Secrets of Saxony - Germany

SECRETS OF SAXONY - GERMANY

 

2 – 8 July 2024

Tuesday – Monday

7 Days

From £1,149

 

Once one of Germany’s most popular tourist destinations, Saxony all but disappeared from view during the years of communist rule. Today, nearly 30 years since German reunification, the region’s spectacular architecture, landscape and cultural heritage is once again attracting visitors from across the world.

 

 

HOLIDAY HIGHLIGHTS

 

Dresden Sightseeing - A City of Beauty Rebuilt   |   Meissen – Home of Porcelain   |    Moritzburg Castle   |   Leipzig   |   Colditz

 

DAY ONE & TWO – Travel to Germany

We depart from your home and make our way to Dover for a short sea crossing to France and make your way to Germany. We stop overnight en route to Dresden, your base for the next four nights.

 

DAY THREE – Dresden Sightseeing - A City of Beauty Rebuilt

A beautiful city rich in art treasures, history and legend, Dresden offers so much. It’s hard to believe that the city was all but wiped off the map by Allied bombings in 1945. Sitting on the River Elbe, the city’s skyline, full of spires, towers and domes belonging to palaces, churches and stately buildings offers a taste of a city proud of its cultural heritage. In the morning, we take a half day guided walking tour to find out more about the city’s rebirth. We’ll see the Zwinger Palace, Theaterplatz Square and the famous Semper Opera House, as well as the Royal Palace, the Frauenkirche on Neumarkt and the Brühl Terrace. In the afternoon there’s free time to explore more of what this remarkable place has to offer.

 

Dresden: A City of Beauty Rebuilt

During this tour we explore Dresden, the 800-year-old capital of Saxony. The city’s skyline of spires, towers and domes is a glimpse into its rich cultural heritage. In 1491, Dresden suffered a devastating fire, but from the ashes, the city was built in a renaissance style, becoming a hotbed for the European elite for centuries to come. However, this was not the first time the city succumbed to a fiery destruction. Visiting Dresden today, it’s difficult to conceive of the utter destruction it suffered during the Second World War. Known as the ‘Dresden fire’, the allies bombing destroyed the city. Since then, classic Dresden buildings have been rebuilt and restored, retaining its reputation as the Florence on the Elbe.

 

DAY FOUR – Meissen, Porcelain and Moritzburg Castle

This morning we travel upstream from Dresden to visit the town of Meissen, the ‘home’ of European porcelain manufacturing.

A visit to Meissen® Manufactory will reveal the secrets of their famous porcelain. We take a guided walking tour to learn more, including the castle rock with Albrechtsburg Castle, where the world-famous china was first made, and the majestic Gothic Cathedral. Don’t miss the spectacular views of the Elbe valley. Our journey then takes us to Moritzburg Castle, a beautiful Baroque palace named after Duke, Moritz of Saxony who had a hunting lodge built there between 1542 and 1546.

 

Meissen: Home of Porcelain

A town famous for its manufacture of ceramics.  The thousand-year-old city of Meissen is not only known for its porcelain production, it is also famous for its medieval centre and vineyard landscape of the Elbe valley. The picturesque city on the Elbe River offers abundant attractions, many of them touristic highlights of the region. While in Meissen, perhaps visit the beautiful Moritzburg Castle or enjoy a steam train journey.

 

DAY FIVE - Leipzig and Colditz

Our first stop today is in Leipzig, a city that retains much of its historic character while reinventing itself for a modern generation. The market square is home to the beautiful 16th Century Old Town Hall, generally regarded as being one of the most beautiful Renaissance buildings in Germany. In the afternoon, we visit the infamous Colditz Castle, one of the most important Allied officer’s prisoner-of-war camps in WWII. The Escape Museum portrays the period and the 300 documented escape attempts.

 

An Art Lover’s Paradise: Leipzig

Another fantastic Saxon town is Leipzig, which fuses its history seamlessly into its modern vibe. Known as the City of Rivers, this is a spectacularly beautiful place. With a history going back almost 1,000 years, this Saxon metropolis has earned more than a few claims to fame – as a city of music, of commerce, of heroes, as the site of the Peaceful Revolution, as Little Paris, Athens on the River Pleisse, and the Venice of the North. A final highlight is a stark piece of history. Visit Colditz Castle, a Renaissance castle used by the Nazi’s as a prisoner of war camp in WWII.

