German Christmas Break
Number of days: 8 Days
Departs from: Frankfurt
Avg distance travelled / day: 145km
Hornberg, Germany - image courtesy of Rebecca Wrangell
Tour Itinerary
Day 1: 21 December - Frankfurt
Your tour commences this evening in wonderful Frankfurt. There is so much to see and do in the city centre. Dinner tonight in included in your hotel but first, enjoy a welcome drink in the hotel bar. This is an ideal chance to get to meet your fellow travellers.
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Your Frankfurt Hotel – The Hilton Frankfurt. This First Class hotel is in a superb location near the city centre. All rooms have private facilities, telephone, TV, mini bar, hair dryer etc.
Day 2: 22 December - Hornberg
The ancient university town of Heidelberg is only an hour’s drive away. Set in the wooded Neckar Valley, with its twin-towered bridge and red sandstone castle, we spend the morning here. Moving on to Stuttgart we enjoy a brief city orientation tour before having free time in one of the most beautiful and largest Christmas Markets in Europe. With 200 delightfully decorated stands the "fairytale land" on Schlossplatz form a fabulous Christmas setting. In front of the ‘New Palace” there is also an open air skating rink. Late afternoon we drive deep into the Black Forest to the village of Hornberg where we stay for the next six nights over Christmas. During your stay all breakfasts and dinners are included and there is also Turkey lunch on Christmas Day.
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Your Black Forest Hotel – Hotel Schloss Hornberg
Enjoy the 900 years of history surrounding your little ‘schloss’ (stately home) which boasts Black Forest traditions and culinary delights. (technically ‘schloss’ can mean palace or castle however the Hornberg is better described as a stately home or mansion).Situated in a beautiful park above the valley in the heart of the Black Forest, this location makes an excellent base for all of our included excursions to the surrounding areas. This traditional hotel has a 3 star classification and all guestrooms are fitted with bath/showers, radio, telephones and satellite television. Please note the Hornberg Hotel has no lift however our rooms will be located on floors 1 and 2.
Day 3: 23 December - Hornberg
After a leisurely departure this morning we cross the River Rhine and enter France to visit Strasbourg. A local guide will join us to bring to life this historic medieval town. We have also included a delightful canal boat cruise. The rest of the day is free to explore the old town. Retaining its old world charm there are 3 bridges spanning the River Ill, massive fortified towers and the pedestrian streets. The Christmas Markets around the Place de la Cathédrale and Place Broglie are beautifully decorated and a delight. This traditional Christmas Market, which dates back to 1570, is one of the oldest and finest, and boasts one of the highest Christmas trees in Europe. Time to do that last minute shopping, indulge in the mulled wine, ginger biscuits and ‘Bredele’ (small Alsatian biscuits), take in the music, fabulously decorated trees and folklore displays. Late afternoon we cross back into Germany and make a very special stop in the picture postcard village of Gengenbach. The ornate Christmas markets are set in the old town centre which dates back hundreds of years. Behind the giant Christmas tree the beautiful 18th century town hall becomes the largest advent calendar in the world. Our visit is timed so we are in the markets after dusk on as the advent calendar window is opened in celebration.
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Day 4: 24 December - Hornberg
Christmas Eve – An exciting day as we drive through the conifers and snow covered meadows to reach beautiful Lake Titisee for a morning break. Later we will continue to the Black Forest’s highest ski resort at Feldberg, for lunchtime. Time to maybe enjoy a chair lift ride up to a mountain restaurant and take in the views or just have some fun in the snow. This afternoon, back at your hotel, we have included afternoon tea with Christmas biscuits and later this evening relax and enjoy our traditional festive Christmas Eve dinner.
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Day 5: 25 December - Hornberg
Christmas Day as it should be…in a wonderful location - relaxing, eating, drinking and definitely no Indiana Jones repeats or visits from long, lost relatives! This is a day to relax and savour the delights of the valley you are staying in. Nearby you will find numerous hiking paths and walkways to enjoy. Remember to gather together for Christmas Day Turkey Lunch and the Hornberger shooting. This historical re-enactment provides insight into the local event which took place in 1576, hold onto your hot punch when the cannon goes off!
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Day 6: 26 December - Hornberg
Boxing Day – We have included a glorious visit to Hohenzollern Castle with its many towers and turrets which are surrounded by ramps and fortifications. The castle rises majestically from atop an 855 metre high mountain overlooking the Swabian Alb (Highlands). We will use a local shuttle bus to travel up the wooded road from the coach park to the castle. This afternoon we continue to Triberg area to visit the Schwarzwald Museum (Black Forest Museum) with its 18 rooms displaying the unique lifestyles, furniture and traditions of the Black Forest. Early evening we have also included a torchlight walk with cookies and glühwein (mulled wine)
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Day 7: 27 December - Hornberg
This morning we are joined by our local guide when we visit the capital of the Black Forest – the Gothic city of Freiburg. Sensitively restored, Freiburg is one of the most charming German cities located where the Black Forest meets the Rhine plain. Arcaded shopping streets and little streams lead through the old town to its great Gothic Münster with a splendid tower and richly decorated interior. At dusk we enjoy our horse drawn carriage ride near our hotel and later we indulge in our farewell Medieval Banquet in the cellars of the Schloss.
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Day 8: 28 December - Hornberg
Sadly your Christmas tour is now complete, and its time to bid farewell as we make the morning transfer via Zurich Airport to arrive late morning and then onto Luzern. Maybe you will be joining one of our exciting New Year programmes which start in Luzern today.
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