Budapest, the Pearl of the Danube (port-to-port cruise)

We'll set off by coach to visit Belgrade, the capital of Serbia, which is also one of the oldest cities in Europe with a history stretching back some 7000 years. It is located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube Rivers, close to the Morava Corridor which links the countries of the Danube to the Aegean Sea. The town has a fortress sitting atop one of the highest hills in Belgrade as well as a commercial center and port. We'll start off our visit with a guided panoramic tour of the city, during which you will have the opportunity to admire Belgrade's National Theatre and National Museum, the Royal Palace which currently houses the City Assembly of Belgrade, the Ancient Royal Palace and more. We'll stop to visit the Orthodox Temple of St Sava. The construction of this church began in 1939 but is still a work in progress, given that the Second World War followed by Tito's dictatorship put a halt to it. Construction only started again in 2001 and is funded exclusively by charitable donations. We'll head back to the city center by coach for some free time before our guides take us to Kalemegdan Park, the largest and most beautiful park in the city where the Belgrade Fortress is located, overlooking the confluence of the Danube and Sava. Return to the ship by coach.

PLEASE NOTE

• Good walking shoes are recommended.
• Times are approximate.
• The order of the visits can change.

In the company of our guides, we will leave for a panoramic tour of Budapest, the Pearl of the Danube. First we will head for the hills of Buda by crossing the Elizabeth Bridge and we will go up to the Castle quarter, from where we'll enjoy a fantastic panoramic view of the city. We will walk round the castle quarter and on to the Fisherman's Bastion, built in neo-Roman style in 1902 for the simple pleasure of offering a panoramic view over the city and the Danube. Behind the Bastion, we will find Matthias Church which notably was the venue for the coronation of Emperor Franz Joseph and his wife "Sissi". Our coach will then take us down to the plains of Pest. There, we will visit Heroes' Square whose central monument depicting Prince Arpad and the chieftains of seven Magyar tribes was built for the millennium of Hungary. We will pass by the famous Szechenyi thermal baths, the zoo - a true piece of architecture - Vajdahunyad Castle and more. We will walk through the famous Andrassy Avenue and pass by St. Stephen's Basilica whose construction began in 1851 and was only completed in 1905. We will walk along the river and see the famous Parliament building overlooking the Danube with its white silhouette in the Byzantine and neo-Gothic styles. Return on board. 

PLEASE NOTE

• Panoramic tour with stops to take pictures.
• Entrance tickets for these monuments are not included.
• The order of the visits can change.
• Times are approximate.

Departure by coach for Gödöllö Castle. In the company of your guide, you will visit Gödöllö Castle, one of the most important and largest Hungarian Baroque palaces, commissioned by Count Antal Grassalkovich. The castle is mainly known for having been one of the favorite residences of Empress Sisi, who loved to get away from the etiquette of the Vienna Court in Gödöllö. Your visit will take you through the Empress's apartments with their original decorations, including a majority of purple objects and wallpapers, in accordance with the Empress's favorite color. You will also see the Castle Church (behind a glass screen), Joseph I's Wardrobe, the Minor Coronation Hall, Franz Joseph's office and more. Return on board by coach.

PLEASE NOTE

• Upon arrival at the castle, the main stairway has to be climbed.
• The order of the visits can change.
• Times are approximate.

Medieval Golubac Fortress-an impressive cliffside castle overlooking the entrance to the Iron Gates-fell into disarray in the 20th century. It underwent restoration from 2005 to 2016 and is now open to the public. Golubac has three main sections guarded by nine towers-all connected by thick stone walls. The fortress has passed through the hands of the Hungarians, Bulgarians, and Serbs repeatedly. On a side note, the site was a runner-up choice as a shooting location for Game of Thrones.

PLEASE NOTE

• Good walking shoes are recommended.
• Times are approximate.
• The order of the visits can change.

We'll set off by coach to visit the town of Novi Sad. Capital of the autonomous region of Vojvodina, Novi Sad is also the second largest town in Serbia, going by the size of its population. The town has a long and troubled history since it was under the rule of Celts, Romans, Franks, Barbarians and Turks until it became part of the Habsburg empire. It was known as "Petrovaradin” in the past, and the name Novi Sad (meaning ‘new plant') only came into use in 1748. The history of the town was further troubled during the 20th century when after the First World War, the Balkan territories were in turn united and separated under different names, until in 2006 when the town finally became part of an independent Serbia.
We'll visit the city center on foot. The Austro-Hungarian old town, with its baroque buildings, grew up around the ancient fortifications. We'll get the chance to visit the Episcopal Church as well as an orthodox church before we continue up the main street to Freedom Square where we'll find the Town Hall, dating from 1895. The coach will be waiting for you near Freedom square to finish the visit with a panoramic tour up the main boulevards leading to the boat.

PLEASE NOTE

• Good walking shoes are recommended (paths with cobbles and earth in the fortress).
• The order of the visits can change.
• Times are approximate.

In the company of our guides, we will begin our tour with a visit of Osijek, a town in the East of the historical Croatian region of Slavonia. The town was founded by the Slavs, who built a river port on the ruins of the Roman town in the 7th century. In 1526, the Turks took possession of the town and remained there for over 160 years, making Osijek the capital of Ottoman Slavonia. But in 1687, they suffered a heavy defeat in Harkany and left the town without a fight. It was looted by the Austrians, who left nothing of its Ottoman splendor. The Austrians built a citadel over the demolished Turkish town.
Our tour will first take us to the upper town for a view of the Church of St Peter and St Paul. Commonly referred to as the Cathedral, this imposing red brick church dominated by its 90m spire was built under the impetus of Bishop Strossmayer, a native of Osijek. We'll then move on to the Old Town with a visit of the 18th century fortress built between 1712 and 1721 by architect Maximilien Gosseau d'Hennef who designed the citadel's civilian and military buildings, giving the whole a remarkable architectural unity. Afterwards, we'll walk up to the main square with its Holy Trinity monument.
Return on board.

