Poland – Homeland of Fryderyk Chopin
Arrival. Meeting your tour leader, your personal Poland travel expert. Transfer to hotel. Dinner.
Day 2 • Warsaw
After breakfast we visit Fryderyk Chopin Museum, which cultivates the memory of the great composer. It is placed in Ostrogowski Castle. After sightseeing we can optionally attend piano recital in the museum’s concert hall. Then we move towards the Old Town, listed on UNESCO World Heritage List after reconstruction from the rubble of World War II. We visit Holy Cross Church where the funeral urn containing Chopin’s heart is stored, brought to Warsaw after his death. In the afternoon we travel the Royal Route to the Royal Łazienki Park, romantic park complex, Warsaw’s most attractive green area with a magnificent Palace on the Water. We stroll in the park to a monument of Fryderyk Chopin.
Day 3 • Żelazowa Wola – Pieskowa Skała – Kraków
The day starts with travel to Żelazowa Wola - a birthplace of Fryderyk Chopin. We visit a 18th century manor house, where a great composer was born in 1810. It houses museum of Fryderyk Chopin which has been visited for decades by admirers of Chopin’s music from all around the world. We will visit a house, park around and have an occasion to listen of Chopin’s music during a special arranged concert (optional). After that we transfer towards Ojców National Park to visit Pieskowa Skała Castle and 25 meters high limestone rock called due to its shape “cudgel of Hercules”. Chopin visited Pieskowa Skała Castle with a group of friends in 1829. After sightseeing transfer to Kraków.
Day 4 • Kraków
After breakfast we visit Wawel Royal Castle – residence of Polish kings through almost 600 years with its Royal and State Apartments and Wawel Royal Cathedral - for centuries a burial place of Polish kings. Then we walk to Collegium Maius, the oldest college of Jagiellonian University with scenic courtyard, visited by Chopin in 1829 during his few days’ stay in Kraków. Then we stroll to Main Market Square with Renaissance Cloth Hall and Gothic St. Mary’s Basilica. The historic center of Kraków, the former capital of Poland, is listed on UNESCO World Heritage List.
Day 5 • Wieliczka – Wrocław
After breakfast we go to Wieliczka to visit the 700-year- -old Wieliczka Salt Mine (on UNESCO World Heritage List), an unforgettable three kilometers of underground chambers, caves, chapels and statues all sculptured from salt. Mining salt, which was called “white gold” in middle ages, contribute to a great development of Kraków. Chopin visited this place with a group of friends during summer 1829. Optionally we can arrange a special piano concert in one of Wieliczka Salt Mine’s chambers. Then we transfer to Wrocław, where a young composer were few times travelling to heath resorts and Vienna. We have a stroll in Cathedral Island full of narrow lanes, gas lamps and countless bridges and visit cathedral of St. John the Baptist. From the cathedral tower we see a great panorama of the city.
Day 6 • Wrocław – Duszniki Zdrój
After breakfast we visit the heart of the city, Old Town with Gothic City Hall and university district to see the historic academic headquarters of the city’s main college. On our way there is the old butchers’ lane with its quaint shops. Then we head to Duszniki Zdrój – mountain heath resort well known for its curative influence of climate and water. Chopin spent there the summer 1826 to undergo treatment and gave his first charity concert. Since 1946 summer annual International Chopin Festival has attracted leading players to Duszniki to commemorate Chopin’s stay in the spa. We visit Chopin manor house, have a stroll through heath resort park and drink some curative water “Pieniawa Chopina”. Optional: piano recital in the evening.
Day 7 • Duszniki Zdrój – Wrocław / Kraków
After breakfast we visit the Museum of Papermaking placed in historical paper mill and have an opportunity to make papier mâché. Then we depart to Kraków or Wrocław Airport for return flight.
package rate from 385 €*
* per person in twin/double, with minimum 40 persons, price includes: accommodation in 3* hotels on HB basis, coach transfers as per program, local English/German speaking guide, price does not include: flight tickets, travel insurance, entrance fees (approx. 60 EUR), other meals and beverages. Remark: this quote is subject to availability based on the final dates of the tour and needs to be confirmed.
