Berlin and Dresden
Berlin’s museums are extraordinarily rich, and include some of the greatest works of Europe art, ranging from the bust of Nefertiti, to masterpieces by Van Eyck and Durer, and ultra-modern installations in the Bunker Museum.
The city boasts some superb architecture: the great neo-classical civic structures of Schinkel, Frederick the Great’s palaces in nearby Potsdam, and a series of highly original modern buildings, reflecting the city’s status as capital of a re-united Germany.
From Berlin we move to Dresden, capital of Saxony, which has been fully restored to its former glory. Like Berlin the city boasts a wealth of museums: magnificant Old Masters, including Raphael’s Sistine Madonna, an unrivalled collection of Meissen porcelain (the first porcelain factory in Europe was installed in nearby Meissen in 1710), and the Green Vaults, a rich treasure chamber resembling a veritable Aladdin’s Cave.
Our private visits include one of Schinkel’s most delightful villas, a Baroque schloss out in the Saxon countryside, and the chance to hear music originally composed in Dresden in the beautiful, rebuilt Frauenkirche, a truly uplifting experience.
Hotel: We will be staying in two of the Kempinski group’s finest 5 star hotels. We begin with four nights in Berlin. Overlooking the Brandenberg Gate, the Adlon is the city’s most splendid hotel, a wonderful blend of tradition and modernity boasting several restaurants including one with a Michelin star. The tour ends with two nights at the luxurious Hotel Taschenberg Palais in Dresden, a fine Baroque palace built for Augustus the Strong’s mistress and situated in the historic centre of the city.
Lecturer: Charles FitzRoy
Tour Leaders: Charles FitzRoy and Isabella von Bulow