Music in Leipzig and Dresden with Walks in Saxony

Music in Leipzig & Dresden with Walks in Saxony

We begin our explorations in Leipzig, a city exhibiting a delightful blend of mediaeval and Art Deco architecture whose history is inextricably linked with the lives and music of Bach, Mendelssohn and Schumann.

After attending a performance of BACH’s MAGNIFICAT BWV 243 in St. Thomas’s Church (where Bach was cantor for 27 years), we travel southeast, deeper into Saxony, and spend 3 days exploring this picturesque sandstone mountain area on foot. A vintage paddle steamer takes us along the river Elbe to Dresden, an 800 year-old treasure trove of architecture and art, now superbly restored to its former glory.

As befits cities at the centre of European cultural life for centuries, Leipzig and Dresden’s opera and concert houses enjoy an international reputation. During our visit we attend the following performances:

LEIPZIG GEWANDHAUS ORCHESTRA

conductor, Herbert Blomstedt

Bruckner: Symphony no.5 in B major

SEMPER OPERA HOUSE, DRESDEN

Rossini: ‘LA CENERENTOLA’

TRIP ITINERARY

DAY 1

D included

After meeting at Dresden airport in the late afternoon, we transfer by private vehicle (an hour) to our 4 star Art Deco hotel in historic Leipzig, perfectly located for exploring on foot. We take an introductory stroll through the narrow lanes before a dinner of Saxon specialities in one of the city's excellent traditional restaurants.

DAY 2

B, L, D included

We set off on foot through the largely traffic-free historic centre, seeing the splendid Renaissance Old City Hall, the Marketplace (site of Leipzig Fairs since 1190) and some appealingly eccentric Art Deco buildings. A statue of Johann Sebastian Bach greets us beside the church of St Thomas for which he composed many of his greatest works, including the St Matthew Passion, the Christmas Oratorio and the B Minor Mass. We visit the church and the Bach Archive Museum, then pause for refreshment in Germany's oldest coffee house, little changed since 1694. We visit the Biedermeier apartment housing the Mendelssohn Museum and the fascinating Museum of Musical Instruments before returning to our hotel for some free time (a chance to use the spa or whirlpool facilities). The concert by the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra - founded in 1743, one of the world’s oldest and most distinguished orchestras - is followed by an elegant late dinner.

DAY 3

B, L, D included

The nearby Fine Arts Museum contains an important collection of early German and Flemish paintings which we view before a short organ recital in the city’s oldest church, the beautiful market church of St. Nicholas. We have some free time to explore before lunch and the performance of Bach’s Magnificat in St. Thomas’s Church. Private transport takes us into the heart of ‘Saxon Switzerland’ where our traditional, well-appointed, 3 star inn has a mediaeval cellar restaurant and a good selection of Saxon regional wines.

DAY 4

B, L, D included

A short road transfer whisks us up to the impressive fortress of Königstein, which was visited and admired for its military strength by Tsar Peter the Great and later used to store art treasures from Dresden during World War II. We explore the historic buildings and grounds and admire the marvellous view of the extraordinary rock formations in the Elbe valley. A four hour walk takes us through villages and woods back to the hotel, with a pause for lunch in a traditional inn at the ‘fresh-air spa’ town of Gorisch.

DAY 5

B, L, D included

We take a ferry across the Elbe to Bad Schandau and visit the Gothic Johanniskirche (with a notable Renaissance altarpiece) and the excellent Saxon Switzerland National Park visitors centre. Proceeding by local train to Wehlen, we walk to the Bastei (1.5 hrs), an extraordinary natural rock belvedere with splendid views, a famously photographed viaduct and the ruins of a 13th century castle. After lunch with a view we descend to the river level on foot. There is time to relax in the hotel sauna before we walk to a riverside restaurant where asparagus is bound to feature for dinner.

DAY 6

B, L, D included

A private road transfer brings us to Schloss Pillnitz, inspired by Moghul India, where we have a guided tour of the delightful park, designed in both English and Chinese styles. Boarding a paddle steamer operated by the Saxon Steam Shipping Company, we proceed into the heart of Dresden, passing vineyards and palaces en route. We alight for a 10 minute walk to our 4 star historic hotel, set on the Neumarkt, facing the Frauenkirche. An early dinner precedes the performance of Rossini’s ‘La Cenerentola’ in the celebrated Semper Opera House (where ‘The Flying Dutchman’ and ‘Tannhäuser’ were both premiered).

DAY 7

B, L, D included

This morning we have a guided walking tour of Dresden, including the exuberant Baroque Zwinger Palace, the Old Market Square, the Cathedral and the Theatre Square, before dispersing to pursue individual interests. The possibilities include the recently reopened Green Vault (Princely treasure chamber of Augustus the Strong, considered one of the most dazzling collections in the world), the Old Masters collection of the Saxon Electors (including works by Raphael, Correggio, Titian, Botticelli, Van Dyck, Rembrandt and Vermeer), or the specialist museums devoted to porcelain, globes and historic clocks.

DAY 8

B included

There is time for a stroll along the river or some final sightseeing before a private transfer to Dresden airport at midday.

Price includes:

All accommodation for Days 1 through 8 on a double shared basis

All meals with wine at lunches and dinners, other than those excepted in the daily notation

All land transportation in a private vehicle as described except during free periods

All entrance and sightseeing fees except during free periods

Tickets for two performances: opera in the Semperoper and an orchestral concert in the Leipzig Gewandhaus, as described in the itinerary

Paddle steamer trip on the river Elbe

Tickets for all ferry and train rides as described

Gratuities for hotel and restaurant staff

Visa and Health Requirements

Visitors from the EU and the US currently require a valid passport, but not a visa, for entry to Germany. If you are a national of any other country, please check visa regulations with your nearest Embassy of Germany.

At present there are no specific and compulsory health requirements for entry to Germany. Residents of countries in the EU can only claim free (emergency) medical treatment in Germany by presenting their European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), which is issued in the UK by the Department of Health. You may also wish to check the advice given to travellers by the FCO.

Insurance

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If you are already insured, or a non-UK resident, please inform us of your policy at the time of booking.