Advent in Dresden & The Erzgebirge Mountains

December 11^th – 17^th

We have often visited Dresden, but always in the summer months, and this new itinerary combines this splendid baroque city with the Erzgebirge mountains of southern Saxony, where traditional wooden Christmas decorations have been carved for centuries. Dresden’s Christmas Market, often known as the “Striezelmarkt” after the local Stollen, is the oldest in Germany, first recorded as long ago as 1434!

OUTLINE ITINERARY

Thursday) Morning departure by Eurostar from St Pancras to Brussels, thence onward by Thalys to Koeln

Friday) We continue across Germany to Annaberg Buchholz, in the heart of the Erzgebirge region, and our hotel is situated in the town square, with the Christmas market outside.

Saturday) Today we enjoy steam at the narrow gauge Pressnitztalbahn, before continuing to the town of Seiffen, the centre of the wood carving industry.

Sunday) More narrow gauge steam from Cranzahl to Oberwiesenthal, close to the Czech border, the highest town in Germany, where we hope to be able to enjoy a horse drawn sleigh ride. Later we continue to Dresden by main line train.

Monday) A day to explore Dresden and the Christmas Markets as you please.

Tuesday) The narrow gauge Weisseritztalbahn railway, which was largely destroyed by the 2002 floods is scheduled to reopen late 2008, and, if it is,  we will include a trip on this very scenic route through the Rabenau Gorge.

Wednesday) This morning we leave Dresden and return via Frankfurt, Koeln and Brussels to London.

OUR HOTELS

We will stay for two nights at the Hotel Wilder Mann in the centre of Annaberg Buchholz, and the Hotel Lillenstein in Dresden. The two nights at Annaberg are arranged on a half board basis, whilst the other nights are on a bed and  breakfast basis.Tour price is £745 per person sharing twin / double room , with £90 single room supplement if required.