ALSACE - 6 DAYS - APRIL

Meeting at the airport and flight with AEGEAN to Frankfurt, the financial and commercial center of Germany. Departure for the capital of Alsace, Strasbourg, a city - a mosaic of French and German elements, built on the west side of the Rhine. Perhaps this bilingual character was the reason why the city - a crossroads, as its name etymologically means, was chosen in 1949 to be the "bridge of unity" between France and Germany - the two main partners of Europe - and became the headquarters of the Council of Europe. Arrival and our tour of Strasbourg begins from the European Quarter of the City, where, among other things, the building of the European Parliament, the building of the European Court of Human Rights, the Palace of Europe which houses the Council of Europe, as well as the largest green lung of the city, the beloved Orangerie park. We will continue our walk in the historic center - a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1988 (the first time such an honor was given to an entire city center) - which is built on an island in the Ile River (known as the Grand Island) and is characterized by picturesque streets, wooden houses, cobblestone squares, and the 149-meter-high Notre Dame Cathedral. We continue our tour of the doll-like "Petite France", the most picturesque of all the districts, with the doll-like houses of the 16th and 17th centuries (with their timber-framed walls, sloping roofs and flower-filled balconies), the traditional Alsatian taverns (winstubs) and the bridges of the canals of the Ile River, to which Alsace probably owes its name, since in German Elsass means "region of the Ile". Check-in, once the rooms are ready, at the ALOFT STRASBOURG CITY CENTRE 4* hotel. Overnight.

Breakfast and departure for the picturesque spa town of Baden Baden with the Oos River flowing through it. The city has been known since Roman times for its thermal springs, but also for its historic Casino, a jewel-like building that has justifiably been described as one of the most beautiful casinos in the world. Free time to take a walk and enjoy a coffee in the beautiful city. Return to Strasbourg. Overnight.

Today we will get to know the fairytale natural landscape of the famous Black Forest with its countless beauties (pines, firs, waterfalls, lakes), the picturesque towns and villages with their wooden chalets. Our first stop will be in Freiburg, one of the most famous university campuses in Germany which - not unfairly - is characterized as the "environmental capital of Europe", due to the smart utilization of energy from the sun, which it enjoys for a large part of the year. We will tour the very carefully restored to its original form and pedestrianized historic center to admire the Cathedral, one of the great masterpieces of Gothic art in Germany, the scarlet Koifhus, the first department store in the world, the beautiful fountains of the square, not one, but two Town Halls, but also the Art Nouveau main building of one of the oldest universities in Europe. We continue to the heart of the magnificent Black Forest (the dense trees block the sunlight inside it, hence the name) following the German "Clock Road" (with countless cuckoo clock workshops) and we reach the "drowned" in green Lake Titisee. Then, we will visit the highest waterfalls in Germany (163 meters), in one of the most beautiful villages in the area, Triberg. Return to Strasbourg. Overnight.

Breakfast and departure for the fairytale Heidelberg, the city that was the center of the German Romantic movement. During our tour of the mainly baroque architectural historical center of the city - a legacy of its turbulent history - we will see the market square dominated by the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit, the buildings of the University (the oldest in Germany and the third oldest in Europe), the ornate Jesuit church, the elegant Town Hall, etc. Of course, we will not forget to stop for photos in front of the characteristic towers of the Prince-Elector Charles-Theodor Bridge with the beautiful Renaissance castle of the city in the background, which stands arched 80 meters above it! Continue your walk either with a visit to the castle with the Heidelberg train to see the largest barrel in the world, the panoramic view of the city and the Neckar River that runs through it, as well as the famous German Pharmacy Museum, or by walking along the "Royal Mile", the central shopping pedestrian street of the old town, the longest in Germany (with a length of 1,600 meters). Free time. Return to Strasbourg. Overnight.

Today is dedicated to the Alsatian Wine Route, a route that follows the foothills of the Vosges and encounters historic towns and villages with cobblestone streets, colorful medieval houses and Renaissance fountains. Morning departure for the "capital of Alsatian wine production", the charming Colmar, one of the most beautiful cities in France and all of Europe, with rich medieval and Renaissance architecture. After touring its pedestrian center and admiring its characteristic historical buildings, we will reach the area called "Little Venice", the area with the canals of the Lauch River, which stands out for its picturesqueness and special atmosphere. We will then depart for the "village of winegrowers", Riquewihr, nestled behind its medieval walls that seem intact over the centuries, as well as the picturesque village of Eguisheim, known for its stone alleys in concentric circles and for its wonderful wine. Riquewihr, like Eguisheim, is considered one of the most beautiful villages in France and is included in the list of "Les Plus Beaux Villages de France". Return to Strasbourg. Overnight.