|
|
|
Fairy Tales & Fabrics of
Switzerland, Germany & France
Featuring the European Patchwork Meeting
|
September 10 - 19, 2010
|
|
Tour Highlights
|
- First Class Hotel Accommodations
- Admission to the European Patchwork Meeting
- Zurich City Tour
- Admission to St. Gallen Textile Museum
- Admission to Benedictine Monestary at Klosterof
- Bernina Factory Tour
- Cuckoo Clock Trail in the Black Forest
- Admission to Museum of Printed Textiles
- Admission to Wesserling Fabric Museum
- TGV Train to Paris
- Paris City Tour
- Dinner in the Eiffel Towe
- Seine River Cruise
- Baggage Handling
- 10 Days - 14 meals - 9 Breakfasts, 5 Dinners
|
|
Per Person Rates (Land Only) |
|
$2,575
- Per Person Double Occupancy
$625 - Additional for Single Accommodation
|
|
Arrival and Departure Information |
|
This tour begins in Zurich Switzerland & ends in Paris France
Day 1
Zurich hotel check-in is after 3:00 p.m. Earlier check-in may be possible if rooms are ready. Baggage storage is available for early arrivals. Our welcome dinner is scheduled for 6:00 p.m.
Day 10
Departure from Paris is at your leisure. Hotel check-out time is 12:00 noon
Transfers to & from the Airport are not included.
|
Detailed Itinerary |
Don’t miss this exciting journey through textile history as we visit storybook towns in Germany’s Black Forest, medieval markets in Switzerland, and old-world villages in the French countryside—with a grand finale at the Eiffel Tower in Paris. Along the way we’ll visit world-renowned textile museums, see fantastic fabric collections, and visit the village-wide European Patchwork Meeting in the Alsatian countryside. Ooh La La!
Day 1 - Zurich Bound
You’ll personally arrange your flights for September 10th arrival at Kloten Airport in Zurich, Switzerland. Taxi service is readily available here to whisk you to our nearby hotel in the heart of downtown Zurich. Following check-in you’ll have time to unpack and relax before our exciting itinerary begins. Or perhaps you’ll be ready for a bit of exploring on your own in this beautiful city, often celebrated as one of the cleanest cities in the world. Enjoy a leisurely stroll along Zurich’s famous quays on the banks of Lake Zurich where sailboats glide across crystal-blue waters. Or visit one of the city’s charming cafes to sample their mouth-watering specialties along with a glass of the locally produced wine.
This evening you’ll meet your tour director and travel companions at our Welcome Dinner. (Welcome Dinner)
Day 2 - To Market
Today we’ll join our expert guide for an up-close and personal tour of Zurich, Switzerland’s largest city and surely one of the most charming cities in all of Europe. Situated on the northern shore of the lake bearing the same name, Zurich retains much of its 19th century charm yet is one of the world’s most sophisticated cities. We’ll begin our tour with a stroll through fabled Old Town where Gothic architecture and sweeping cathedrals tower high above cobbled alleys and winding lanes. We’ll meander through a labyrinth of streets to explore old-world shops and medieval structures whose facades still bear their original leaded glass windows and wood detail. We’ll explore the lovely, tree-shaded area of Lindenhoff Square where the remains of the original Roman customs house and the imperial medieval residence are still visible. From here a maze of alleys brings us to the centerpiece of Old Town: the Burkliplatz (town square) where we’re just in time for the legendary Saturday Market. This colorful market offers a seemingly endless array of booths and stands piled high with local specialties, collectibles, antiques, and other treasure. (Breakfast)
Day 3 - Linen and Lace
This morning in the foothills of the Alps, we’ll visit St Gallen, an ancient village known as the embroidery and lace capital of Europe. The town’s history as a textile capital dates from the Middle Ages when convent workers wove linen toile of such exceptional quality that it soon achieved world-wide acclaim. St Gallen went on to establish itself as a leader in the embroidery and lace industry and to this day maintains its reputation for excellence.
We’ll visit the St Gallen Textile Museum which chronicles the evolution of the village’s embroidery and lace production and showcases an unbelievable collection of more than 30,000 objects related to textiles and fabrics. We’ll inspect textiles from Egyptian tombs, 14th century embroideries and laces, costumes, historic fabrics, early needlework notions…a truly inspiring display of needlework possibilities.
Our visit here would not be complete without visiting the fabled grounds of the Benedictine Monastery at Klosterhof, erected during the18th century and now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We’ll also visit the beautiful Baroque-style abbey library and view their renowned collection of ancient parchment manuscripts. (Breakfast)
Day 4 - Gothic Treasures & Gargoyles
This morning we’ll travel north to Steckborn, Switzerland, a cozy village on the shores of Lake Bodensee. Here among half-timbered dwellings and winding cobbled roads is the headquarters of Bernina Manufacturing, one of the world’s largest sewing machine manufacturers. Our behind-the-scenes visit includes a fascinating tour of the production process followed by a demonstration of their newest software and accessories.
