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Berlin/Weimar/Dresden-Prague

Revolution! The Study of Propaganda Art
Propaganda in the 20th and 21st century

This  is a customized study tour  of Gremany and Prague undertaken by a college from Colorado which  was  very successful-  combining  visits and stays in 4 historical European cities shaping our history in arts,  politics , literature  at  a very affordable rate.

HOTELS

Hotel Econotel in Berlin 3-star (  3 days )

Twin rooms with private bathroom

Location: Hotel Econtel is ideally situated between Airport Berlin Tegel, shopping boulevard "Ku'damm" and fairgrounds. It offers a central but quiet
location close to the river Spree, separated from famous Charlottenburg Castle only by a small park.
Underground station: Mierendorffplatz
Guest rooms: Each guest room is equipped with a comfortable bed, desk, colour Sat TV, telephone, free WLAN, free safe, shower/WC.

Facilities: Restaurant, Hotel Bar, rich breakfast buffet. 9 x standard incl. breakfast twin room / 3 nights.

Ringhotel Kaiserin Augusta in Weimar 3-star   ( 2 nights )
Twin rooms with private bathroom.

Location: The hotel is located in a calm area opposite of the main train station of Weimar and just a few minutes on foot to the city centre.
Guest rooms: The rooms are equipped with all the modern amenities and from some rooms one can even enjoy a wonderful view over the city.
Facilities: The restaurant “Wintergarten” offers regional dishes and light cuisine. At the bar guests can try Thuringia wines from the nearby vineyards. 9 x standard incl. breakfast twin room / 2 nights

Hostel Boat in Dresden ( 1 night )

Location: If you are looking for a special accommodation, this hostel boat in the heart of Dresden is the right place. Located in the district of “Neustadt”, it is in near vicinity to the famous sights.
Guest rooms: The cabins on the boat are equipped with 2, 3, or 4 beds and are located on the upper and lower decks. Each cabin provides a wash basin.
The rest rooms are located on the starboard and portside on each deck. Showers are available, too.
Also handicapped accessible cabins are available.
Facilities: The cafeteria and its outdoor decks is located on the upper deck, from where you can have a look over the harbour basin. There, the breakfast and dinner (after reservation) takes place. The boat bar welcomes you for some drinks. Also a barbeque grill on the side deck can be rented. Overnight stay incl breakfast / 1 night in more bedded rooms

DAY BY DAY ITINERARY

D A Y 0 1
Railway Train: Berlin-Wittenberg-Weimar-(Erfurt)-Dresden-Prague
Germany has one of the world's best passenger rail systems!
There are not many places that you cannot get to with it and the trip will be comfortable, economical and punctual.
18 x group ticket

About Berlin: City Description
INTRODUCTION
The heart of Germany is nowadays more exciting than ever: The city that never stands still and is forever becoming is the focus of a mammoth project of reunification. Berlin is the capital city and one of the sixteen Federal States of Germany. With a population of 3.4 million in ist city limits (4.2 million within the metropolitan area), Berlin is the country's largest metropolis. First documented in the 13th century, Berlin became the capital of the German Empire in 1871; it remained so until 1945. After World War II, the German Democratic Republic (East Germany) claimed East Berlin as ist capital, while West Berlin was a West German enclave surrounded by the Berlin Wall. Following the reunification in 1990, Berlin was restored as the nation’s capital. Evolutions and changes are to be witnessed everywhere in the city. Berlin is different to all other German cities – the changes it has experienced throughout history have brought a distinct character – the constant dialogue between old and new is undoubtedly the source of Berlin's charm. Even though the Wall has come down, there's still a palpable discrepancy between the meanwhile increasing East and the more upscale, affluent West. The rapidly evolving metropolis is home to people from over 180 nations; Berlin is a magnet for individuals who are attracted by ist liberal lifestyle. The influential center in European politics, culture and science serves as an important hub of continental transportation and is home to some of the most highly regarded universities, research faculties and museums.

