Tour 185-A

formerly Tour 15

 Spectacular Eastern Europe 
Warsaw, Krakow, Vienna, Budapest & Prague

  12  days

"A joyful heart is more easily made perfect than one that is cast down"

-St. Philip Neri


YOUR TRIP INCLUDES:
 
Round-trip flights from New York
 (special Add-on Airfares from your home town)
 
10 nights accommodation in first class hotels (or similar):
            2 nights Hotel Holiday Inn, Warsaw
            2 nights Hotel Novotel Centrum, Krakow
            2 nights Hotel Mercure Korona, Budapest
            2 nights Hotel Marriott, Vienna
            2 nights Hotel Diplomat, Prague

 Breakfast and dinner daily
 Catholic Priest & Mass daily
 All transfers by modern motorcoach
 Tour escort throughout
 Sightseeing tours and entrance fees as per itinerary
 Luggage handling in hotel
 Flight bag & portfolio of all travel documents
 

Not Included: Airport tax (approx. $250). Travel insurance at $119.-199 www.206tours.com/insurance.  Tips to guides and drivers ($6 per day).  Items of a personal nature.  Low add-on airfares are available from all U.S. cities  Add-on Airfares .


Sample Day-by-Day Itinerary:

 

Day 1 - Depart to Warsaw  Depart from our international gateway for our overnight flight to Warsaw.

 

Day 2 - Warsaw Welcome to Poland. Upon arrival we'll be met by our tour guide and driver, proceed to our hotel. Mass, dinner and overnight  in Warsaw.
 

Day 3 - Warsaw This morning we get an orientation tour of the city, visiting Old Town with its local galleries as well as the Royal Way beginning at Castle Square and the excavations of the fortifications that once surrounded Warsaw, as well as the 14th century Gothic Bridge. Located on the left bank of the Wisla River, the historical quarter of the city has been restored to its pre-war condition. We visit the church dedicated to St. Stanislaus and also visit the convent where Blessed Faustina first joined the religious order. Next we visit the historical churches of St. John's Cathedral, the Holy Cross Church and Popieluszko. Continuing along the Royal Route to see the famous statues, aristocratic residences and Lazienki Park with its famous Chopin monument. Our day ends with a visit to the Royal Castle. Dinner and overnight in Warsaw.
 

Day 4 - Warsaw - Czestochowa - Krakow

En route to Warsaw, we make a brief visit to Niepokalanow, the City of the Immaculata, and its Franciscan friary where St. Maximilian Kolbe lived and worked. Here we see the Franciscan Minor Basilica, a Statue of St. Maximilian Kolbe and the site on which John Paul II celebrated Mass in 1983. This morning we depart for Czestochowa and enjoy a visit to the monastery at Jasna Gora and one of the most famous Marian Shrines in Europe. It is here that the miraculous icon of Our Lady with the Child Jesus, also known as the Black Madonna, is located. Also venerated as the "Queen of Poland", it has become the country's national symbol. Here we celebrate Mass, followed by a visit to the library and the treasury where many valuable were hidden during the war. Before arriving in Krakow, we will visit the favorite childhood shrine of the Holy Father, Kalwaria Zebrzydowska. Known as "Polish Jerusalem", the sanctuary is Poland's second-most famous pilgrimage destination. Here we visit its hillside grounds and visit some of its many beautiful chapels and participate in some of its daily processions. We arrive to Krakow for dinner and overnight.
 

Day 5 - Krakow  This morning we visit ancient Krakow, for centuries the residence of the Polish Kings. On Wawel Hill, we find both the Krakow Cathedral and the Wawel Royal Castle. We embark on a guided tour of the Cathedral to include a visit to the Shrine of Saint Stanislaus and the Cathedral Treasury and Museum. Next we visit the Shrine of Blessed Faustina at the Convent of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy. Our day in Krakow ends with a visit to the 14th century Gothic St. Mary's Basilica, located in the heart of Old Town Krakow in Market Square. Inside we see the world-famous Altar of the Virgin Mary, the largest of its kind in Europe. Here we also find the Altars of Our Lady of Loreto and St. Stanislaus. Finally we explore its two most visited chapels, Our Lady of Czestochowa and St. Anthony.

Afternoon we visit Lagniewnicki where Sr. Faustina lived and died.
 

Day 6 - Krakow - Budapest This morning we visit the Auschwitz concentration camp where St. Maximilian Kolbe spent the final days of his life and was martyred during World War II. Here we take a guided tour of the grounds prior to visiting the Auschwitz Museum. Drive to Budapest passing through  Slovakia. Dinner and overnight in Budapest.
 

