A journey between Central Europe and the Balkans - Lake Balaton, the authentic Sava and the majestic 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 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.
The tour finishes with the Kopacki Rit Nature Park, located northwest of the confluence of the Drava and the Danube at the border with Serbia. It is one of the largest protected wetlands in Europe. Part of the Kopacki Rit Park is strictly protected as a bird reserve. If you are lucky, you may be able to see some of the 260 species of birds that nest in this area, such as wild geese, wild ducks, the black woodpecker, and the numerous mammals that live in the park, including deers, roe deers, wild boars, wild cats, martens, stone martens and more.

PLEASE NOTE

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

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.
Our coach will continue to the little village of Sremski Karlovci where we'll visit the Cathedral of St Nicholas, built in typical baroque style in 1758, and the first ever secondary school of Serbia dating from the end of the 18th century which has a library housing around 18,000 books. We'll take time to admire one of the most well-known of the town's monuments, the Four Lions Fountain, built in 1799 to celebrate the town's first ever waterworks. Return on board in Novi Sad.

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.

Departure by coach for our excursion to generous Slavonia through the lush green hills dominating the Sava plain.
We will start off with a visit of Pozega, a small town famous for its wine and delicacies. History unfolds downtown through various monuments and fine examples of Baroque architecture. Enjoy some free time strolling down the streets of the city and marvel at the Plague Column and the Holy Trinity Square and Church. Our visit continues to the eco-ethno village of Stara Kapela which has managed to preserve its houses, traditional farms and crafts. We'll be greeted by the villagers and enjoy a tasting of local specialties to the sound of tamburitzas - long-necked lutes with plucked strings. Renovation work in the village was meticulously carried out according to tradition and using materials from the region itself, restoring each house to its original appearance. Don't miss the wooden columns! Beautiful lines from the most talented Croatian poets unwind next to the light bulbs. Every visitor can get an idea of what life used to be like back in the days thanks to the large amount of original furniture and tools that were bought thanks to the Eko-Etno Selo Association which started the renovation project. No cars and no phone signal are to be found in Stara Kapela whose very concept is to suggest a different lifestyle - far from the usual rush and stress of an urban life, closer to nature and harmonious living together. In Stara Kapela, experience an authentic throwback you'll never forget!

PLEASE NOTE

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

Departure from Sremska Mitrovica by coach in the company of your guides to discover the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina. During its eventful history, Vojvodina was successively dominated by numerous invaders coming from all over Eastern Europe before finally being attached to Serbia.
More than 16 Orthodox monasteries are spread around the hamlet of Irski Venac, a great opportunity to soak up Serbian art combining Byzantine and Baroque architecture. You will be delighted by the magnificent paintings from the 18th century that adorn the beautiful 16th century Krusedol monastery.
We'll then move on to Sremski Karlovci, a small peaceful town of 9,000 inhabitants on the banks of the Danube. In the 17th century when the Turkish were no longer a threat, the city became the Serb cultural center in the Austro-Hungarian Empire and seat of the Orthodox Patriarchate. The cultural influence of the city extended with the creation of the first Serbian high school in the 17th and 19th centuries where the greatest writers and theologians met. A walk through this romantic city will allow you to see the 18th century Cathedral and its many pieces of Serbian Religious Art that evoke the city's past glory.

PLEASE NOTE

• Comfortable shoes are recommended.
• Please dress appropriately to visit the monastery (no shorts, no T-shirt, shoulders covered for ladies and closed shoes).
• 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.

Departure by coach from Sisak in the company of your hostess towards Zagreb.
The Croatian capital was born from the junction of two medieval towns which for centuries developed on two hills facing each other. These two cities, Gradec and Kaptol, were surrounded by walls and towers, some vestiges of which have survived. In the 17th and 18th centuries, the two towns merged and were renamed Zagreb. The city was then renovated in Baroque style. The old timber houses were destroyed and replaced with luxurious palaces, churches and convents.
Your panoramic tour will take you past the Croatian National Theater, the Art Pavilion, the Academy of Sciences and Arts, the Secession style university library and more. Then, you'll be able to take a stroll down the steep streets of the historic center.
Lunch will be taken in a restaurant in the city for a chance to try local specialties.

PLEASE NOTE

• Lunch is included (without drinks).
• Comfortable shoes are recommended.
• The order of the visits can change.
• Times are approximate.