WHAT TO SEE
Berlin has something for everybody’s taste: Grand public buildings, glorious museums and theatres, palaces and other sites of historic interest. It is also visually appealing with ample greenery and scenic lakes. Berlin's architecture is multifaceted: Though badly damaged during World War II, it is possible to see representatives of various historic periods within the compact city center, from a few surviving medieval buildings near Alexanderplatz and Prussian architectural masterpieces to the ultramodern glass and steel structures at Potsdamer Platz. First-time visitors should see famous Brandenburg Gate, Checkpoint Charlie Museum at the former border-crossing between West and East, the impressive Dahlem Museum and Frederick the Great's Sanssouci Palace & Gardens in Potsdam, on the outskirts.
NIGHT TIME VENUES
Once considered a culinary wasteland, finding good food in Berlin is no longer a challenge. The city’s multicultural population originates international flavours and an enormous variety of restaurants. Start the day with a leisurely breakfast and soak up the beer with a late night Currywurst (local sausage speciality). As Germany's cultural hub Berlin provides a dynamic and international scene, ranging from highbrow pursuits like opera, dance and theatre to pop and experimental culture. Numerous bustling pubs and vibrant clubs and are also an integral part of Berlin's nightlife.
PLACES TO SHOP
For penny pinchers and power shoppers – each Berlin district offers ist own take on shopping, with a special mix of stores. “Ku`damm” (short for Kurfürstendamm) remains the main shopping street even now that the Wall has come down. KaDeWe at “Wittenbergplatz” is reputedly the biggest department store on Continental Europe - a must visit that still has an old world charm, with very helpful and friendly staff. “Friedrichstraße” is the upmarket shopping street in the former East Berlin with Galerie Lafayettes, impressed with wealthy shoppers.

Berlin Card - City Map and information incl. free Public Transport within Berlin
Your personal guide to the best things in Berlin!

It offers you unlimited travel with the public transport system for hours. The convenient guide with integrated
city map gives you all the latest insider tips so you can get the most out of discovering the city!
Berlin card incl. free public transport ticket (Berlin only)

Meet and Greet / Welcome & Assistance and guiding to your hotel
The group will be welcomed at the arrival gate / arrival platform and guided to the hotel.
In addition we offer the following services:
- We ensure a smooth and efficient operation
- guide group to the hotel front office
- help the group with the hotel check- in
- give recommendations

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09:00 Sightseeing Tour Berlin (3 hours)

 
Take your seat in a comfortable coach and pass along Berlin's most interesting sights. Listen to our qualified and multi-lingual guide and learn about Berlin's past, present and future and let yourself be entertained by humorous stories. Sights examples: Memorial Church on Kurfürstendamm, Checkpoint Charlie, New National Gallery, Philharmonie, Potsdamer Square, Reichstag (German Parliament), New Government Precinct, Tiergarten Park, Castle Bellevue, Golden Statue of Victory, Charlottenburg Palace, Funkturm (Berlin's Eiffel Tower), Internationalen Congress Centre (ICC Berlin), Alexanderplatz Square, Gendarmenmarkt Square, Nikolai Quarter,
City Hall, TV-Tower, Berlin Cathedral, Zeughaus (German Historical Museum), National Opera House, “Unter den Linden“ Boulevard, Brandenburg Gate and many more The route is dependent on your starting and ending point and the traffic situation. 1-2 photo stops possible within this tour. You can vary the Berlin City Tour according to your special interests and set your own topics. Furthermore the tour can be extended by visiting e.g. TV Tower, Checkpoint Charlie Museum, Charlottenburg Palace, etc.
Duration: 3 hours
Private guide in requested language
Private coach for 3 hours

12:00 Checkpoint Charlie Museum - You are leaving the American Sector !

The history of the Berlin Wall is documented at the most famous border crossing point.
Films, original recordings, photos and texts are on display, along with objects that tell the story of sometimes spectacular escapes.
Talks with eyewitnesses give you a vivid feeling of the past in communist East Germany; tours are also possible.
Entrance fee (students)
Guided tour in English language (duration approx 1.5 hours)

15:30 Jewish Museum
 The idea to establish a Jewish Museum was voiced in 1971, the year in which Berlin's Jewish community commemorated its 300th
anniversary. At the community's suggestion, the exhibition "Achievement and Destiny" was displayed in the Berlin Museum.
But far greater emphasis was now placed on the history of Berlin's Jewish community, Jewish life before and after 1933, and the role played by a number of important Jewish figures. The museum was conceived of as eloquently reviving an older tradition: that of the museum opened in the Oranienburgerstrasse shortly before Hitler's rise to power in 1933. Housing the Berlin Jewish community's collection of art and Judaica, this museum was shut down by the Gestapo in 1938, its holdings confiscated.
Duration of the tour: 1 hour
Entrance fee
18:00 THE STORY OF BERLIN – The Capital’s Exhibition with an Original Nuclear Shelter