 

DAY SIX & SEVEN – Departure and Home

The time has come to leave Germany. We depart and begin our journey home to our overnight hotel. We then continue our journey onto our ferry crossing the following day and home.

 

YOUR HOLIDAY INCLUDES

• Luxury coach travel

• Home pick-up

• 2 nights accommodation, & breakfast

• 4 nights accommodation, dinner & breakfast

• Guided walking tour of Dresden, Meissen

• Admission to Meissen® Manufactory

• Admission to Moritzburg Castle

• Admission to Colditz Castle.

 

MARITIM HOTEL, DRESDEN

Located in the city centre, just a few steps away from the Semper Opera House. The hotel offers spacious accommodation, a swimming pool and a large terrace along the River Elbe. The rooms feature a minibar, TV, safe and free Wi-Fi.

YOUR HOLIDAY INCLUDES

Luxury coach travel

Home pick-up

2 nights accommodation, & breakfast

4 nights accommodation, dinner & breakfast

Guided walking tour of Dresden, Meissen

Admission to Meissen® Manufactory

Admission to Moritzburg Castle

Admission to Colditz Castle.

 

MARITIM HOTEL, DRESDEN

Located in the city centre, just a few steps away from the Semper Opera House. The hotel offers spacious accommodation, a swimming pool and a large terrace along the River Elbe. The rooms feature a minibar, TV, safe and free Wi-Fi.

 

HOTEL FACILITIES INCLUDE

 

General	Rooms	Accessibility
4 star	Air Conditioning	Lift
Bar	Television	Wheelchair accessible
Restaurant
Gym (additional charge)
Swimming Pool
Wi-Fi

 

 

Dresden: A City of Beauty Rebuilt

During this tour we explore Dresden, the 800-year-old capital of Saxony. The city’s skyline of spires, towers and domes is a glimpse into its rich cultural heritage. In 1491, Dresden suffered a devastating fire, but from the ashes, the city was built in a renaissance style, becoming a hotbed for the European elite for centuries to come. However, this was not the first time the city succumbed to a fiery destruction. Visiting Dresden today, it’s difficult to conceive of the utter destruction it suffered during the Second World War. Known as the ‘Dresden fire’, the allies bombing destroyed the city. Since then, classic Dresden buildings have been rebuilt and restored, retaining its reputation as the Florence on the Elbe.

 

Meissen: Home of Porcelain

A town famous for its manufacture of ceramics.  The thousand-year-old city of Meissen is not only known for its porcelain production, it is also famous for its medieval centre and vineyard landscape of the Elbe valley. The picturesque city on the Elbe River offers abundant attractions, many of them touristic highlights of the region. While in Meissen, perhaps visit the beautiful Moritzburg Castle or enjoy a steam train journey.

 

An Art Lover’s Paradise: Leipzig

Another fantastic Saxon town is Leipzig, which fuses its history seamlessly into its modern vibe. Known as the City of Rivers, this is a spectacularly beautiful place. With a history going back almost 1,000 years, this Saxon metropolis has earned more than a few claims to fame – as a city of music, of commerce, of heroes, as the site of the Peaceful Revolution, as Little Paris, Athens on the River Pleisse, and the Venice of the North. A final highlight is a stark piece of history. Visit Colditz Castle, a Renaissance castle used by the Nazi’s as a prisoner of war camp in WWII.

 

 

DAYS	TOUR DATE	DEPARTS	TERMS	SUPPLEMENT
7	2 – 8 JUL 2024	TUESDAY	£1,149	£186 SINGLE
JONES HOLIDAYS INSURANCE			£80.64

 

Rooms are allocated on a first come first served basis and are limited. If no single supplement applies this is limited to the tour single room allocation and therefore additional cost may apply.  Prices displayed are per person unless otherwise stated. If door-to-door pick-up is included there may be additional charges for out of area. Itineraries and hotel inclusions may be subject to change. Seat numbers on the coach may be subject to change. Issues whilst on tour must be raised in the first instance with the driver. Covid-19 restrictions may apply. When making bookings you accept on behalf of yourself and your party the terms in our Trading Charter which can be found in our brochure, on our website at http://www.jonesholidays.co.uk/Jones-holidays-trading-charter, or a copy can be requested from our Sales office.  If your holiday is more than 56 days from departure, we offer a 7-day cooling off period where a full refund will be offered from the date of the initial confirmation invoice (with the exception of flight holidays).

maritim Hotel, Dresden