Oberammergau Passion Play 2022 by Riviera Travel

Oberammergau Passion Play, Salzburg & Lake Constance 2022

Oberammergau Passion Play

Oberammergau Passion Play, Salzburg & Lake Constance

7 DAYS FROM

ÂŁ1,949

May to September 2022

The alpine landscapes of the Austrian Tyrol and Bavaria feature snow-capped mountains, pristine lakes, storybook old towns and fairy-tale castles. At the heart is an inspiring passion play, held once a decade since 1634. Innsbruck

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winds up the steep valley side at a leisurely Victorian pace to the village of Pertisau, beautifully cradled between Lake Achensee and the Karwendel Alps. There’s time at leisure, so perhaps take a relaxing stroll along the edge of the lake and admire the jagged peaks reflected in its mirrorlike surface. Or refresh yourself with a drink at an al fresco café and enjoy the fresh mountain air. Later we return to Innsbruck.

Salzburg

Your itinerary DAY 1 – Innsbruck Arrive at the airport for your flight to Munich. On arrival, we transfer by coach to the four-star Hotel Grauer Bär in Innsbruck, where we stay for two nights with breakfast and dinner. The hotel is centrally located a minute away from the Old Town. DAY 2 – Innsbruck & Achensee railway Stretching out beneath the tremendous Nordkette mountain range is lovely Innsbruck, once the capital of an independent dukedom. Today, the city presents a charming showcase of Gothic and Baroque architecture, culminating in the superb Golden Roof, the symbol of the city built in the 15th century to symbolise the power of the first Duke’s court – we’ll see its copper shingles this morning on our walking tour of the city. Our insightful guide will draw attention to Innsbruck’s other marvellous monuments, such as the Baroque cathedral of St Jakob and the Hofkirche, a grand 16th-century church housing the cenotaph of Emperor Maximilian, surrounded by a remarkable collection of bronze Renaissance sculptures. Our tour includes entry to the spectacular imperial palace, known to locals as the Hofburg. One of Austria’s three major historic buildings, it has undergone an astounding transformation from Gothic to Renaissance to its current Baroque appearance. The palace is renowned for its lavish 18th-century apartments, which give a sense of the wealth of the Habsburgs. Apart from an outstanding collection of buildings, Innsbruck also boasts some of the finest views in Europe: across the swift-flowing River Inn to the tall, pastel-hued houses on the opposite bank, and the death-

defying Bergisel ski jump, all encircled by the magnificent Alps. A short drive this afternoon takes us to the market town of Jenbach, where we board the wonderful Achensee steam cog railway. Europe’s oldest cog railway remains almost exactly as it was when first built in 1889, complete with original locomotives! Huffing and puffing, it

DAY 3 – Salzburg Departing Innsbruck, we travel east to Salzburg, capital of the Salzkammergut – the Austrian Lake District – whose breathtaking beauty was brought to the world’s attention in The Sound of Music. Until two centuries ago it was an independent state ruled by a series of archbishops who turned Salzburg into one of the most cultured cities north of the Alps, evidenced by the elegant buildings and refined restaurants. Nestled below steep hills beside the River Salzach is the storybook Old Town, presenting a chocolate-box display of splendid architecture dating from the medieval period to the 18th century. It’s here in the historic core where our expert guide takes us on a tour to see the highlights. Gaze up at the Hohensalzburg, an imposing stone fortress perched high on a cliff, dominating the skyline and overlooking a maze of narrow streets lined by

Your tour price includes • A category 2 ticket to the world-renowned Oberammergau passion play, plus an official programme • Explore Salzburg, the picturesque birthplace of Mozart and setting for The Sound of Music, on a guided walking tour • Visit the Hofburg, a spectacular former Habsburg palace and one of Austria’s most significant cultural monuments • Enjoy a guided walking tour of idyllic Innsbruck, the Tyrolean capital nestled in the heart of the Alps • Take a guided tour of the fairy-tale castle of Neuschwanstein, intended as a home for King Ludwig II • Enjoy a scenic journey on the Achensee steam cog railway to the lakeside village of Pertisau • Journey to Lake Constance, Germany’s largest lake, visiting

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the beautiful garden island of Mainau and lovely Konstanz close to the Swiss border • Experience a drive along the famed Alpine Road through Bavaria’s stunning alpine region Plus, of course: • Return flights from a selection of regional airports, plus all hotel transfers • Six nights in four-star and three-star superior accommodation inclusive of all local taxes, plus breakfast and six dinners, including one at a local restaurant • The services of our experienced and insightful tour manager throughout (B) Daily Breakfast, (D) 6 Dinners Prices are per person. For departure dates, prices and flights, please call or visit our website.

