Day 1 - Leave tonight non-stop for Warsaw and the beginning of an most unusual experience.
Day 2 - Upon arrival, we meet and transfer you to hotel. You have free time to explore Warsaw, past and present, before we gather for a welcome dinner with your fellow travelers this evening.
Day 3 - This morning, we take you on a whirlwind tour of Warsaw's highlights, including the historic Royal Castle and Old Town. After lunch, we drive to Zelazowa Wola, the estate where Chopin was born, for a tour and a brief concert and continue to Pultusk Castle, where after a festive "medieval" dinner we spend the night in the castle.
Day 4 - After breakfast, we leave for Lidzbark Warminski, seat of the best-surviving castle in Warmia, and then drive to Frombork to visit the fortified Gothic cathedral, where Copernicus spent the last years of his life. Tonight, we stay in mighty Malbork Castle, the medieval fortress built by the crusading Teutonic Knights.
Day 5 - Following an in-depth tour of Malbork Castle and a visit to the Basilica in Peplin, we drive to Torun, the city so indelibly identified with Copernicus, where we spend the night at the elegant and intimate castle hotel Spichrz.
Day 6 - A UNESCO World Heritage city, Torun has many "must-see" attractions, is also a birthplace of Copernicus. We will tour Old Town Square and the 14th century cathedral. Then we will go to the site of an Iron Age settlement in Biskupin and Poland's first capital at Gniezno. Tonight, we stay at the picturesquely located Tuczno Castle.
Day 7 - After breakfast, we drive to Poznan, "capital" of western Poland. Our tour of the town includes a visit to the magnificent, pseudo-Moorish Kornik Castle. From here, we drive south to Marcinowice and spend the night at Kraskow Palace, one of the finest Baroque palaces of Central Europe.
Day 8 - En route to Moszna, we stop in Brzeg, near Wroclaw, to visit the Renaissance Ducal castle with its massive defense walls. The ground abounds in stunning 16th century Italian sculptures. Tonight, we stay in Moszna, at a palace reminiscent of an English castle from the Elizabethan era.
Day 9 - Today, we drive to Paszkowka, a noble's palace, located some 18 miles from Krakow's city center. On the way, we tour the beautiful knights' castle in Piaskowa Skala.
Day10 - A full day of special treats is in store today: an in-depth tour of Krakow, the "jewel" in Poland's crown. Among the highlights are Wawel Castle, Market Square, Cloth Hall, St. Mary's with the breathtaking altar triptych by Wit Stwosz, and the fantastic underground world of the Wieliczka salt mines, followed by a festive dinner with music in Salmaster Castle. We spend another night in Paszkowka.
Day11 - It's a full day of castles and palaces today, as we visit Wisnicz, home of the titled Lubomirskis, Lancut with its superb art collections and Baranow Sandomierski, a Renaissance castle, where you are served "Biesiada", a sumptuous feast beloved by Polish royalty, then spend the night.
Day12 - After a morning tour of the castle, we return to Warsaw, stopping en route at Krzyztopor, before Versailles, Europe's largest official residence.
Day13 - There's more, much, much more to see in Warsaw, including Jan III Sobieski's gift to his wife, beautiful Wilanow Palace with its stately gardens. On your own, you may want to visit Lazienki Park, the Ghetto monument, Gothic and Baroque landmarks or spend your time picking up unique souvenirs of your trip. We climax the day with a gala farewell dinner with folklore at a restaurant in Old Town.
Day14 - Unless you've found a Polish noble in your past and can lay claim to your own castle, today's the day you return home aboard your non-stop "castle in the sky".
Price - $2,100 for a group of 20 (airfare not included), includes the following:
- land transportation by a tour bus
- accommodation at good 3*- 4* hotels, or castles/palaces, in double
bed or twin bed rooms with private facilities
- breakfasts and dinners
- service of English speaking tour guide
- local guide services where it's obligatory
- entrance tickets
For more information please call
Kathy Grabel at 419-385-8516
Tour arranged by:
Polonia Travel
Szczecin, Poland
Tel: 091-434-0726
e-mail: biuro@polonia.travel.pl website: www.polonia.travel.pl
