Jewel of Saxony - Heritage Group Travel

Jewel of
Saxony
Dresden
Sunday 29 November - Wednesday 02 December 2015
During the 18th century Dresden became the “Florence of the North”, attracting the best Italian artists and
craftsmen who flocked to the Saxon Court. Elector Augustus the Strong in particular amassed treasures of
immeasurable value and the extensive projects which he commissioned ensured that the capital of Saxony was
to become a jewel of Baroque architecture. Dresden’s architectural monuments and collections of fine and
applied arts are truly magnificent, and although it was badly damaged during the intense bombing raids of
1945, sympathetic reconstruction has now restored the city’s heart. The skyline is striking, and Dresden has
once more regained its status as one of Germany’s most beautiful and culturally rewarding cities.
Our tour encompasses some of Europe’s most exquisite museums and galleries, with collections rivalling and
indeed surpassing many of those found in major capital cities. The Old Masters Picture Gallery, housed in the
spectacular Zwinger Palace, is of supreme quality, while the treasures of decorative and applied art contained
in both the old and new Green Vaults are astonishing. Our tour also features an overview of the city’s
architecture to include the renovated Frauenkirche, as well as a visit further afield to Meissen, birthplace of the
eponymous porcelain. Dresden’s Medieval Christmas Market, Germany’s oldest and arguably most authentic,
will also be in full swing during our visit.
SUNDAY 29 NOVEMBER
We depart on a scheduled EasyJet flight from London
Gatwick, due to leave at 12.30 and arrive in Berlin
Schoenefeld Airport at 15.20 local time. On arrival we
will be met by our coach and guide and travel to Dresden
where we will check in to the 4 star superior Westin
Bellevue Hotel for the next 3 nights. After a little
time to freshen up, a welcome dinner will be served
in the hotel restaurant.
MONDAY 30 NOVEMBER
After breakfast at the hotel, we will spend the morning
in the Residenzschloss viewing the wonderful Green
Vaults. The Green Vaults (Grünes Gewölbe) exhibit a
dazzling display of precious items from the late
Renaissance and Rococo periods; it is undoubtedly one of
the richest collections of decorative arts in the world.
Among the many priceless treasures on display is the
exquisite Court of Delhi on the Birthday of the Great
Moghul, an astonishing recreation in gold, silver,
emeralds, rubies, pearls and 5,000 diamonds, depicting a
tableau inhabited by 137 enamelled and gilded figures.
Other masterpieces include a gold coffee service of
1701, and the highly decorative Bath of Diana, which is
studded with precious stones, and virtually the entire
Saxon
Crown jewels, which include the Sapphire Set and the
Cornelian Set made by Dinglinger's workshops for
Augustus the Strong.
We continue to the recently restored Historic Green
Vault (the second phase of the collection), located in the
West Wing. Audio guides will be provided for this visit.
The Historic Green Vault was built for Augustus the
Strong at the beginning of the 18th century and in keeping
with the architectural style, the objects are exhibited
against magnificent decorative walls and on
exquisitely carved tables.
The afternoon continues with a walking tour of central
Dresden. The royal court and the nobility commissioned
extensive building work and encouraged exceptional
artistic achievements. Pöppelmann built the Zwinger and
Taschenbergpalais in 1711, the Japanese Palais in 1715
and the summer palace in Pillnitz in 1721. The
Frauenkirche was completed in 1734, severely damaged
in 1945, and following a massive restoration project it
has been restored to its former glory. The impressive
dome once again dominates the city skyline as it did in
the 18th century.
Later we enjoy a glass of hot spiced wine together
prior to some free time to visit the Medieval
Christmas Market (Streizelmarkt), which is held in
the Sachsen Palace Courtyard. The stall holders dress in
traditional costume and the area is lit by oil lamps and
candles, rendering a wonderful seasonal atmosphere in
which to enjoy the goods produced by Guild craftsmen
and craftswomen.
The afternoon is free for independent visits, one
suggestion being the New Masters Picture Gallery in the
Albertinum, now fully open after its restoration in 2010.
It houses a fine collection of 19th and 20th century
paintings which spans the period from the Romantics
right up until the present day. Such artists as Caspar
David Friedrich are well represented and there is an
important collection of Impressionist, Expressionist and
Realist works, notably Otto Dix’s huge triptych “Der
Krieg” which is considered one of the key works of
German painting in the 20th century. This evening a we
will enjoy a final dinner together in the historic
Coselpalais Restaurant, opposite the Frauenkirche.
There is another market held on Prager Strasse, which is
fondly referred to as the ‘Winterlights of Dresden’. A
majestic illuminated Christmas tree acts as the focal point
for the many stalls offering regional specialities from
Dresden and the surrounding area.