Neuschwanstein Castle

exquisite shops that make windowshopping so satisfying. After our tour there’s time to explore on your own. Perhaps visit the Salzburg Museum for an absorbing journey through the city’s past and present, or stop by the former home of Salzburg’s most celebrated citizen, Mozart – it’s now a museum dedicated to the musical genius. Or soak up the atmosphere at a stylish café in the sumptuous Residenzplatz square and simply watch the world go by. From Salzburg, we drive west across the German border through densely forested Bavaria to the Oberammergau area, where we stay for two nights with breakfast at a four-star hotel. Dinner is included at your hotel this evening. Exact details of the hotel will be advised closer to your departure date, as arrangements are handled by the Oberammergau passion play authorities. DAY 4 – Oberammergau Passion Play For many, experiencing the passion play today will be a memorable and moving experience. The fascinating origins of this living tradition date back to 1632 during the Thirty Years’ War which brought the plague to Oberammergau. The villagers pledged to stage a play on the Passion of Christ if they were spared; legend has it that further spread was prevented and since then the play has been performed faithfully every decade. Today it’s a work of art that attracts more than half a million spectators from around the world.

Oberammergau itself is wonderfully charming, set in a beautiful location surrounded by pristine mountain landscapes. It’s renowned for its 500-year-old woodcarving heritage, well-represented in the many woodcarving shops, as well as its ‘Lüftlmalereien’ – vivid paintings of biblical scenes adorning the traditional houses. After free time this morning to wander through town, we head to the openair theatre, a stunning venue that seats more than 4,500 spectators. The passion play runs from 2:30pm to 10:30pm with a three-hour interval for dinner at 5pm. It depicts the period from when Jesus entered Jerusalem through to the crucifixion and resurrection. One of the most arresting aspects is the stirring 19th-century score by Rochus Dedler, brought to life by the passionate orchestra and choir. The commitment to detail and authenticity is impressive: the long hair and beards of the male performers are all real, grown in accordance with the ‘beard and hair edict’.

Dinner is included during the interval, giving you time to reflect on what you’ve witnessed before immersing yourself again in the experience. After the performance we return to our hotel. DAY 5 – Neuschwanstein Castle This morning we bid farewell to Oberammergau and drive to one of Germany’s most iconic monuments, Neuschwanstein Castle, clinging dramatically to an alpine crag. Typifying our image of a classic storybook castle, it’s been the inspiration for so many stories and has fascinated children the world over. It was commissioned as a homage to classical composer Wagner by Ludwig II, the eccentric Bavarian king who modelled himself on Louis XIV of France. During our guided tour of the castle, you’ll experience this fairytale come to life. The architecture inside is equally impressive, drawing from different styles – Byzantine, Romanesque and Gothic, while sumptuous tapestries and elaborate frescoes decorate the wall. We then journey along the famed Deutsche Alpenstrasse – the German Alpine Road – an exhilarating route that winds its way through stunning alpine Bavaria. Meandering between lofty mountains, we take in picturepostcard scenery: cascading waterfalls, lush forests, captivating castles and chocolate-box villages unchanged for centuries, surrounded by the snowcapped Alps in all their majesty. We cross into Austria and the lakeside town of Bregenz, where we stay for

Our expert guides will bring to life the sights you see

passing the city of Friedrichshafen where the mammoth Zeppelin airships were built. Soon we arrive in Meersburg and take a short ferry ride to the sub-tropical ‘flower island’ of Mainau. It’s delightful wandering through this gardener’s paradise, whose 111 acres of manicured landscapes boast an extraordinary diversity of trees, flowers and shrubs. Highlights include a rose garden with more than 25,000 bushes, a palm house and Germany’s biggest butterfly house. Surrounded by this stunning display of radiant colours is a 13th-century palace.

two nights with breakfast and dinner at the three-star superior Länder Hotel Deutschmann. Situated close to the centre of Bregenz, this family-run hotel offers comfortable rooms and a restaurant. Some dates will stay at the four-star Montfort das Hotel, also family-run and set in a quiet location with its own restaurant and bar. DAY 6 – Lake Constance Our journey today is centred on Lake Constance, Germany’s largest lake shared between Austria, Germany and Switzerland. We drive along the lake’s undulating northern shore in Germany,

Mainau ‘flower island’

Lake Constance

Next we visit the dramatically sited city of Konstanz, bisected by the Rhine and located close to the Swiss border. North of the river lies the university while to the south is the Old Town where you’ll have free time to wander through the cobbled twisting alleys and admire the medieval half-timbered houses. Perhaps visit the outstanding cathedral that’s a fascinating mix of architectural styles. There’s a curious glass pyramid through which you can see the third-century remains of the Roman fort, Constantia, which gave the city its name. After a wonderful day of sightseeing, we return to our hotel along the southern shore through Switzerland, taking in more awe-inspiring scenery. DAY 7 – Return flight Today you transfer to the airport for your return flight. Please note: Preparations for Oberammergau Passion Play 2022 are already under way and given the success of previous performances, demand for tickets is certain to be high. This tour guarantees one category 2 ticket per person and an official programme in English (the play is performed in German).

