Munich, 6-10 November 2008, Tour leaders: Patrick Bade and Trudy Gold

Munich - A City of Extremes

6-10 November 2008

This almost surrealistic tour will encompass the breathtaking scenery of Bavaria, the fairytale castles of mad King Ludwig and the great art collections, including the Gallery of Beauties, paintings of Ludwig's mistresses. We will also examine Munich, the birthplace of National Socialism where Hitler began his evil career, and visit Dachau, the first German concentration camp where the sign above the gates reads "Tolerance is a Sign of Weakness".

To get the most out of your trip, why not prepare with our One Day Munich Seminar? Click here for more information.

I T I N E R A R Y

Thursday 06 November (Day 1)

• 09:40: Depart London Heathrow on British Airways flight BA950 (Terminal 5)
• 12:30: Arrive Munich International Airport.
• Coach transfer to Hotel (about 30 km) Patrick will give us a “Welcome to Munich” talk on our way.
• 14:00-15:30: Check-in at 5* De Luxe Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten Kempinski one of The Leading Hotels of the World located at Maximilianstrasse 17, 80539 Munich, Germany. (Tel: +49 89 21250) This luxury hotel has a Health Spa and indoor swimming pool and is ideally situated in the heart of Munich’s most desirable areas, filled with interesting boutiques and just a few minutes walk to the Opera House, theatres and famous art galleries.
• Short rest and refreshment break.
• 15:30-17:00: Meet in the hotel lobby for an orientation walking tour with Patrick and Trudy taking in:
• Asamkirche (this magnificent baroque masterpiece was built by the Asam brothers from 1733),
• Viktualien Markt (a name that promises gastronomic delights with some 140 food stalls),
• Marien Platz (the heart of Munich’s Central Square, an attractive stage with town halls, shops and restaurants),
• Feldherrnhalle ( built in 1844, the Bavarian Army’s Hall of Fame where Hitler attempted and failed to stage a putsch on the 9 November 1923),
• Hofbrauhaus (the legendary royal brewery and Beer Hall)
• 17:00: Catch your breath and meet in the hotel lounge for a coffee and get to know your fellow travellers.Evening

• At leisure to enjoy the fine dining facilities of the Kempinski Hotel or have dinner at one of Munich’s excellent restaurants. (List of recommended restaurants to follow) or
• You may wish to make reservations for one of the various Opera Houses in Munich. This Thursday evening the Bayerische Staatsoper features “Die Entfuhrug aus dem Serail” (The Abduction from the Seraglio) an opera in three acts by Mozart. Early advance reservations advised (to be made personally) (Not included in tour cost) Please see booking details under Evening in Day 3 below.
• Later: Our hotel features live jazz or other music, so if you are not too tired, meet downstairs for a night-cap.

Friday 07 November (Day 2)

• 09:15-10:15: Lecture by Trudy Gold (at the Hotel) on the History of the Jews in Germany with special emphasis on Jewish life in Munich up to and including the rise of National Socialism in Munich. This Sunday 09 November is the 70th anniversary of Kristalnacht which will make this lecture and our visit even more poignant.
• 10:30: Board coach to Dachau, the first Concentration Camp opened in Germany in 1933, situated about 16km NW of Munich, where we will be met by a local guide.
• A film will be shown and discussion held with our guide after walking through the Camp.
• We shall conduct a short Memorial Service at Dachau.
• 15:00: Coach back to the hotel in time before Shabbat.
Note: Shabbat starts at 16:28 in Munich.

Evening

• Synagogue services (optional).
• Group Shabbat dinner at the Jewish Community Centre (included in tour cost). We are hoping to have as our guest of honour the Countess von Otting. Also, we invite participants to share with the group any family/historical interesting subject he/she may want to tell us concerning this tour to Munich and/or Germany. This evening promises to be a warm memorable experience.
• Further details, location of synagogue/s, times of services and dinner to follow.