Our journey continues to Freiburg, a sleepy 12th century German village framed by the velvety hills of the Black Forest. We’ll explore Frieburg’s ancient treasures during our walking tour of the Alstadt (Old City). One of our stops includes Munster Cathedral, among the oldest and most beautiful of all European cathedrals. Its Gothic spires soar above the treetops while on its rooftop corners, impish gargoyles peer at all who linger below. Each morning the square surrounding the church is bustling with local merchants selling flowers, fruits, vegetables, and of course wursts—German sausages a Freiburg tradition. And speaking of tradition, be sure to sample the Black Forest cake. It’s absolute heaven! (Breakfast) (Dinner)
Day 5 - The Cuckoo Clock Trail
This morning our coach takes us through the fabled Black Forest, a wonderland of evergreen trees and moss-dappled valleys. We’ll visit the storybook village of Triberg im Schwarzwald, known world-wide for its cuckoo clocks. We’ll see the world’s largest cuckoo clock, and houses that look like cuckoo clocks, and artisan shops that offer one-of-a-kind cuckoo clocks. It’s all fun as we journey along the famous Cuckoo Clock Trail. Throughout the town we’ll see villagers dressed in traditional garments: men in black ankle-high lederhosen held up by suspenders, and women in starched white blouses and dresses trimmed with embroidery, their Bollenhuts surely adding to the day’s vivid impressions and memories you’ll later cherish. (Breakfast)
Day 6 - French Fabric
Our journey continues today into the Alsace countryside of France, a region rich in textile history. Throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, Alsace prevailed as the world’s greatest producer of printed textiles, a magnet for students and textile artists from across Europe and beyond..
We’ll tour the Museum of Printed Textiles (Musee de L’Impression sur Etoffes), established in the 1800s to archive fabric designs as inspiration for fabric artists and designers. Today the museum’s collection includes more than 3 million fabric samples and some 9000 research volumes used regularly by researchers and students. And for those who feel inspired, the museum produces a selection of fine cotton and silk fabric that’s available for purchase.
A lovely respite awaits us this afternoon as we enter the formal estate and gardens of Wesserling Park. This park stands as a unique reminder of the affluent lifestyle once enjoyed by those responsible for the fabric industry of Alsace. The estate, dating from the 1600s, includes a prestigious chateau, glorious gardens, ornamental lakes, and factories that originated as the royal workshops. We’ll begin our visit at the Wesserling Fabric Museum to learn about the fabric manufacturing process. From raw cotton to finished fabric, this is the story of how prosperity and industrial greatness came to the Alsace region long ago.
Afterward, enjoy a stroll through the glorious gardens, which include a formal French-style garden, a romantic English-style garden, and an aromatic kitchen garden. (Breakfast) (Dinner)
Day 7 - Quilt Show - Magnifique!
Tucked away in a valley of France’s Alsatian countryside are four fairy tale-like villages, oozing with old-world charm Church spires reach toward crystal blue skies, and pastel-tinted buildings front the cobbled streets. This is the location of The European Patchwork Meeting, one of the largest shows in all of Europe and certainly the most picturesque. Showcased throughout the villages are over 800 textile works, an artisan area with working craftsmen, and several fashion shows. Each year a glorious collection of Amish quilts goes on display in honor of the Amish movement, which was founded in Ste Marie aux Mines in the 1600s. Here too you’ll find a collection of European vendors selling fabrics, publications, and all manner of needlework notions. (Breakfast)
Day 8 - Paris Bound
This morning we’ll once again visit the quilt show environs where perhaps you’ll spend time exploring the unique shops and cafes located in each of the villages. Early this afternoon we’ll board the amazing high-speed TGV train, and before we know it, we’ve arrived in Paris, France. (Breakfast) (Dinner)
Day 9 - Paris Legends
This morning we board our coach for a panoramic tour of Paris. As our coach glides along the grand boulevards, we’ll take in the fabulous architecture of the Arc de Triomphe, the Gothic spires and gargoyles of Notre-Dame Cathedral, the magnificent Place Vendome, and the opulent Champ-Elysees. Be assured that you’ll have time this afternoon to explore Paris at your leisure, perhaps visiting the museums. The Louvre, anyone? Or maybe do a bit of souvenir shopping, especially for family and friends who later can hear you say, “I bought it for you, in Paris.”
This evening finds us high above the Paris skyline where we’ll enjoy a special Farewell Dinner. Where? Inside the Eiffel Tower. And following dinner, we’ll board our waiting vessel for an unforgettable cruise along the Seine River where architectural masterpieces and bridges are bathed in soft twinkling lights. (Breakfast) (Dinner)
Day 10 - Au revoir
Enjoy a leisurely breakfast this morning. Perhaps afterward we can all gather one last time for a farewell group picture! You’ll arrange your own individual transfer service to your choice of airports in Paris, France.
We hope you’ve enjoyed this magical journey and that our time together will forever remain among your most special memories. (Breakfast)
|
|
|
