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Day 1: Frankfurt, Erfurt, Leipzig 
Depart from Frankfurt in the morning and drive eastward to our first stop Eisenbach, dominated by the Wartburg Castle. Visit one of Germanys most important edifices of national heritage and see the room, where Luther used to live for many years and spent the last years of his seclusion. Continue via Weimar to Leipzig, where, after checking in to your hotel we will visit one of Germany’s largest Christmas markets. The main attractions are located on the historical market square in front of the ancient town hall. Marvel at the 25 yard Christmas tree with its thousands of lights or stroll through the many stalls with handcrafted Christmas gifts from the region. We invite you to a very informal German style snack with Bratwurst and mulled wine at one of the numerous food stalls. (D/O)

Day 2: Leipzig, Meissen, Dresden 
In the morning we continue towards Meissen, where we visit one of Germany’s oldest porcelain manufactories. Founded in the 18th century and being continuously in operation since then, the delicate, always handcrafted products are found in royal courts and celebrities homes all around the world. Meissen is proud to be able to restore or manufacture on demand all ever produced designs, as the negative plaster models have been preserved throughout the centuries. See the exhibition hall and the demonstration workshops were all steps of the painting and glazing process is explained to you. Afterwards we continue onward to Dresden, were after a city tour, high lighting all major sights as Zwinger, Frauenkirche, Semper Opera House and many more we check in to our hotel. In the evening we will visit the Christmas Market in Dresden, which is named “Striezelmarkt” after the local cake specialty, the “Christstollen” or “Striezel” Highlights are the more than 16 yard tall Christmas pyramid, and the many stalls, where you can sample the “Strietzel”. (B/O)

Day 3: Dresden, Annaberg, Schneeberg, Plauen 
Today after breakfast we are heading mostly along country roads to visit two ancient miner-villages, named Schneeberg and Annaberg. These villages are typical for the Erzgebirge (ore-mountains) and actually are the home of the German tradition of woodcarving and Christmas-pyramids. In older times, light – represented by candles – was an important symbol of life and safety for the miners, working in the dark tunnels to retrieve the ore and coal. Thus the wood carvers combined their deep religious beliefs and used candles to illuminate the pyramids with saints and symbols from the holy night like ox, mule and Shepard. The Christmas market in Annaberg is dating back as far as 1510. In Schneeberg, the main attraction, aside of the Christmas market is St. Wolfgang –church with an altar from 1539, carved by Lucas Cranach, the elder. In the afternoon we continue towards Plauen, a city famous for its handcrafted lace. Plauen was founded in the 11th century and since the 16 hundreds an important place for cotton manufacturing. A farewell dinner will be served in you hotel. (B/D/O)

Day 4: Plauen, Bamberg, Frankfurt 
On the last day of the tour we are traveling through the Franconian forest to the imperial city of Bamberg. The city, founded in the 9th century also has a nicely preserved old-town which was declared UNESCO world heritage site a couple of years ago. We will walk through the old town and see the cathedral and the St. Benedicts abbey Michaelsberg. The last impressions of German Christmas Markets can be seen as the pedestrian zone around the cathedral hosts the Bamberg Christmas market and you can do some last minute shopping there, if you wish. On we go through rolling hills of Franconia until reaching your final destination Frankfurt in the late afternoon. (B)


B=Breakfast; D=Dinner; O=Overnight; ditst7