10 Day Germany and Austria for Choir Groups (And Passion Play)
OBERAMMERGAU PASSION PLAY 2022
Day 01: NORTH AMERICA / EUROPE. Overnight flight from US to Germany. Dinner and breakfast served on board.
Day 02: MUNICH. Upon arrival in Munich, you are greeted by your Tour Escort who remains with you for the duration of your stay. En route to your hotel, you enjoy a brief orientation tour of Munich and after checking in, you are free to relax and settle in. Tonight you enjoy dinner together and the evening is spent getting to know your fellow passengers. Overnight in Munich
Day 03: MUNICH. A local guide joins you this morning for a tour around Munich and shows you highlights like the neo-Gothic town hall and the church named “Frauenkirche”, with it’s distinctive onion-topped towers. The city also boasts Nymphenburg Castle, the ancient summer residence of the Prince-Electors and the kings of Bavaria. Your guide teaches you of the castle’s history as you walk through the ballroom, china lacquer room and other stately rooms. You then head to the outskirts of the city where you come across the Dachau Concentration Camp. The camp witnessed many atrocities during the War and as you look around the site, you learn about what happened here during this dark moment in history – this really is a moving place. The remainder of the day is spent at leisure and you may wish to shop for souvenirs or we suggest you look around the Munich Botanical Gardens (entrance not included), one of the finest and most richly stocked in Europe. These gardens feature a spring garden, an alpine garden, a sub-tropical glass house with a superb collection of orchids, amongst other sights. Tonight you are free to have dinner at leisure. (Tonight a performance can be arranged in a local church with a reception at a local venue – any costs incurred are not included)
Day 04: MUNICH / OBERAMMERGAU. Today is spent exploring German Bavaria starting with the fairytale Neuschwanstein Castle that was one of Mad King Ludwig’s most extravagant castles and where you can have a horse and buggy ride to the entrance. The romantic design of the castle is very distinctive and you may recognise it from several popular films and it was also the inspiration for the famous Disneyland castle. Here you enjoy looking around the highly decorative interior and learn about it’s fascinating history. Your next stop is at the Wieskirche (Church in the Meadows) where you admire the incredible painted ceilings and travelling on, you come to the monastery in Ettal that was founded in 1330 and is one of the finest examples of Rococo architecture in existence. (Possible concert to be arranged at Ettal Monastery, subject to permission and schedule). Continue to Oberammergau for dinner and overnight.
DAY 05: PASSION PLAY. The entire day is devoted to attending a performance of the world famous Passion Play which is held once every ten years in this charming small Bavarian village. Dinner and overnight.
DAY 06: OBERAMMERGAU / SALZBURG. After checking out of your hotel, you tour takes you across the border and into Austria and on to the musical city of Salzburg – birthplace of Mozart. On arrival you are joined by a local guide for a tour of Salzburg that is rich in cultural and historical monuments such as the Archbishop's Palace built in 1595 and where Mozart made many performances and the Hozensalzburg – the former stronghold of the prince-archbishops where there is a great deal of history. We have included entrance to Mozart’s Birthplace where you gain a great insight to this maestro. This afternoon you are free for your public performance – subject to confirmation and venue availability. Possible venues include the cathedral, Mirabell Gardens and the city square. For those not participating in the concert there is a great deal to see and do in Salzburg such as shop for local handicrafts or why not take a ride through the city in a horse and carriage. This evening dinner is enjoyed together in your hotel.
Day 07: SALZBURG / VIENNA. After checking out of your hotel, your journey continues through Austria. En route you visit the famous majestic Melk Abbey, formerly a Benedictine Monastery that is often associated with Umberto Ecco’s book, The Name of the Rose. Tonight is spent in the graceful Austrian capital – Vienna and after checking in to your hotel, you are free to start exploring your immediate surroundings before dinner is served.
Day 08: VIENNA. This morning you are joined by a local guide for a guided tour of Vienna. There are many elegant buildings to admire such as numerous aristocratic mansions, baroque churches and the cathedral, Stephansdom that are all reminders of Vienna’s grand and imperial past. One of the key historical places is the Schonbrunn Palace completed in 1750 and you enjoy a tour through the exquisite State Rooms with their gracious décor. This afternoon you enjoy a public performance on the steps of the Schonbrunn Palace. “Voice of the World” is a scheme where regularly, international choirs are invited to give public performances and sing on the steps and crowds often gather to listen (subject to confirmation).
Day 09: VIENNA. This morning is spent exploring the famous Vienna woods with a local guide. Your guide teaches you of the fascinating history of the vast woods that was the scene of Imperial hunts 150 years ago and leisure activities of the Hapsburg dynasty. You also visit the Cistercian abbey of Heligenkreuz, dating from 1135 and located in an idyllic corner of the Woods. Nearby is also Mayerling Convent, once a hunting lodge that has a very tragic tale. It was here that Prince Rudolph and his lover Sissy committed a double suicide because his father, Franz Joseph, had condemned their love. Onwards then to the spa town of Baden where your guide tells you of the town’s distinguished past. The town was frequented by Austrian nobles and aristocrats and as you walk through the town, you notice the affluent buildings from the towns heyday in the 19th century. The remainder of the day is free for you to spend at leisure in Vienna. Tonight you head out of Vienna to Grinzig where dinner is enjoyed in a typical “Heuriger” restaurant serving traditional food and lively, musical entertainment.
Day 10: VIENNA / NORTH AMERICA. Sadly it is time to bid your farewells as you drive to the airport for your transatlantic flight home.