Overview
Join us on this exclusive journey to the cultural centers that inspired classical music’s Great Masters. Framed by rolling hillsides, lush vineyards, and medieval castles, the Danube River Valley has resonated with musicians, artists, poets and travelers throughout the centuries, and has contributed to the world the genius of its most renowned virtuosos.
Our comprehensive itinerary takes you through six countries and the heartland of central Europe. It has been custom designed to showcase the musical heritage of Europe’s accomplished composers, including Mozart, Beethoven, and Chopin, and carefully planned to allow ample time to explore many World Heritage treasures and more. Cruise the legendary Blue Danube from Passau, Germany, to Budapest, Hungary, aboard the exclusively chartered, deluxe M.S. Amadeus Elegant, one of the finest ships to ply the waterways of Europe, often docking right in the heart of the cities, and spend three nights each in historic Prague and Krakow in deluxe, centrally located hotels.
Your experience will be enhanced by a comprehensive schedule of exclusive and specially arranged expert lectures, classical music performances on shore and aboard ship, and guided excursions. Traveling through the heartland of Europe has never been more historically rich and culturally exciting. This exceptional value-priced program is sure to strike a chord with both new and repeat travelers as it taps into the heart and soul of the region, as well as its great composers, art, and architectural masterpieces.Smithsonian Experts
Throughout this tour, travel in the company of an exceptional Smithsonian Study Leader. Ursula Rehn Wolfman is an adjunct professor at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., whose particular field of interest is the relationship between the arts, literature, painting/sculpture, architecture, and music. You will also enjoy presentations by John Stewart, a composer and music theorist who is Senior Preceptor Emeritus in Music at Harvard University; Ezra Laderman, professor of composition at the Yale School of Music; and Dwight Young, with the National Trust for Historic Preservation, who will enrich this program with his knowledge of architecture.Special Highlights
Join our new 13-day journey that features a program of four classical music performances, including a concert onboard ship, and tours that showcase the cultural centers that inspired the musical genius of Mozart, Beethoven, and Strauss.Attend presentations on music and the arts by a team of experts during your cruise.Visit six Central European countries—Poland, Czech Republic, Germany, Austria, Slovakia, and Hungary—and many World Heritage sites.Cruise for five nights on the legendary Blue Danube aboard the deluxe M.S. Amadeus Elegant.Spend three nights in the historic city of Krakow and three nights in fascinating, medieval Prague, featuring deluxe accommodations in the heart of each city.Traverse an enchanting landscape of exceptional natural and man-made beauty as you cruise from Passau, Germany, stopping at Melk, Dürnstein and Vienna, Austria; Bratislava, Slovakia; and concluding in Budapest, Hungary.Choose to complement your journey with a two-night Warsaw Pre-Program Optional Extension and/or a two-night Budapest Post-Program Optional Extension.Don't forget to check out our photo slide show to glimpse the excitement of this special program!
View photos by clicking "Next Photo" at top of page!World Heritage Sites
This tour features the following World Heritage sites:- Historic area of Krakow, Poland
- Auschwitz-Birkenau, Poland (optional excursion)
- Wieliczka Salt Mine, Poland (optional excursion)
- Historic area of Prague, Czech Republic
- The Danube’s Wachau Valley, Austria
- Historic area of Vienna and Schönbrunn Palace, Austria
- Historic area of Budapest, Hungary
See a complete list of all Smithsonian tours featuring World Heritage sites.
