Author Archives: Jan European Barging & River Cruises

AMA Danube River Wine Cruise

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The Danube River

The Danube River is renowned for being one of the most romantic waterways in the world. This remarkable reputation for the Danube comes from its spectacular rolling hillsides, lush vineyards, and medieval castles. No wonder the Danube has been a great attraction for musicians, artists and poets throughout the centuries. The Danube’s waterways expand for thousands of miles through Central Europe and flow eastward through Austria’s spectacular Wachau Valley, a wine region famous for its natural beauty and captivating white wines.

A Wine Cruise along The Danube River

So, give yourself a treat by getting aboard a deluxe river cruise vessel where you can enjoy the comforts of the cruise while traveling through the Danube wine regions. The “Great Capitals & Vintages of the Danube” itinerary will be a perfect choice for you. Your Danube River cruise will introduce you to many wonders both outside and inside it. Your journey begins with spending three nights in magnificent Prague and from there you transfer to Vilshofen to start your wine cruise along the Danube River. Your river cruise takes you from Vilshofen to Passau and then on to Linz, where an optional excursion to Salzburg is available.

Next, you follow the Danube River through the Wachau Valley, Austria’s most important wine region. Your cruise takes you back in time as you reach Melk, where you will visit a 900 year-old Benedictine abbey. You can visit Spitz-Grotisch vineyard here too. Your journey continues to Dürnstein, where terraced vineyards frame the historic Baroque Stiftskirche. Then cruise to the medieval town of Krems, where you will once again feel like you’ve gone back in time. The town is also known for its thriving wine culture.

While on the Danube River Cruise you will also experience an unforgettable evening at a traditional Heuriger wine tavern in the villages of Grinzing and Neurstift, a casual and enjoyable area. Here you can appreciate local and regional wines of the current year, listen to music, and relax with friends. Your wine cruise is concluded in the spectacular city of Budapest.

You’ll enjoy all the amenities included in your cruise. Your wine cruise is hosted by a renowned wine or food expert who will present three or four insightful wine-themed lectures that may also address other local specialties.

For the Danube River cruise, we have 2013 departures scheduled on April 13th; November 6th, 9th, 11th, 13th 16th and 18th.  Prices start from $2,399 per person. These cruises are great for small wine groups or organizations.  These cruises book up quickly so please contact us to book your cruise today!

The Royal Castle of Budapest

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A Site Rich in Budapest History

The Royal Castle of Budapest is the historical castle and palace complex of the Hungarian kings in Budapest. This is also known as Budapest Royal Palace. It was first completed in 1265 and has since been destroyed and rebuilt several times over the centuries due to wars and revolutions. The castle was declared part of the Budapest World Heritage Site in 1987.

Buda Castle was built on the southern tip of Castle Hill, bounded on the north by what is known as the Budapest Castle District, famous for its Medieval, Baroque, and 19th-century houses, churches, and public buildings. It is linked to Clark Ádám Square and the Széchenyi Chain Bridge by the Castle Hill Funicular.

The Gothic Hall of Buda Castle is one of the most significant surviving examples of secular Gothic architecture in Central Europe and a must see in Budapest. It was built by King Sigismund Luxemburg in the early 15th century as an extension of the earlier Anjou Palace.

Three interconnected barrel-vaulted rooms of the castle belong to the oldest part of the palace known as the Stephen’s Castle, which was built by Prince Stephen, Duke of Slavonia, in the 14th century. The northern room is covered by an east-west axial vault while the southern rooms have north-south axial vaults.

To the north of the barrel-vaulted rooms, there is a medieval cellar, later called Albrecht pince (Albrecht Cellar) covered with a Gothic brick barrel vault. The walls of the cellar are blackened from burning. The cellar was probably built by King Sigismund of Luxemburg as the Cisterna Regia, i.e. the great underground cistern of the palace.

Historical Museum of Budapest

The Historical Museum of Budapest is located in the southern wing of Buda Castle in Building E and covers four floors. This museum presents the history of Budapest from its beginning to the modern era. The restored part of the medieval castle, including the Royal Chapel and the rib-vaulted Gothic Hall, belongs to the exhibition. The Gothic statues of Buda Castle and a 14th-century silk tapestry decorated with the Angevin coats of arms- are the highlights of the exhibition. Small gardens have been recreated in the medieval Zwingers around the oldest parts of the building.

Our Danube River Cruises and Hungary Cruises offer excursions in Budapest. Book your trip on one of these cruises and visit the enchanting Buda Castle!

Wachau Valley Danube River Cruise

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http://www.europeanbarging.com ~ (888) 869-7907 ~ Enjoy a Danube River Cruise through the Wachau Valley of Austria. The Wachau Valley is one of the most beautiful sections of the Danube River. This wonderfully scenic valley lies between the Benedictine Abbey of Melk and the lovely town of Krems. Continue reading →

Louvre-Lens: A New Wing of the Louvre Opened December 2012

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An Exciting Addition to the Louvre

Louvre, a symbol of French culture and art, entered a new phase in its development with a brand new establishment in Lens. With its complete richness and diversity, Louvre-Lens museum officially opened its doors to its first visitors on December 12th, 2012. With the opening of the new Louvre-Lens, formerly a disused coalfield, not only do the most prestigious artworks in the collection will get a new lease on life, but the place where it stands also gets the attention of the public.

This brand new Louvre-Lens made with glass and light in a green setting looks stunning. Designed by the architects from the Japanese firm Sanaa, the transparency and reflection are the integral features of its design. It makes for a perfect setting for the exceptional works which constitute the Louvre’s permanent collection.

Three New Louvre Galleries

The Louvre-Lens hosts three main galleries: the Galerie du Temps, le Pavillon de Verre and La Galerie d’Exposition Temporaire. The Galeries du Temps is 120-meters long and is the master wing of the museum which exhibits masterpieces from the Paris Louvre over a five-year period, showcasing works in chronological and geographic order, initially focusing on the periods of the Antiquity, the Middle Ages and Modern art.

In the beginning, 205 works will be exhibited in this Louvre gallery over the next five years: 70 works for Antiquity, 45 works for the Middle Ages and 90 pieces for Modern Art. Le Pavillon de Verre (Glass Pavilion) is a continuation of the Galerie du Temps, where visitors can view artworks from neighboring museums in the region.

Finally, La Galerie d’Exposition Temporaire houses the museum’s two temporary exhibits per year. Until March 11, 2013, The Renaissance: Revolutions in the arts in Europe 1400-1530 is on display, featuring over 250 artworks that showcase the most innovative themes during this influential period. Among them, the incomplete work by Leonardo da Vinci, The Virgin and Child with St. Anne and the monumental wood carving by Albrecht Dürer, The Triumphal Arch of Maximilian, would be a part of the Louvre-Lens exhibition.

So get aboard our Seine River Cruise and make a visit to the marvelous Louvre museum!