Author Archives: Jan European Barging & River Cruises

AMA Douro Wine Themed River Cruises

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Europe has an extensive wine region, very scenic and captivating. The travel enthusiasts have always felt the allure to visit this beautiful and exciting region. AMA Waterways is well aware of people’s fascination with the wine region and has made wine trips an essential part of its cruises ever since the company was founded in 2002.

AMA Waterways offers special wine cruises as “In Celebration of Wine” cruises” which have been quite popular for some time. The latest wine cruise series offered by AMA is more extensive than ever with new excursions like Portugal’s Douro river cruise and the Seine River in France. And, the cruises that have already been established will remain as before.

The Douro River is one of the most renowned wine rivers in Europe comparable with the Rhine, the Loire and the Mosel. The river begins in Spain where it is known as “Duero”, and the Ribera del Duero wine region stretches along its banks and for over 200 kilometers into Portugal where is exits out into the Atlantic Ocean from the city of Oporto. The most beautiful part of the Douro is the Portuguese stretch between Mesão Frio and Pinhão, where you have an awesome view of vineyards clinging to the steep terraces on either side of the river.

Wine lovers will have a great time aboard our luxurious Douro river cruise and can immerse themselves in the wine culture and traditions of one of Europe’s top grape-growing regions.   Cruise through one of the wildest and unexplored regions of Europe, filled with vineyards, dramatic gorges and steeply terraced hillsides. Visit the small town of Pinhão, a Mecca for wine lovers; then travel on to the beautiful region of Tras-os-Montes and the village of Bitetos with its 11th-century monastery.

On our deluxe wine cruise, you will also have insightful and entertaining lectures and discussions with renowned wine experts. You will have a wonderful time enjoying inspired wine and food pairings featuring unique regional dishes and carefully selected local wines. Sit back and savor your favorite vintage of the moment on your wine cruise as you gaze out at the picturesque wine villages of Portugal!

 

Wurtzburg’s Bishop’s Residenze

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Known as the heart of Europe, Germany has plenty of fantastic tourist attractions and unique sights to offer. Visitors from all over the world travel to Germany to see architectural treasures and fascinating places of natural beauty. So, it will be quite exciting to begin your trip with a relaxing and scenic Danube River cruise or Main River cruise to visit some wonderful destinations.

Wurtzburg Residenze-the former residence of prince bishops of Wurzburg-is one of the several attractions in Germany and stands as a wonderful example of architecture and beauty.

Wurtzburg Residenze is one of the most important baroque palaces in Europe and has been a UNESCO world cultural heritage site since 1981. The uniqueness and unity of style makes it one of the finest south German baroque palaces. No wonder, it is also known as “palace of palaces.”  It was originally designed for Prince-Bishop Johann Philipp Franz von Schönborn by the then young and unknown architect Balthasar Neumann and was completed in sixty years. The shell of the palace was built from 1720 to 1744 and the interior finished in 1780.

The staircase of Wurtzburg Residenze is world-famous as it is roofed by an unsupported vault featuring one of the largest ceiling frescos in the world, painted in 1752/53 by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo, and is an allegory of the four continents of the earth known at the time.

Wurtzburg Residenze has a magnificent sequence of rooms that starts in the vestibule and the Garden Hall, continues to the staircase and the White Hall, and through to the Imperial Hall, which also features frescos by Tiepolo.

A great attraction inside the Wurtzburg Residenze is the completely restored mirrored hall, which was reopened in 1987. There are around 40 palace rooms to visit with a rich array of furniture, tapestries, paintings and other 18th century treasures. Court Chapel is one of the finest examples of religious art in Würzburg and you can enter it separately from the southern front yard. The State Gallery contains Venetian art from the 17th and 18th centuries.

Wurtzburg Court Garden is extremely beautiful and gives you a wonderful time to enjoy art and nature. It was designed at the end of the 18th century by the landscape gardener Johann Prokop Mayer, featuring sculptures by Johann Peter Wagner.

The place is so unique;  you shouldn’t miss visiting it. So, get aboard a Germany river cruise and get lost in the wonders of this marvelous architectural creation!

 

 

Bohemian City of Prague

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Prague – one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world

Prague was the ancient capital of Charles IV’s Bohemian Kingdom, and has played a pivotal role in the development of Central Europe since the Middle Ages. No wonder, the prominent city boasts of several landmarks, monuments, cathedrals, museums and palaces, most of which have proud identity of existing on the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

For some time, the number of tourists visiting Prague has increased substantially which has given a boost to the economy of the city. In 2011, Prague was the sixth most visited city in Europe. The tourism has positively influenced the city of Prague as there has been a lot of reconstruction and regeneration in order to attract more tourists. Old buildings have been transformed into fine restaurants and stylish hotels in order to accommodate visitors comfortably.

You can easily get around in Prague, as the city is suitable for pedestrians and is amazingly scenic. The Czech capital has an incomparable appeal when it comes to culture, manners and nightlife.  Prague Castle, The National Museum, The Mucha Museum, The Dancing House, Astronomical Clock, Charles Bridge and The Lennon Wall are some of the topmost attractions in the city of Prague.