                                                         
THE STORY OF BERLIN is more than just an exhibition - it is an exciting journey through 800 years of Berlin history. Instead of the mere display of dates and facts about historical personalities, the priority is given to the Berliners and their lifestyle at a certain time in history. This exhibition enables you to experience the development of the city from ist beginnings in the 13th century to today in 23 theme rooms,
equipped with modern animation technology and walk-through sets. Visitors playfully learn about the city’s history and cross the border from viewer to active participant. With the use of sound recordings, recognizable scents and tactile stimulus, all senses are taken into account.
An exceptional highlight of your stay in the exhibition is the visit to an original nuclear shelter deep underneath the Kurfuerstendamm. Even today it remains able to function and gives room to 3592 civilians in the case of an emergency.
Duration of the tour: approx. 2 hours.
Entrance fee pp (group of min 10 persons) incl guided tour through the Nuclear Shelter
Guided tour in requested language (max 25 persons per group)

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10:00 Berlin Wall Documentation Centre(instead of the  Allied Museum which  is outside the city)

The Berlin Wall Documentation Centre is one component of the memorial site ensemble at Bernauer Strasse and opened on November 9, 1999, the 10th anniversary of the fall of the Wall. Beginning with the historical and political events that occurred at Bernauer Strasse, an area situated at the border between East and West and hence a focal point of German post-war history, the centre researches and presents the history of the division of Germany. Also documents on the history of the Berlin Wall are collected and shown.
Duration of the guided tour: 1 hour
Private group tour

12:30 Underground Tour: “Subways, Bunkers and the Cold War!"
Do you want to have an unconventional and unusual experience during your time in Berlin? Do you want to explore the dark sides of the
German Capital, its fascinating underworlds?
– Then you should not miss visiting Berlin Underworlds' Association at Gesundbrunnen, one of the city's most important traffic junctions!
Because here you have the chance to take a close look behind the scenes of some of the most important public utilities, those institutions
which are indispensable to modern urban life.
Tour Name: “Subways, Bunkers and the Cold War!"
This tour shows how deep the impact of the Cold War and the Division of Berlin (1961–1989) in the Underground world has been. In the first part you will pass through the “nuclear blast-proof” bunker beneath Blochplatz, its white-washed walls, large metal doors and modern ventilation systems. In the second part of the tour, we will take you – via a short Subway ride to a modern civil shelter at U 8 Subway Station – the fourth largest installation of ist’ kind in Berlin for 3,346 people.
Firm footwear is necessary. For safety reasons visitors have to be at least 18 years of age! Unfortunately the Underground Installations at Gesundbrunnen are not accessible to disabled visitors!
Guided tour in requested language (90 min)
Pergamon museum
Collection of Classical Antiquities

The Pergamon museum is located on Museum Island at the eastern end of Unter den Linden, and houses a famous collection of antiquities. The Collection of Classical Antiquities contains Greek and Roman works including not only architectural remains, sculptures and vases, inscriptions and mosaics but also bronzes and jewellery. It is on display in two locations: the Pergamon Museum and the main floor of the Altes Museum. With an annual figure of 850,000 visitors the Pergamon Museum ranks among the most popular buildings of the state
museums. Its main attraction is the Pergamon Altar (2nd century BC). The frieze depicting the battle between the Gods and Gaints is regarded as a masterpiece of Hellenistic art. Entrance fee (valid for museums of the museum's district Museum Insel) Audio guide Pergamon museum

Dinner at Traditional Restaurant Georg Brewery in Nikolaiviertel

The brewery GEORGBRAEU is located in Nikolaiviertel, at the cradle, the heart of Berlin. Alexanderplatz, the Rote Rathaus (red town hall), the Dome, the Brandenburg Gate, Unter den Linden boulevard, the Berlin Dome, Gendarmenmarkt, and last but not least Potsdamer Platz are in closest proximity. It's heart, the beautiful 10 hl mashhouse is visible from the guest room. The premises features 380 seats inside (in different rooms), the sunny beer garden has room for 400 guests, directly at the shores of Spree river. The first keg was tapped on October 24 1992. The master brewer Oliver Kaßan brews approximately 1,500 hl of Georgpils a year, which is served exclusively here, in Georgbraeu brewery. Enjoy typical German food and self-brewed beer at this recommended restaurant where you also see many locals.
3-course-menu incl. 1 drink

