Lost Kingdoms

Until recently, Gdansk was defined by two of the most significant events in in 20^th century Europe. First, World War II started here on September 1, 1939, when Germany attacked the Polish Post Office in Gdansk. Then, workers at the Gdansk shipyard founded the ‘Solidarność’ (Solidarity) movement of the 1980s, planting the seeds that eventually liberated Eastern Europe from the Soviet bloc.

Today, travellers have discovered that Gdansk is much more than just a shipyard. In fact, it is one of the most beautiful cities in Eastern Europe. You will come to the same conclusion when you walk down the enchanting Ulica Dluga street with its rows of perfectly restored colourful buildings or take a stroll along the historic harbourfront. The entire old town is basically a feast for your eyes.

Gdansk is crowded with bars, cafés, and restaurants. So are many other historic cities. But Gdansk is one of the few that can also boast of a beautiful coastline and several gorgeous beaches.

 

 

 

Until recently, Gdansk was defined by two of the most significant events in in 20^th century Europe. First, World War II started here on September 1, 1939, when Germany attacked the Polish Post Office in Gdansk. Then, workers at the Gdansk shipyard founded the ‘Solidarność’ (Solidarity) movement of the 1980s, planting the seeds that eventually liberated Eastern Europe from the Soviet bloc.

Today, travellers have discovered that Gdansk is much more than just a shipyard. In fact, it is one of the most beautiful cities in Eastern Europe. You will come to the same conclusion when you walk down the enchanting Ulica Dluga street with its rows of perfectly restored colourful buildings or take a stroll along the historic harbourfront. The entire old town is basically a feast for your eyes.

Gdansk is crowded with bars, cafés, and restaurants. So are many other historic cities. But Gdansk is one of the few that can also boast of a beautiful coastline and several gorgeous beaches.

 

 

 

Your Express InterCity Premium train is the pride of the Polish railways. This high-speed Italian tilting train carries a very comfortable first-class section, where a steward will serve you an included drink and light meal. The direct five-hour journey takes you through Warsaw on the way from the Baltic coast to the south of the country.

Upon arrival at Krakow, you will be met by your private guide who will escort you to your waiting chauffeured car and join you for the ride to your four-star hotel. Then, she will invite you on a privately guided two-hour city walk and give you the perfect introduction to the treasures of Krakow.

 

 

Together with Vienna and Prague, Krakow is one of Eastern Europe’s greatest architecturally and culturally treasures. Beyond the city walls you’ll find patches of Soviet-era concrete blocks, but the entire old town is a perfect delight of Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque churches, towers, and cobbled squares.

The main square, Rynek Glowny, is the biggest market square in all of Europe, crowded with flower-stalls, bagel-sellers and cafés. Nearby is Wawel Castle, once the residence for the kings of Poland and one of Europe’s largest royal castles.

You may wish to make a sad pilgrimage to nearby Auschwitz, easily reachable by local train, but also do not miss the local museum about Krakow under the Nazi occupation. The museum is interesting in its own right, but what makes it a truly moving experience is that it is housed in Oscar Schindler’s old factory, the place where 1200 Jewish workers were saved by the industrialist.

 

 

 

You board the EuroCity Cracowia international express train for a comfortable five-hour journey. The small and intimate first-class section is in the same car as the train’s bistro, and the good and reasonably priced food is served by a steward at your seat. One especially nice feature, we think, is the draught Urquell beer on tap in the bistro.

Upon arrival at Olomouc, you will be met by your private guide who will escort you to your waiting chauffeured car and join you for the ride to your four-star hotel.

Then, she will invite you on a privately guided two-hour city walk of this small gem of a city. As a local insider, they have an excellent idea of what to show you. But remember: This your private guide, so feel free to mention anything you would like to experience on the walk.

Olomouc is a shining jewel, a majestic collection of historic buildings, evocative streets, and beautiful churches. Few tourists have ever heard of this ancient capital of the long-lost kingdom of Moravia because once Olomouc had lost her importance and capital title, she descended into obscurity.

The result is a sleeper of a city. Her beauty can sometimes rival even Prague’s, and her main square with the UNESCO-listed Holy Trinity Column is one of the nicest in the country. Yet, her streets and squares are blissfully free of the throngs of tourists you find in the capital. Instead, life is dominated by the city’s many university students who crowd the many great cafés and lend a vibrant and intellectual vibe to the city. Olomouc is a city many simply fall in love with.

 

 

 

The two-hour journey to Prague is fast and comfortable on board a direct Intercity train with a bistro.

Upon arrival at Prague, you will be met by your private guide who will escort you to your waiting chauffeured car and join you for the ride to your four-star hotel. Then, she will invite you on a privately guided two-hour city walk. As a local insider, they have an excellent idea of what to show you. But remember: This your private guide, so feel free to mention anything you would like to experience on the walk.

 

 

 

Prague is old. This is where a 1,100-year old skyline is dominated by ancient spires, towers and domes. ‘New’ in these parts usually means a beautiful Art Nouveau building, because the chapels and cellars are Romanesque, the cathedral Gothic, the palaces and gardens Baroque. This is where you find the oldest operating clock of its kind on the planet, and it is where you can cross a river on one of the oldest bridges in Europe.

The city is so beautiful, it takes your breath away. Must-sees include the Charles Bridge with its many Baroque statues – possibly the most beautiful in Europe, the fascinating Jewish Quarter with its old synagogues, and the many historic churches. The Vltava river may not have the same name recognition as the Danube or the Rhine, but it makes up for that in pure charm.

Don’t forget to get lost. Prague’s maze of cobbled alleys and small courtyards beckons the adventurous wanderer. Just around the corner from the beaten track you’ll find ancient chapels, unexpected gardens, cute cafes and old-fashioned bars.

 

Occupied by the Romans, ruled by the Ottomans, co-capital of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and invaded by the Soviet Union. Budapest is steeped in history, and two millennia of drama and culture lurk just under her elegant surface.

This is a capital with two sides, Buda and Pest, each on their side of the Danube. Pest proudly shows the jewels in her crown from the 19^th century, the golden age for the capital.  Buda also boasts several stunning buildings, not least the Fisherman’s Bastion, a fairy-tale castle with panoramic views over the Danube.

Do not miss the city’s historically grand cafés. New York Café is probably the most opulent of them all: An ultra-luxurious room with beautiful frescoes and just about everything gold-plated.

Equally unmissable are the thermal baths. An authentic Budapest experience since Roman times, choose between Ottoman, art nouveau or modern establishments. Or just go for the most famous of them all, Széchenyi with stunning neo-Baroque and neo-Renaissance buildings surrounding the open-air pools.