A visit to Prague is easily added before or after a Danube or Elbe River cruise. For example, you can choose a Danube river cruise from Passau to Budapest. there are shuttle transfers between Passau and Prague.   Your tour representatives will receive you in Prague and will transfer you to your hotel. You can join your local guide on a walking tour of the Old Town where you will see the Astronomical Clock and walk across the Charles Bridge as well explore other attractions in the city.

Prague is possibly Europe’s most attractive city. You can enjoy exploring this magnificent city at your leisure where your tour representatives will always be there to help you. Apart from visiting the landmark places in the city, you can also visit Ruckl Crystal, which today manufactures an extensive range in a wide variety of decorations.  Ruckl Crystal is linked to a 300 year long tradition in glass making as a family.

So why wait? Book your Germany river cruise with us and start with the cradle of Bohemia, and continue your travels to other wonderful destinations aboard our equally wonderful river cruise!

The Imperial City of Vienna

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Along with being the capital of Austria, Vienna is also the largest city in the country. Vienna, known as Europe’s cultural capital, is a metropolis with unique charm, vibrancy and flair. It takes pride in its outstanding infrastructure, it is clean and safe, and has all the inspiration that you could wish for in order to discover this amazing part of Europe.

Vienna is situated on the banks of magical Danube.  Visitors from all over the world make it the most popular urban tourist destination in Austria.  In 2001, Vienna’s Historic Centre was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site. The city offers up plenty of charm, historic sites, and friendly citizens who are forward-thinking, yet strongly proud of their rich heritage.

Your river cruise ship will dock near the city’s Centre at the Reichsbrucke. Once in Vienna, you will find many places to visit as well as things to do and see in this imperial city. Getting around in the city is easy due to the walkable nature of the city. You can also cycle around to visit the places nearby.

Most people visit Vienna with a vivid image of the city in their minds: a monumental vision of Habsburg palaces, trotting white horses, old ladies in fur coats and mountains of fat cream cakes. And they’re unlikely to be disappointed, for the city positively feeds off imperial nostalgia. Wander along narrow, medieval alleyways or across imperial squares, view Schönbrunn Palace or the Imperial Palace (Hofburg) in the footsteps of Sissi and Emperor Franz Josef, and wonder at the majestic architecture along the Ring Boulevard.  Be mesmerized by an atmosphere steeped in history – which also boasts of the comforts and infrastructure of a modern city!

The imperial character of the City of Vienna is further intensified by high Baroque churches and aristocratic mansions that pepper the central Innere Stadt. The postcards of the Emperor Franz-Josef and his beautiful wife, Elisabeth, still sell by the sackful. Just as compelling as the old Habsburg stand-bys are the wonderful Jugendstil and early Modernist buildings, products of the era of Freud, Klimt, Schiele, Mahler and Schönberg, when the city’s famous coffeehouses were filled with intellectuals from every corner of the empire.

Vienna is a dream city for anyone who has an interest in history or has a romantic streak. This is just irresistible with its imperial atmosphere, mild and moderate climate, excellent infrastructure and its own “coffee house literature.”

Contact us today for more information about an exciting Danube River Cruise or click here.

 

Basel Switzerland Extension after a River Cruise

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After you disembark your Amsterdam to Basel river cruise, there is an opportunity to explore this second biggest city in Switzerland. Part modern, part old world charm, Basel is in northern Switzerland along the Rhine River. The town of Basel is split into two distinct areas. The right bank is mainly a residential area, where the grossbasel, or left bank, contains the old town.

If you happen to begin or end your cruise in mid-July in Basel, be sure to attend the Military Tattoo.  It’s only 2nd in size and budget to the Edinburgh Military Tattoo.  The Tattoo was started in 2006, it now features military bands from around the world and hosts more than 200,000 people.

Basel is also known for its medieval and renaissance gabled houses, theatres and concert halls.  There is a lovely 18th century square (Munsterplatz), featuring a 12th century Gothic Munster (cathedral).  Some of the cathedrals date from 1031 and were the seat of prince-bishops who ruled the German imperial city.

A visit to the Kunstmuseum, one of the most prestigious art institutions in Europe is a must. Kunstmuseum has one of the largest art collections in Switzerland. According to Museen Basel, the Kunstmuesum showcases Flemish paintings, a collection of works by the Holbein family, Rennaisance collections, as well as works by Van Gogh, Gaugin, Cezanne, and cubist paintings by Picasso, Braque and Leger. There are also German expressionist paintings on display.

If you have a few additional days, Switzerland is a great country to explore by train and you can cover the whole country in a few days.  From Basel, it is a short train ride to Interlaken, which is a great starting point for several high mountain adventures – climbing the mountains by various modes of transportation – such as trains, cable cars and cog trains.  The view from the top of these mountains is breath taking.  Taking a scenic train is a great treat and there are also 1, 2, 3, 5, and 7 day escorted bus tours of the country.

The country is so clean and the air so fresh that it makes you feel good.  The Swiss are a friendly group of people and English is spoken everywhere. You do not have the crime in this country that can be found in some other countries. There is nothing in Switzerland that would discourage most from visiting this beautiful country. This beautiful, mountainous country is the heart of Europe and you can’t miss visiting it as it remains one of the most popular travel destinations on the planet.