and asparagus.

The next stop is the 2000-year-old town of Speyer, which was not too long ago featured in the movie Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. The must-see sight here is the UNESCO World Heritage Speyer Imperial Cathedral, which dates back to 1061.

If automotive technology is more your thing, then you’ll love the Speyer Technik Museum. Here, you can find an impressive collection of historic racing cars, steam trains and aircrafts, among others. The museum also sports a giant 22m x 27m IMAX dome theatre.

Day 4
Day 4 brings you to Baden-Baden – a famous spa town built on top of long-renowned thermal springs that even the Romans knew about. Attractions at this town include the Casino Spielbank, for spotting the rich and famous; Trinkhalle, for a chance to sample a large variety of beers; and Castle Hohenbaden and the Ruins of the Roman Baths, for a glimpse into the town’s illustrious past.

And while it has a reputation for being a playground for the rich, the fact doesn’t change that Baden-Baden offers some spectacular surrounding views thanks to its prime location on the western foothills of the Black Forest.

You will put up for two night at a luxurious hotel nestled in 18ha of parkland, north of the Black Forest area. Enjoy first-class service, tastefully decorated interiors and an excellent view of the Rhine Valley below.

Day 5
Day 5 offers a good mix of history and technology. First stop is at the Altes Schloss, or old castle. First built in 1330, it was expanded into a Renaissance-style residence for royalty in the 1500s. It unfortunately suffered some damage during World War II. Now rebuilt, it houses a museum collection, the crown jewels and Celtic treasures.

Moving forward in time, the Mercedes Benz Museum is a stunning piece of futuristic architecture. It features video displays and actual cars of every significant Mercedes ever made – from passenger cars to trucks to sports and racing cars.

Day 6-7
Leaving Baden-Baden, you will head to Füssen, located approximately five kilometres from the Austrian Border. People normally pass through this town enroute to the famed Neuschwanstein and Hohenswangau Castles. Neuschwanstein Castle is the castle that inspired Walt Disney’s Sleeping Beauty castle, while Hohenschwangau is the childhood residence of King Ludwig II of Bavaria.

The highlight here is the private dusk tour of Neuschwanstein by horse carriage, culminating in a four-course Bavarian dinner, in the style served to the former royal residents of the castle.

Your accommodation in Fussen (2 nights) is in a wonderful house-turned-hotel. Run by the Schoell family for over a hundred years, here you will experience Bavarian hospitality at its best.

Day 8-10
From Germany to Austria, your first stop will be in the town of Salzburg. Best known as being the birthplace of Mozart, this charming baroque city has its roots stemming back to 700AD. It is a picturesque town, and musical lovers will enjoy the fact that this was the town where “The Sound of Music” was filmed.

This strong musical legacy is today continued through a city full of music academies.

Not far from Salzburg is Berchtesgaden, where you can visit picturesque Konigsee Lake and Hitler’s former residence – Eagle’s Nest (only open in summer).

Continuing your exploration of the surrounding areas, visit the town of Lofer, a stunning alpine village located close to Salzburg. This is the perfect place to enjoy lovely walks through narrow streets among quaint houses, surrounded by beautiful snow-capped mountains. You can also enjoy good discount outlet shopping here on good quality clothes such as Geiger Loden.

Accommodation for the next three nights is in a villa-style hotel with a rooftop-sauna, steam bath and sun terrace.

Day 11
Day 11 is spent in the Austrian capital of Vienna, designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Tourist attractions include the imperial palaces of Hofburg and Schonbrunn, the world’s oldest zoo – Tiergarten Schönbrunn, and a giant ferris wheel, or riesenrad, located in the Prater Amusement Park.

Spend one night in Vienna.

Day 12 - 14
It’s time to ditch the car and head out by train to Prague.

A mention of Prague, and one conjures up romantic notions of a town full of medieval architecture. Two of the best known include the Tyn Church located in the Old Town Square and the Astronomical Clock, which dates back to 1410.

St. Vitus Cathedral another sight worth seeing as it is the country’s most important church and an excellent example of gothic architecture. However the best way to see Prague is to walk aimlessly through the small town, stopping at whatever catches your eye.

Accommodation in Prague (2 nights) is at an innovative design hotel based on a concept embracing innovative thinking and creative architecture. Designed by leading British architects and designers Jetico & Whiles, you will experience personalised service combined with the highest standards of comfort and amenities.

Day 15-16
After spending a full day in Prague, it’s time to take a night sleeper train back to Frankfurt for your flight back to Singapore, thereby marking the end of your little European adventure.