Download PDF COPY

Austria


Day 1 - DEPART USA - Today, we depart our home airport for our connecting flight to Prague. We enjoy complimentary beverages, in-flight movies, dinner and breakfast while aloft.

Day 2 - PRAGUE - This morning, upon arrival in Prague, we board our motor coach to enjoy a delightful orientation tour of the city.  Following a break for lunch on our own, the balance of the day is at leisure before check-in at our hotel. We enjoy our “welcome” dinner. Overnight at our hotel.

Day 3 - PRAGUE - Today, we begin our tour of Prague at Castle Hill and visit the impressive St. Vitus Cathedral with it’s beautiful chapel dedicated to St. Wenceslas. The popular saint and patron of the Czech people is entomed here. Wladislav Hall and Golden Lane. We will visit the famous Infant Jesus of Prague at the Church of Our Lady of Victory, where we will celebrate Mass. Following a break for lunch on our own, our afternoon tour of Prague will include the Old Town with Astronomical clock, Jewish Quarter and Charles Bridge.  We return to our hotel for dinner and overnight.

Day 4 – PRAGUE/VIENNA – Today, we journey south to Vienna, arriving early in the afternoon, after stopping for lunch on our own along the way. We enjoy a city tour past the Prater, as we arrive in Vienna's famous Ringstrasse. On the site of the ring fortifications Emperor Franz Josef constructed on either side of this wide boulevard, which are some of the most impressive buildings of the city. We pass the Opera, Charles church, Parliament and City Hall on our way to our hotel.  Dinner and overnight in Vienna.

Day 5 -VIENNA/GYOR/BUDAPEST – This morning, we join our guide for a walk through the Hofburg, the winter residence of the Hapsburg Emperors. Our tour concludes with a stop at the Hundertwasser house with its colorful facades and golden onion towers. Following a break for lunch on our own before heading southeast through the Burgenland to Györ, on our way to Budapest. This Marian site attracks thousands of pilgrims each year.  While there we view the icon of the “Irish Madonna”, so named because it was brought to Hungary from Clomfert Cathedral. Following our visit, we continue on, arriving in Budapest in time for dinner and overnight at our hotel.

Day 6 – BUDAPEST - This morning we drive to the Royal castle in Buda, where we will visit Fishermen's Bastion and the beautiful Gothic St. Matthias Church. Afterwards, we continue to the Citadel, where we enjoy the best view over the Danube and the lower city of Pest. We cross the Elizabeth Bridge to the Market Hall and the pedestrian center, where we will have free time for lunch on our own. In the afternoon, drive through the City Park to Hero's Square, then past the Opera and Parliament. We conclude our day with a visit and Mass at St. Stephen's Basilica. This evening, following dinner, we enjoy a boat ride on the fabled Danube River.  Commentary will include the history of the city’s most important buildings situated along the river. Overnight at our hotel.

Day 7BUDAPEST/VIENNA/SALZBURG – This morning we travel west through Vienna and the Austrian Danube Valley to Salzberg. After a stop for lunch on our own, we arrive in the fabled city featured in the musical “Sound of Music”! We will have the opportunity to explore the culinary delights of Salzburg tonight as dinner will be on our own. Overnight in Salzberg.

Day 8SALZBURG - Today we visit to Hellbrunn Castle with its water plays.we depart Salzburg via the wonderful Sound of Music area. We see the colorful old section with narrow streets, Residenz Fountain and Tower, and the Geburtshaus, Mozart's birthplace. We enjoy the unusual architecture, which lends much to the character and charm of the city.  We stop to view the church in Mondsee where the Von Trapp’s wedding was filmed before concluding our day with some free time in Salzberg.

Day 9 - SALZBURG/ALTOTTING/MUNICH – This morning,we proceed to Altötting where we celebrate Mass at the small Shrine of Our Lady of Altötting, a shrine venerated for over 500 years. After a break for lunch on our own, we drive into Munich and enjoy a brief orientation tour of the city.  Dinner and overnight at our hotel

Day 10 MUNICH/BAMBERG - This morning, we enjoy a tour of the City, passing the University, St. Paul's Church, German Museum, the 'Frauenkirche, the Obelisk, Theatinir Church, Feldherrnhalle, English Gardens, Schwabing Artists’ Colony, and Buergerbrau Kellar and the famous Glockenspiel.  Following a break for lunch on our own, we travel north to Bamberg, to visit the beautiful Bamberg Catherdral, which houses the tombs of both Holy Roman Emporer St. Henry II, as well as his wife, Empress St. Cunigunde, who both lives a chaste marriage to honor God and used their royal status for good, rather than for their own gain.  We celebrate Mass while here, before dinner and overnight at our hotel.

Day 11 – BAMBERG/MARBURG/FRANKFURT (Depart for US) -  Today we continue north to the city of Marburg, and visit the Church of St. Elizabeth of Hungary.  Her tomb honors her faithfulness to Our Lord and stands as a reminder of her patronage to all the parishes who honor her as their protector and intercessor to God.  We celebrate Mass in her honor before finishing our visit here.  We proceed northwest to Frankfurt for our evening flight home.  Enjoying this pilgrimage and creating memories that will last the remainder of our lives.


“Often tainted in many minds, with thoughts of the two World Wars,
Germany and Austria are home to many saints and filled with majestic
churches and cathedrals rich in Catholic history”