The remainder of the evening is at leisure.
TUESDAY 01 DECEMBER
After breakfast we travel by coach to Meissen, which is
often referred to as ‘the cradle’ and is Saxony’s oldest
town. Meissen is an attractive medieval town on the
River Elbe, situated west of Dresden, and is the home of
the world-renowned Meissen porcelain factory.
Although Augustus the Strong treated the method of
production of ‘white gold’ as one of the closest-kept
state secrets, today it is possible to watch how the
porcelain is created in the Staatliche PorzellanManufaktur Meissen. The museum’s exhibition hall
clearly illustrates the development of porcelain
production in the town: Böttger’s brown stoneware, the
cobalt blue onion design, the Indian décor, the “full
green vine garland” which celebrated its anniversary in
1992, and Count Brühl’s 2,200-piece “Swan Service” are
just a few of the exquisite Meissen china services on
display. After our visit there will be some free time to
take lunch in Meissen before returning to Dresden.
WEDNESDAY 02 DECEMBER
We check out of the hotel after breakfast and visit the
Old Masters Gallery, which is housed in the
spectacular Zwinger Palace. The Zwinger Palace, a
unique jewel of German baroque, was built between
1710 and 1732 for Augustus the Strong to serve both as a
pleasure palace and as a museum for cherished
collections. The collection of the Old Masters Gallery is
of a supremely high standard, with seminal works by
Raphael among many others. The Venetians are
represented by Titian, Veronese, Tintoretto and
Giorgione; 17th century Dutch and Flemish art includes
paintings by Rubens, Rembrandt and Vermeer, with
other featured masters including Frans Hals, van Dyck
and Jacob Jordaens.
Following the visit we will travel by coach to Berlin
Airport for our return flight with EasyJet, which is due
to depart at 18.05 and arrive in Gatwick at 19.10.
PRACTICAL DETAILS
TOUR PRICE
£995 per person sharing a twin/double room
£90 single room supplement
PRICE INCLUDES
Return flights from London Gatwick to Berlin Airport
Airport taxes
3 nights’ bed and breakfast accommodation in Dresden
City tax
Welcome dinner in the hotel restaurant
Final dinner in the Coselpalais restaurant
Services of our guide-lecturer throughout
All entrance charges for visits as per the itinerary
Local coach transport as per the itinerary
OPTIONAL TRAVEL INSURANCE
Please see the enclosed sheet providing details of our
optional travel insurance It is a condition of booking
that each tour participant carries full travel insurance and
it is each participant’s responsibility to ensure that they
have adequate insurance for this tour.
HOTEL DETAILS
3 nights’ bed and breakfast accommodation at:
The Westin Bellevue Hotel (4 star superior)
Grosser Meissner Strasse 15
01097 Dresden
For further information please see the hotel website:
www.westinbellevuedresden.com
FLIGHTS
We hope to use the following EasyJet flights:
Outward - EZY5411 - Gatwick/Berlin - 12.30/15.20
Return - EZY5414 - Berlin/Gatwick –18.05/19.10
All flight reservations with EasyJet include 1 item of hold
baggage and guaranteed seat allocation. Should you require
a price without flights and/or would prefer to make your
own travel arrangements please enquire when booking.
BOOKING & FINAL TRAVEL DETAILS
To reserve your place on the tour, please send your
completed booking form and deposit of £350 per
person, together with your insurance premium (if
required), to Heritage Group Travel (see address
below) as soon as possible and no later than
Tuesday 15 September 2015.
You will receive a confirmation of your booking
combined with an invoice for the final balance, together
with your insurance policy if requested. The final travel
details (itinerary, hotel details, flight e-ticket and luggage
label) will be available approximately
10-14 days prior to travel.
The final balance is due by Monday 05 October 2015.
YOUR FINANCIAL PROTECTION
Our ATOL Number is 3707.
All the flights and flight-inclusive tours in this brochure are
financially protected by the ATOL scheme. When you pay
you will be supplied with an ATOL Certificate. Please ask for
it and check to ensure that everything you booked (flights,
hotels and other services) is listed on it. Please see our
booking conditions for further information or for more
information about financial protection and the ATOL
Certificate go to: www.atol.org.uk/ATOLCertificate
Heritage Cultural Travel
Charlotte House
12 Charlotte Street
Bath BA1 2NE
Tel: 01225 466620
TOUR NUMBERS
This tour is based on 20 participants travelling and bookings
will be accepted on a ‘first come, first served’ basis.
PASSPORT AND VISA REQUIREMENTS
British nationals should be in possession of a valid 10-year
passport; Visas are not required for travel to
Germany. Other Nationals should contact the German
Embassy to confirm current visa requirements.