Tag Archives: Danube River

Cruise the Wachau Valley on a Danube River Cruise

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Wachau Valley Cruise Along the Danube

Enjoy a lovely experience as you board a Danube River Cruise. The Wachau Valley of Austria 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. There are many charming towns, terraced vineyards, castles, and monasteries along the narrow Wachau Valley.

Due to its mild climate, the area of Wachau Valley grows the grapes and apricots used to produce white wines and apricot schnapps as well as apricot cakes and desserts, which are served in nearby restaurants. The paths along the Danube are great for biking and walking through the splendid scenery and exploring the old robber baron castles, and the legends and customs of the area.

Cities To Visit In The Wachau Valley

You will be mesmerized in the town of Melk with the sleepy and elegant atmosphere under its huge abbey. The restored Melk Abbey shining proudly over the Danube Valley is one of Europe’s most attractive sights.

Krems is renowned for being the center of the Wachau wine industry as well as one of the most beautiful towns in lower Austria. This old town is also a shopper’s wonderland. As you walk around the town, you will encounter one fantastic church after another – Piaristenkirche features an extensive collection of paintings by Martin Johann Schmidt (Kremser Schmidt); Pfarrkirche St. Viet features large ceiling frescoes and All Souls Alter by Kremser Schmidt.  In the former Dominican church, you will find a museum of history and wine of the area including sculptures, paintings and etchings from the medieval to baroque periods.

Visit Durnstein by Foot in the Wachau Valley

Durnstein is yet another beautiful town in the Wachau Valley that will delight you with its traffic-free quaintness.  You can explore this attractive town only on foot.  Though it is a small town, Durnstein has lots of interesting history – the most famous being the Kuenringerburg, where Richard I of England was held captive in the 12th century. You can reach the ruined castle above the town by a 20 minute hike with great river views. The Stiftskirche (Monastic Church) has one of the finest baroque towers in Austria, covered in light blue and white.

Visits to these beautiful towns of the Wachau Valley are featured on almost all Danube River Cruises. We also offer short river cruises to these wonderful destinations. Call today to book your holiday with us!

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!

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 →

The April Easter Markets in Vienna

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Easter in Vienna

Easter has a great importance in Austria’s capital Vienna. It will be exciting to start spring in one of the most famous and popular Easter markets. The array of markets is so captivating you will want to return to Vienna in springtime year after year.

These Easter markets remain open for several weeks in April. You will be enticed with the lovely open air stalls at several public places in Vienna during Easter time. These stalls offer various attractive items such as seasonal gifts and traditional crafts along with several culinary treats. A variety of entertainment is also available for the little ones in Vienna.

VIENNA Easter Market Schönbrunn Palace

You will be thrilled to see the magnificent setting on the large square directly in front of the Schönbrunn castle. This particular market is considered to be one of the most romantic Easter markets in Vienna. This market focuses on handicrafts and original gifts such as traditional Easter decorations and various hand-made crafts. Exhibitors from all over Austria display their wares along with different types of culinary delights. You will love the market as you enjoy savoring several seasonal treats from the region while enjoying the historically prominent ambience.

  • Dates and Time- Mar 16th till Apr 1st, 2013, daily 10am to 7pm
  • Venue-1130, Main Entrance Schönbrunn Castle, near U4 Schönbrunn, Vienna

VIENNA Easter Market Am Hof

Am Hof is one of the oldest squares in Vienna. The Easter market set up here focuses on handcrafted goods and contemporary artwork. Here you will find artistically decorated Easter eggs, flowers, candles, ceramics and pottery, knitwear, jewelry, metal objects, wood carvings and much more in a romantic yet artistic and creative environment.

  • Dates and Time- Mar 15th till Apr 1st, 2013, daily 11am to 7pm (weekends 8pm)
  • Venue-Am Hoff Square, Vienna

Enjoy the splendor of the Easter markets in Vienna while vacationing on a short river cruise along the Danube River.

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!