5-day Christmas trip to Alsace | Heidelberg | Strasbourg

Gathering early in the morning at MACEDONIA airport, getting to know our escort, who has made this trip many times and knows the places, the local traditions and the mentality of the inhabitants. Check-in and direct flight to picturesque Nuremberg, Bavaria's second largest city, a city you will love! We will admire the old town, which is a monument in itself. It is surrounded by imposing walls and on our walk we will admire the historic building that housed the Allied court of World War II, the central square, the town hall and the impressive Cathedral, as well as beautiful bridges.On the northwest side of the old town stands out its most imposing attraction, the medieval castle with an impressive view of the city that includes several impressive buildings and towers, while on the back side there is a very nice park. You will have free time at its magical Christmas market, the famous Christ kindlesmarkt, which isone of the oldest in Germany and one of the most famous and beautiful in the world, with 180 stalls full of toys and other gifts, carousels, but also traditional German delicacies, such as bratwurst and mulled wine. It started in 1628 AD. and is visited by over 2,000,000 visitors a year.Do not miss to try in one of the countless beer halls the famous "Nuremberg sausages" which are the best in the country, while it is forbidden to make them elsewhere, even in Germany! Ask for them to be served with sauerkraut, potato salad and the spicy horseradish sauce, which comes from a plant. Free time and departure for Mannheim. It is the second largest city of the state, after Stuttgart and is mentioned for the first time in a legal act of 766. In 1607 it acquired city privileges, while at the beginning of the 18th century it was reconstructed, acquiring a separate urban planning.We will see the Opera, the municipal park and the Water Tower, symbol of the city since the 19th century. We will also be impressed by the baroque palaces that house university schools. Finally, we will move to one of the most beautiful and picturesque cities in Germany, Heidelberg. A city which

it was the center of German romanticism and has the country's oldest university founded in 1386. Transfer to the hotel and settling in the rooms. In the evening, don't miss to try the traditional beer in one of the city's beer halls.

Breakfast and we start our tour in one of the most beautiful and picturesque cities in Germany, Heidelberg. A city which was the center

of German Romanticism and has the oldest so-called academic Metropolis of Europe. We start our tour of the fairy-tale city, where we will see the Palace, built on the slopes of the Konigstuhl mountain and the street of the philosophers, from which you can enjoy the most beautiful view of the city. The main road is the royal mile with 1.6 km. length, there is also the oldest hotel of the city "Zum Ritter" which has been operating since 1592.The two most beautiful churches are those of the Holy Spirit and the university.We will not skip going up the historic bridge, where is the statue of Athena and the statues - symbols of the biggest rivers of southern Germany. Free time for souvenirs and shopping. Late afternoon return to our hotel. In the evening, don't forget to try traditional beer in one of the traditional beer bars of the city.

Breakfast and departure for the well-known spa town of Baden-Baden. Arrival in the city located on the western slopes of the Black Forest, on the banks of the River O, near the city of Karlsruhe. The hot springs in Baden were already known from Roman times and were a magnet for the high society of Europe around the 19th century. Aristocratic walks, casinos, opera, neoclassical atmosphere, imperial baths are waiting for you to discover them. Finishing, departure for Alsace, perhaps the most beautiful and picturesque region of Europe! What makes it stand out is the special architecture of its buildings, which appear more and more often on the Instagram profiles of ordinary travelers and travel bloggers. We arrive at its most important city, Strasbourg. We start with a tour of the capital and main city of the canton of Lower Rhine, Strasbourg, where the local population consists of a mixture of French and German elements. A unique touch to the picturesqueness of the area is given by Petite France, an area that seems to have been taken out of the traditional fairy tales of Charles Perrault and the era of the 1600s.Trade and traditional activities are what contributed decisively to its development. A look at the dam Vauban will convince us of the magnitude of the defense works, which took place around 1700. Protestantism is strong in the area, a fact that is also reflected in the close relationship between the city and neighboring Germany. One of the most important historical events that took place in this city is the printing of the first book in 1450 by Gutenberg. Visiting this city we will see the cathedral, one of the highest buildings in Europe with a height of 150 meters, the impressive Rohan Palace with the 3 museums and more.Strasbourg is the only city in the world, together with Geneva, which is not the capital of a state, but hosts the seat of important international institutions. The European Parliament, the Council of the E.U. and the Court of Human Rights move the threads of the Old Continent from the city of northeastern France. For those who wish, we suggest a dream cruise on the canals. We will not miss to get wonderful local souvenirs and colorful folk art items.Free time and transfer to our hotel.Check in to the rooms.In the evening free time to take a first walk in the beautiful city that looks like a fairy tale. Imposing buildings, houses with playful architecture literally on the river and a historic center, made to host fairytale walks. Especially now, during the holiday season, the city puts the icing on the cake of its uniqueness: its lively narrow streets turn into a "village a la Hansel and Gretel" and become a whole attraction.

Breakfast and departure for the picturesque town of Colmar, known for its vineyards. The city was founded in the 9th century and is one of the few that is not penetrated by the river Rhine, but is connected by a canal of the river Lauch that runs through the city. Museums, cathedrals, architectural monuments, fountains and statues adorn the city and contribute to its uniqueness. We will see the two most important churches of the city, the Cathedral of St. Martin and the Dominicans, we will admire the famous 'little Venice', a section of the city made up of traditional buildings, reminiscent of the jewel of Northern Italy, the Pfister house,an old house in the center of the city with ornate decoration and German Renaissance architecture built in 1537 and the Municipal Library, which has one of the richest collections in France. Colmar is still famous, as it was the birthplace of the painter and engraver Martin Schongauer and the sculptor Frederic Bartholdi, designers of the Statue of Liberty. During our stay do not miss to try a traditional eclair in one of the typical patisserie. Then, for those who wish, we suggest a wonderful excursion to the famous wine villages, where in a radius of 150 km. there are 67 famous wine villages.Due to the fact that this area is surrounded on one side by the Bosque Mountains and on the other by the Rhine, a unique microclimate is created ideal for viticulture. We will visit 2 of the most famous villages, Recvir and Eghisheim. Visiting Egsheim we will see an 11th century castle built by the Dukes of Alsace, while in Recvir, known as the village of winegrowers, as most of the inhabitants are engaged in the cultivation of grapes, we will admire the main street of General de Gaulle, which maintains its medieval character, with the pastel colored houses having their due.Returning to Strasbourg we will pass by the European Parliament of Europe, built in 1998.

Breakfast, preparation for departure and then a photo-filled departure for Memmingen to catch the return flight. Arrival in our city in the afternoon with the best impressions.