PLEASE NOTE

• Comfortable shoes are recommended.
• The order of the visits can change.
• Times are approximate.

Departure by coach to visit beautiful Pécs in Southern Hungary.
Pecs was first mentioned in old Latin documents as "Quinque Ecclesiae” in relation to the materials from five former Christian chapels that were used to build new churches in the city.
In the company of our guide, we'll set out for a visit of the city on foot, starting with Sts. Peter and Paul's Cathedral or Basilica whose Roman foundations date from the 4th century. The Basilica's current neo-Romanesque facade is the result of the reconstruction carried out between 1882 and 1891, although it has kept its medieval floorplan and post-Romanesque interiors. You will also have the opportunity to see the Basilica's treasure and crypt. The visit continues with the Early Christian Necropolis dating from the 4th-century foundation of the Roman town under the name "Sopianae". These tombs, richly decorated with wall paintings depicting Christian scenes, were built underground as funerary chambers with commemorative chapels above them. It has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2000. Afterwards, our tour continues downtown, stopping at the Djami. In the 13th century, the Turks destroyed St Bartholomew's church and used its stones to build a mosque following the orders of Pasha Gazi Kassim. Pécs was freed from Turkish occupation in 1868 and the mosque became a Catholic church again, although it kept the aspect of a Turkish mosque. Enjoy some free time downtown before returning on board by coach.

PLEASE NOTE

• Visit entirely on foot, good walking shoes are recommended.
• The visit of the necropolis is not recommended for claustrophobic people. There are also stairs to climb.
• The order of the visits can change.
• Times are approximate.

Departure by coach in the company of your host/hostess in the direction of Kiskunsag Park, at the heart of the Puszta.
The Puszta, also known as the Great Plain of Hungary, is a large, flat grassland that was regarded as the Wild West of Hungary in the 19th century with cow-boys watching over colossal cattle herds grazing on pasture. The Puszta has been listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO since 1999.
Riding aboard a charabanc - a traditional horse-drawn carriage with wooden benches - you'll be amazed by the wonderful landscapes and unusual fauna of the Puszta. In a small part of the Hungarian Steppe, you'll get to observe Racka sheep with their spiral-shaped horns, Mangalica pigs with their curly coats and Hungarian Grey cattle with their long, curved horns, as well as rare species of birds. In the course of your visit, you'll get the chance to attend a traditional equestrian show while tasting* "palinka" (plum eau-de-vie) and some "pogacsa" (small savory buns) as well as mineral water, sheltered from the sun under a thatched roof. The csikós, the mounted horse-herdsmen of Hungary dressed in traditional blue attire, will invite you to take part in their "games of skill and ability”. Return on board by coach.

PLEASE NOTE

• Good shoes, sunglasses, caps and a bottle of water are recommended.
• *Alcohol can be harmful to your health. Please drink in moderation.
• The order of the visits can change.
• Times are approximate.

Our excursion starts with a visit to the medieval town of Ilok. Overlooking the Danube, this small fortified town has for centuries over been famous for its vineyards. Tangible proofs of life from prehistorical times and the Middle-Ages up to the present day keep flourishing in the old town. The oldest pieces of evidence date back to the Neolithic Era. You'll get the chance to see many vestiges from the Roman period as well as a wealth of heritage from the Middle-Ages, including the remains of the basilica of Saint Peter dating from the 13th century and the walls of the fortress built by Nikola Ilochki in the 15th century. You'll also be visiting the historical town center, the church and convent of St John of Capistrano which were built in the 14th century by the Duke of Ugrin and the castle of Odescalchi. In the castle, you will find a museum portraying the town's cultural and historical heritage. You'll also enjoy a tasting of some local products.

PLEASE NOTE

• Comfortable shoes are recommended.
• The order of the visits can change.
• Times are approximate.

Explore Budapest by night from the comfort of our coach. Your guide will show you the charms of this capital city with its turbulent but incredibly rich past. Despite the vicissitudes of history, Budapest has managed to preserve and bear witness to a succession of dynasties and civilisations. We'll start off towards the citadel for an impressive view over the city and on Pest. We'll then walk up to the citadel and the Liberty Statue from where we'll get to marvel at the most beautiful view of Budapest and the Danube, as well as catch a glimpse of the Parliament building and the famous Chain Bridge. We'll continue by coach towards the Castle Quarter from where you'll get to admire the Royal Palace, former residence of the Hungarian kings. As we drive alongside the banks of Buda, we'll stop off before the Parliament for an occasion to admire and take pictures of the largest building in the country. We'll continue across Margaret Bridge and enjoy a beautiful view of downtown Budapest. Before we go back on board, our coach will drive along the Danube so you can enjoy once again the wonderful view over Buda, the Castle Quarter and the Fishermen's Bastion. Return on board.

PLEASE NOTE

• Visit by coach with stops to take pictures.
• This excursion will not occur on August 20th, Hungarian National Day.
• Good walking shoes are recommended.
• The order of the visits can change.
• Times are approximate.