Seating Plan STAGE GATE A

GATE O

GATE B

GATE N

GATE C

GATE M

GATE D

GATE L

GATE E

GATE K

CATEGORY 1 2 3 4 5

GATE F

GATE G

GATE H

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Included seating is in category 2

Prices & Departures Airport

Birmingham

Dublin

Edinburgh

London Gatwick

London Heathrow

London Stansted

Manchester

Newcastle

Date 30/05/2022 23/06/2022; 07/07/2022; 23/07/2022; 26/09/2022 25/06/2022; 21/07/2022; 13/08/2022 29/08/2022 27/06/2022; 16/07/2022; 03/09/2022 20/08/2022 06/06/2022 18/07/2022 23/07/2022 18/08/2022; 12/09/2022 21/05/2022 30/05/2022 09/06/2022; 15/09/2022; 19/09/2022; 26/09/2022 27/06/2022; 22/08/2022 07/07/2022 09/07/2022; 30/07/2022 16/07/2022; 13/08/2022 03/09/2022 17/09/2022 06/06/2022 23/06/2022 18/07/2022; 18/08/2022; 12/09/2022 01/08/2022 29/08/2022 28/05/2022 13/06/2022 11/07/2022 04/08/2022; 01/09/2022 21/05/2022 28/05/2022; 25/06/2022 09/06/2022; 13/06/2022 09/07/2022; 30/07/2022; 15/09/2022 11/07/2022; 21/07/2022 01/08/2022 04/08/2022; 01/09/2022 20/08/2022 17/09/2022 19/09/2022 22/08/2022

Airline

Flight out 07:05 07:05 07:05 11:00 07:10 07:10 10:50 13:20 11:00 18:05 07:00 13:25 13:25 06:20 06:20 07:00 07:00 07:00 07:00 07:25 06:55 07:25 07:25 10:55 07:15 18:25 18:25 13:35 11:10 07:05 10:45 10:45 07:10 07:10 10:45 11:10 10:45 13:25 13:50

Lufthansa

Aer Lingus Lufthansa Eurowings Easyjet

Easyjet

Lufthansa

Easyjet Easyjet

Lufthansa

Easyjet Lufthansa Easyjet Lufthansa

Flight arrival into the UK 16:55 16:55 16:55 16:55 13:10 13:10 23:10 13:30 23:10 23:10 22:55 17:50 17:50 22:55 22:55 22:55 22:55 17:50 17:50 15:45 15:45 15:45 17:05 17:05 22:40 17:45 17:45 17:25 18:15 17:00 17:00 17:00 17:00 17:00 17:00 18:15 17:00 18:25 13:10

Flight duration 1hrs.50 1hrs.50 1hrs.50 1hrs.50 2hrs.20 2hrs.20 2hrs.15 2hrs.15 2hrs.15 2hrs.15 1hrs.50 1hrs.50 1hrs.50 1hrs.50 1hrs.50 1hrs.50 1hrs.50 1hrs.50 1hrs.50 1hrs.55 1hrs.55 1hrs.55 1hrs.55 1hrs.55 1hrs.45 1hrs.45 1hrs.45 1hrs.45 2hrs.00 2hrs.00 2hrs.00 2hrs.00 2hrs.00 2hrs.00 2hrs.00 2hrs.00 2hrs.00 2hrs.00 2hrs.00

Price £2,019 £2,069 £2,169 £2,169 £2,189 £2,199 £2,039 £2,189 £2,089 £2,189 £1,949 £1,999 £2,049 £2,149 £2,049 £2,049 £2,149 £2,149 £2,099 £2,019 £2,069 £2,169 £2,069 £2,169 £2,049 £2,049 £2,149 £2,149 £1,969 £2,169 £2,069 £2,069 £2,169 £2,069 £2,169 £2,169 £2,119 £2,069 £2,089

The price of this holiday is per person based on two people sharing a twin room. Single rooms are subject to availability at a supplement of £295. The price includes return flights, airport departure taxes and transfers, six nights four-star and three-star superior accommodation with breakfast and five dinners in your hotel and one in a local restaurant in Oberammergau, all local taxes, guided tour of Innsbruck, including visit to Hofburg, Achensee cog railway from Jenbach to Pertisau, guided tour of Salzburg, Oberammergau Passion Play category 2 ticket, guided tour of Neuschwanstein Castle, ferry from Meersburg to Mainau ‘garden island’ and Konstanz and the services of a Riviera Travel tour manager. Please note Austrian beds are generally one base with two mattresses and individual bed linen.

Booking Conditions Deposit: The deposit for this tour is £200 per person. Our standard booking conditions apply, except for the following terms: Payment: If booking within 14 weeks of departure, full payment must be made at the time of booking. For full booking conditions, please visit: www.rivieratravel.co.uk/docs/terms

Cancellation: Period before departure within which written notification of cancellation is received by us

Cancellation charge per person cancelling

More than 98 days 97 - 61 days 60 – 31 days 30 - 16 days 15 days or less

Deposit 50% 75% 85% 100%

There won’t be an opportunity like this until 2030, so don’t miss out. To book or for more information, call 01283 245 358 or visit rivieratravel.co.uk

Code OB22

ABTA No. V4744