Page 49 - Eastern Europe

Downtown HUNGARY Providing Fascinating Travel Experiences
the most beautiful baroque palaces in Austria and presents a fascinating view of the resplendent life once lived at the court of the Princes Esterházy. Lunch at a local restaurant before visiting Forchenstein, the only fortress in the region that was never captured during the Turkish wars. This castle served as the treasury of the Eszterhazy princes. Return to Sopron for dinner and over- night. [B/L/D]
Day 7: Sopron, Pannonhalma, Budapest
On our way back to Budapest we stop at Pannonhalma to visit the abbey. Since 1996 the thousand-ear-old Benedictine Arch abbey of Pannonhalma has been a part of the list of World Heritage Sites. The Baroque complex incorporates original Romanesque and Gothic structures. The three-nave 13th-century basilica with its Gothic vault still stands today, including the lierne vaulted sanctuary. The Romanesque crypt below preserves the oldest sections of the abbey. The monas- tery evokes Baroque times. The most valuable part of the Baroque abbey is the library hall with its wooden columns and the 360,000-volume collection that holds many rare codices and prints. Lunch in Pannonhalma and return to Budapest. Rest of the day free. In the evening enjoy
a farewell dinner at a typical Hungarian restaurant. Overnight in Budapest. [B/L/D]
Day 8: Budapest, USA
Leisure time, depending on your flight schedule. At the appointed time trans- fer to the airport to board your flight back home. [B]
Hungarian Traditions in the Present
8 days
Budapest, Bugac, Puszta, Szeged, Pécs, Villany, Fertőd, Sopron, Pannonhalma
Day 5: Budapest, Fertőd, Sopron
On the way to the western border, we stop in Fertőd to visit the Esterházy Palace, near the city and known as the "Hungarian Versailles", one of the most beautiful group of Baroque palatial edifices in Hungary visited by several hundreds of thousand tourists every year. The second half of the 18th century was the golden age of Eszterházy under Prince Miklós Esterházy. We shall see other castles of the Esterhazy family tomorrow. Lunch in Fertöd before continuing to Sopron for a city tour. When the area that is today Western Hungary was a province of the Roman Empire, a city called Scarbantia stood here. Its forum was located where the main square of Sopron can be found today. In 1676 Sopron was destroyed by a fire. The modern-day city was born in the next few decades, when beautiful Baroque buildings were built in place of the old medieval ones. A beautiful historic city! Dinner and overnight in Sopron. [B/L/D]
Day 6: Sopron
Following yesterday’s visit to the "Hun- garian Versailles", today we will visit the Eszterhazy palace in Eisenstadt and Forchenstein castle (Austria). The Esterházy Palace in Eisenstadt is one of
Your Tour includes:
F Arrival and departure transfers
F 7 nights’ accommodation
F Breakfast daily
F 5 lunches, 7 dinner, 1 wine tasting
F Budapest, the “Paris of the East”
F Puszta steppe and Lipizzaner horse show F Szeged, the biggest city in the south
F Historical city of Pécs
F Villany wine cellars
F Tour of Sopron
F Fertőd Eszterhazy Palace
F Eisenstadt (Austria) Eszterhazy Palace F Forchenstein (Austria) Eszterhazy Castle F Pannonhalma Catholic abbey
F English-speaking guide
F A/C vehicle for the tour
F Entrance fees for sites visited F All local taxes
For prices and other details visit www.holidayswithdowntown.com 49