Saturday 08 November (Day 3)

• Shabbat: No “official” programme. Optional Synagogue attendance.
• 09:30 to about 16:30 Meet in hotel lobby for a walking tour ( about a 15 minute walk from our hotel to the first museum) of some of Munich’s finest and important art galleries guided by Patrick Bade including :
• The Alte Pinakothek (More than 800 masterpieces by European artists bring to life the development of art from the Middle Ages to the end of the Rococo period.)
• The Neue Pinakothek (Houses outstanding works of European art and sculpture from the late 18th to the beginning of the 20th Century. There are also wonderful works of the most significant German artists as well as a fine collection of French Impressionists. Great landscape and portrait works of the English Spanish and French masters are also on view)
• Glypothek (Built as an Ionic temple from 1816-1830 to house Ludwig ll's famous collection of antiquities which now forms the core of the exhibition including The Barbarian Fawn and the Agina Pediments)
• Highlights of the Lenbachhaus Gallery (A delightful Italianate villa which holds among other works of art, the most outstanding pieces by the artists’ group “Der Blaue Reiter”-The Blue Rider - including Germany’s largest collection of paintings by Kandinsky)
• Lunch: We will stop for lunch at about 13:00 at a café within one of the museums.

Evening

• At leisure: You may want to attend a performance at the Bayerische Staatsoper of Richard Wagner’s opera, “The Flying Dutchman” (in German) Early advance booking essential. Tel Box Office: 00-49-89218519 or visit www.bayerische.staatsoper.de (Not included in tour cost)
• or just explore Munich’s exciting nightlife or dine out at a restaurant of your own choice. See list of recommendations to follow. (not included in tour cost)

• Later: Meet at the hotel for a chat and nightcap if you like, maybe some music, too.

Sunday 09 November (Day 4)

• 08:30 Off to the south of Bavaria! Board the coach for a full day of interesting viewing and castle sightings. Patrick and Trudy will give informal talks and answer your questions as we drive along the way. Enjoy the beautiful views as we drive into the Bavarian countryside where we shall be visiting –
• the Neuschwanstein Castle, built between 1869 and 1886 under King Ludwig II. This magnificent Castle stands in solitary splendour on top of a rock, near an alpine lake surrounded by dense woodland below. It was built in the style of a Medieval Castle (and inspired Disneyland’s “castle”). [CAUTION NOTE: You will need to be fit to make it up to the Castle. There is about a 30 minute uphill walk (about 200m/650 feet in height) to get to the Schlosshos. Once inside, there are some 300 steps during the tour. Good news is that provided there is no snow, there is transport to take those in need to the Castle for about 6 euros]
• Linderhof , the only Palace King Ludwig II lived to see completed, beautifully located in large garden surroundings.
• The UNESCO World Heritage listed Wieskirche (Church in the Meadow) often considered the definitive work of the Bavarian Rococo.
• LUNCH: We are aiming to have lunch at a quaint Bavarian restaurant or Monastic “Keller” in the Oberammergau region. More details to follow and confirmation after the pre-tour meeting later. (Not included in tour cost)
• Time permitting, we shall explore this region and Ettal
• 16:00: Coach returns to hotel for an evening at leisure.

Monday 10 November (Day 5)

• Check out and please pay for all extras. Store luggage in hotel cabin.
• Today has been planned to give you some choices.
• Choice 1: For the more adventurous, feel free to explore any part of Munich that we have not covered on our previous days and/or you may want to re-visit some of the splendid art galleries (from Saturday) in more detail.
• Choice 2: There are some splendid shops around our hotel area so you can combine Choice 1 and Choice 2 in the available time.
• Choice 3: Meet at 09:30 in the Hotel Lobby for a group visit to the Residenz Museum which ranks among the fines palace museums in Europe. The Residenz contains important collections of silver, porcelain, paintings, rare furniture and clocks, magnificent tapestries, sculpture and more amassed over the centuries by the Wittelsbachs. Then take in the Schatzkammer (Treasury) which contains a display of jewels, goldsmith’s work, enamels, crystal objects, royal insignia and the like avidly collected over the centuries by the rulers of Bavaria. Note: You will be able to use a free Audio-Guide for the Residenz and Schatskammer in English. Rooms are only accessible via staircase or steps.
• 14:15 Meet back at the Kempinski Hotel where luggage will be loaded onto our coach.
• 14:30 sharp: Coach departs to Munich International Airport.
• 17:35 Depart Munich on BA 955.
• 20:10 Arrive London Heathrow Terminal 5.

Please note that this is a provisional itinerary and the LJCC reserves the right to amend where necessary.

Tour leaders: Patrick Bade and Trudy GoldFor further information contact:

Tour Co-ordinator Lionel Unterhalter on 020 7612 7615

or email ljcctours@yahoo.co.uk