Tour Overview

Imagine staying deep in the heart of the German Black Forest over Christmas. Visit medieval towns and explore Christmas Markets on cobblestoned streets. Explore the Alsace wine road, visit the magnificent Hohenzollern Castle and see Gengenbach’s town hall illuminate with the world’s largest advent calendar.

Highlights

Celebrate Christmas over 6 nights in the heart of the Black Forest
Enjoy daily included excursions to the Christmas Markets and towns of the Black Forest and the French Alsace
Take in the medieval towns of Heidelberg, Freiburg and the festive Baden Baden Christmas Markets
Cross into the Alsace region of France to visit Strasbourg to explore the wonderful Christmas Markets in the cobbled stone town centre
See the world’s biggest advent calendar in Gengenbach and enjoy a special ‘dress up’ Medieval Banquet
Explore the massive Hohenzollern Castle and see beautiful Lake Titisee
Travel on the Black Forest High Road, enjoy ‘Christmas Magic’ in Triberg and witness the Hornberger shooting – an annual historical re-enactment
All breakfasts and dinners are included

The German Christmas Holiday Tour is just one of many you can enjoy in France, Germany or Switzerland. Visit each destination page for more information for our other amazing tours!

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German Christmas Holiday

Tour Itinerary

Day 1: Frankfurt

Your tour commences this evening in wonderful Frankfurt: a city of contrasts – from modern skyscrapers to beautifully maintained old buildings. There is so much to see and do in the city centre. Dinner tonight is included in your hotel but first, enjoy a welcome drink. This is an ideal opportunity to meet your fellow travellers.

Meals:

D

Hotel:

Maritim Hotel

Day 2: Heidelberg, Baden Baden Christmas Markets and 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 delightful Baden Baden you will have time to explore the Christmas Market, which is set against the picturesque backdrop of the Kurhaus and the colonnades lit up by thousands of lights, in the heart of the festively decorated old town. 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.

Meals:

B

D

Hotel:

Hotel Schloss Hornberg

Day 3: Medieval Strasbourg and picture perfect Gengenbach

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. The rest of the day is free to explore the old town. 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 as the advent calendar window is opened in celebration.

Meals:

B

D

Hotel:

Hotel Schloss Hornberg

Day 4: Cuckoo Clocks and Lake Titisee

Christmas Eve! An exciting day as we drive through the conifers and snow covered meadows to reach Hofgut Sternen - ‘the Black Forest Village’ to discover how cuckoo clocks are made, and to enjoy Black Forest gâteau and coffee. Afterwards we enjoy lunchtime on nearby beautiful Lake Titisee. 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.

Meals:

B

D

Hotel:

Hotel Schloss Hornberg

Day 5: Christmas Day – ‘My Time’ in Hornberg, a winter walk and the ‘Hornberg Shooting’

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.

A Christmas Day Turkey lunch is included at your hotel. Mid afternoon we have included a guided village walk, followed by cookies and glühwein (mulled wine). Later we gather for ‘the Hornberger shooting'. This historical re-enactment provides insight into the local event which took place in 1576.

Meals:

B

L

D

Hotel:

Hotel Schloss Hornberg

Day 6: Hohenzollern Castle, the Black Forest Museum and spectacular ‘Christmas Magic’ in Triberg

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 the Triberg area to visit the Schwarzwald Museum (Black Forest Museum) and ‘Christmas Magic’– a spectacular illumination that transforms the area around the Triberg waterfalls.

Meals:

B

D

Hotel:

Hotel Schloss Hornberg

Day 7: Gothic Freiburg and a medieval Banquet dinner

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. Tonight we indulge in our farewell Medieval Banquet in the cellars of the Schloss.

Meals:

B

D

Hotel:

Hotel Schloss Hornberg

Day 8: To Luzern

This morning it is time to say farewell as your tour ends with a transfer to Luzern, via Zürich (drop off at Airport and train station in the city centre). We recommend that you book flights that depart Zurich after 2pm today.

Meals:

B

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Incredible Value Inclusions

All excursions, scenic drives, sightseeing and entrances as described
Fully escorted by our experienced Tour Manager
Travel in a first class air conditioned touring coach
7 nights authentic, specially selected hotel accommodation
Hotel porterage (1 suitcase pp)
Welcome drink in Frankfurt
15 Meals – Buffet breakfast daily (B), 1 lunch (L) and 7 evening dinners (D)
A complimentary wine, beer or soft drink with all included dinners
Tea and coffee with all included dinners
Local guides as described
Personal audio system whilst on tour
Free WiFi on most coaches and at hotels
End of tour tips to Tour Manager and Driver, tips for local guides
Albatross Tours Travel App

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Your Hotels

Hotel Schloss, Hornberg – 6 Nights

This historic stately home is now a family run 3 star hotel, 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.

Please note the Hornberg Hotel has no lift.

Find out more

Maritim Hotel - 1 Night

This first class hotel is in a superb location near the city centre.

Find out more

Tour Reviews

The tour was everything that was expected. Great tour manager, would want him on any tour. He was able to cope with difficult situations, most professionally, even when he was frozen cold!!! The various side trips were so enjoyable, and our Tour Manager had so much information to give.

The family atmosphere provided by Monika and Karsten, not forgetting the very obliging staff, made European Christmas an event to remember. I will be telling my friends to think about the same venue with Albatross.

Margaret H

Top of my 'Bucket List' was to experience a 'White Christmas.' So together with my son, daughter-in-law & grandsons Jack (19) and Adam (14) we chose to travel with Albatross.

It has been a wonderful week, great group of mixed ages and the boys found much to interest them. No snow on Christmas Day, however, we have certainly experienced the white stuff in abundance.

Truly, I have really had a great week and look forward to joining the New Year in Paris tour.

Doreen, travelled December 2014

View from the hotel in Hornberg, courtesy of Rebecca Wrangell

The accommodation was family orientated, friendly, with excellent meals served with style and taste. Being lactose intolerant was well catered for by the chef. The final "medieval dinner" was the best special occasion function I have attended on a tour.

Outings were well paced, interesting, well led by Tour Leader Darren with good information, humour and an excellent safe driver in Andi

Claudia