Day 7 - Budapest  After breakfast we start our day with Mass and visit of the Basilica of St. Stephen. During his years as king, Stephen built churches, monasteries and hospices for pilgrims to help spread the Christian faith. Featuring magnificent works of art and architecture, the basilica's greatest treasure lies in a small chapel to the left of the main altar. Here, in a glass casket you will find the country's most sacred object, the mummified hand of St. Stephen. Next we visit the 13th century church of St. Matthias, officially named the Church of Our Lady. Later in the day we visit the Fisherman's Bastillon and the new extension of the National Art Gallery in the Castle District. In the afternoon we enjoy a visit to Lajosmizse for the Puszta horse and carriage show and its old world atmosphere. Return to Budapest for dinner and overnight.
 

Day 8 - Budapest - Vienna This morning we depart Budapest en route to Vienna with a stop at the Pannonhalma Abbey, rich in religious and historical importance, sitting atop St. Martin Hill. In 1996, Pope John Paul II made a pilgrimage to the mountaintop to join the monks in their celebration for the 1000th anniversary of the monastery's founding. Next we visit Our Lady of Remete, site of a miraculous image of the Virgin Mary. It was here that in 1991, Pope John Paul II kneeled and prayed before the image. We also take time to stroll through the outdoor Marian sanctuary located on the grounds. We continue on to Vienna for dinner and overnight.
 

Day 9 - Vienna

The Hofburg Palace Chapel is our destination for a performance by the Vienna Boys Choir (subject to availability) this morning followed by a visit to Vienna's landmark, St. Stephen's Cathedral where we celebrate Mass. While there, we'll see the miraculous image of Our Lady of Mariapocs, tour the Cathedral and its catacombs, and those who wish may climb the 343 steps to the top of the Cathedral spire. Next, we'll take a tour of the Imperial Palace, viewing the private rooms of Emperor Francis Joseph and those of his wife, Empress Elisabeth, as well as the Treasuries with the magnificent crown jewels. Back in the city center, we go to Karlsplatz with its Church of St. Charles Borromeo and Otto Wagner's Stadtbahn pavilions. The remainder of the day is at leisure for sightseeing in Vienna. Dinner and overnight in Vienna.
 

Day 10 - Vienna - Prague

After breakfast, we depart for Prague with a stop at the Klosterneuburg Abbey. We celebrate Mass at the Monastery Cathedral. Next we visit a holy mountain in the heart of the Czech Republic, the sanctuary of Svata Hora. The hilltop shrine features a renowned miraculous statue of the Virgin Mary and a spectacular basilica with a magnificent silver altar, frescoes and paintings. Next we stop at Melk Abbey along the Danube River. Over 900 years old, Melk Abbey is one of the finest religious sites in Austria where black robed monks still stroll amidst marble sculptures and frescoed walls. Here we will see its glorious gardens, the Emporer's gallery, Marble Hall and the Library. Continue along to prague for dinner and overnight.
 

DAY 11 - Prague

After breakfast we depart for downtown Prague where we see Christian Prague's most beloved relic, the Holy Infant Child in the Church of Our Lady Victorious. At the shrine we see the Holy Infant of Prague statute and museum after celebrating Mass. We continue with sightseeing in the historic Old Town Square. This is the site of the famous 15th century astronomical clock that is a fascinating display of dials and hands and figures. Below the neo-Gothic Old Town Hall we see 27 marble crosses set into the ground. Nearby, we see the Church of St. Nicholas and the gothic Tyn Church dating from the 14th century. In this church you will find, among other interesting relics, the tomb of the astronomer, Tycho Brahe. proceed for tour of Prague castle and St. Vitus. proceed to Loretto church for visit, then return to our hotel for dinner and overnight in Prague.
 

Day 12 - Prague - USA

After breakfast, we transfer to the airport for the flight home to the USA.
 

Why Go With Us? Here is what our clients say:   www.206tours.com/letters

 

2006 DEPARTURE DATES & PRICES

Sep

9- 20

closed

Oct

7 - 18

closed

Nov

6 - 17

closed

Add-on Fares

Land Only *

$2,199

Single Supplement

$651

Post Tour  # 8The Shrines of Italy                                   $1,799

(air from Prague to Rome included)

C L E R G Y    D I S C O U N T 10%

 

For groups of 20 or more, you may choose your own departure and earn free trips (www.206tours.com/groups)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Any questions?  Call  800-206-TOUR (8687)  or E-Mail Us

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