This wonderful tour visits some of the most fascinating and beautiful sights straddling the banks of the majestic river Rhine, itself one of Europe’s most picturesque rivers.
Firstly we visit Aachen, originally a Roman spa town and administrative centre of one of the most northerly parts of their empire. Then it shot to prominence as Charlemagne’s capital of the Holy Roman Empire, which at its height dominated much of present day France, Spain, Belgium and even parts of Germany and Italy! Today there is a wealth of history on display. Then it’s on to the most picturesque stretch of the Rhine valley, its gorge. Vine-covered hillsides crowned by half-ruined castles on seemingly every summit, with picturesque half-timbered houses and picture postcard villages such as Boppard and St Goar nestle on every sweeping bend on this majestic river. Next we have Heidelberg, one of the most romantic cities you will find anywhere: from its once great castle to the romantic cobbled streets of the historic old city, it has a charm and atmosphere, which has lured distinguished visitors for centuries.
At Strasbourg we cross the river like millions before us, both in peace and war, to this symbol of reconciliation and seat of the European Parliament. The city is a delight with its centre largely unchanged since the 14th century, a mosaic of winding alleys and lanes lined with quirkily crooked, half-timbered houses. During periods of its history Strasbourg has been both German and French, and today you can see this influence in its language, cuisine and appearance, creating a truly individual city. Then to Colmar, almost embarrassingly perfect - a typically quaint medieval Alsatian town, which provides a suitable finale to this wonderful tour.