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Guided Tour Wittenberg incl. Schlosskirche (2 hours)
Guided tour in requested language (max 25 persons per group)
Entrance fee Schloßkirche (only for groups)
About Weimar: City Description
INTRODUCTION
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe and Friedrich Schiller, Johann Sebastian Bach and Franz Liszt, Lucas Cranach and the Weimar School have all made their mark on the town. In the late 18th and early 19th centuries, Weimar played an important role as an intellectual centre. The town's awareness of ist history, both recent and more distant, has enabled it to realise ist vision of a state-of-the-art cultural centre. As Goethe once asked, "Where else do you find so many good things in such a small place?"
WHAT TO SEE
The artistic and cultural importance of Weimar's historical architecture and landscape parks, as well as the town's role as an intellectual centre in the late 18th century, were the reasons for ist designation as the "Classical Weimar" UNESCO World Heritage site. A second UNESCO World Heritage site, „Bauhaus sites in Dessau und Weimar", was designated because of the foundation here of the Bauhaus School by Professor Walter Gropius, who had a profound influence on 20th century architecture.
NIGHT TIME VENUES
Potato dumplings, preferably served with marinated braised beef, are not to be missed when in Weimar, nor are Thuringia's renowned bratwurst. The range of places to eat out in Weimar extends from bars with live music to gourmet restaurants.
PLACES TO SHOP
Although compact and easy to get around, the town has a large number of bookshops stocking a wide range of classical German and Weimar literature. The china shops sell a lot of Weimar's well-known porcelain as souvenirs, and wine from the Saale-Unstrut region is also available. Jewellery and antique shops are also popular with visitors looking for something special

D A Y 0 5

Sightseeing Walking Tour of Weimar (3 hours)
Explore Weimar on foot – the town where the classical period nestles side by side with modern additions – and enjoy tales about literary giants like Goethe and Schiller as well as their contemporaries which you do not find in any German textbook! The tour starts at the market square with the historic City Hall, the Lucas-Cranach-house, the Hofapotheke and the hotel Elephant. Continue to the place of democracy with a view to the Residential Palace, the Ducal House and the Duchess Anna Amalia Library. Move along to the Ilmpark with Goethe’s garden house, the house of Liszt, the Bauhaus University, the historic graveyard with the Ducal Vault until you reach Goethe’s House at Frauenplan. You will also see the Schiller street with Schiller’s House.
The guided tour ends at the German National Theater on the Theater square with the Monument of Goethe-Schiller-Monument and the Bauhaus-Museum.
Guided tour in requested language (max 25 persons per group)
Goethe´s Gartenhaus entrance
Surcharge for guide in historic costume

Goethe House and National Goethe Museum Weimar
One of the most important examples of Classical Weimar, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe lived in this Baroque house for almost fifty years. The furnishings and fittings from the last few years of Goethe’s life have largely been preserved. For reasons of conservation, the number of visitors is limited
Permanent exhibition “Repeated Reflections – Weimar Classicism 1759–1832” As well as the life and works of Goethe, this permanent exhibition also reflects other famous and not-so-famous people from Goethe’s day.
Entrance fee (students)
Guided tour in requested language (duration approx. 1 hour)

D A Y 0 6

About Dresden: City Description
INTRODUCTION
Dresden is definitely one of the most attractive cities in Germany. The capital city of the German Federal State of Saxony, also known as the “Florence of the North”, is situated in a picturesque valley on the river Elbe. It has a long history as the capital and royal residence for the Kings of Saxony with centuries of extraordinary cultural and artistic splendour and is nowadays a city of art and culture with an international reputation. It presents impressive Baroque buildings and museums with world-famous culture and art treasures. But the city’s
huge success can be attributed to its multitude of facets: A veritable parade of historical sights, a wide range of cultural events and modernity with inspiring diversity – simply a place with lifestyle!
WHAT TO SEE
The city's cultural scene blends the traditional and the modern and is therefore not only a magnet for art lovers and architectural enthusiasts, but attracts tourists from all over the world: The “Frauenkirche”, the church of Our Lady, has been –after its destruction during the Second World War - completely rebuilt as a symbol of a place of faith, hope and encounter and represents one of the unchallenged highlights of Dresden. One of Europe’s leading opera houses, the “Semperoper”, which is renowned for its excellent acoustics and the
Baroque "Zwinger" Palace, are just a few examples of the different historical sights the city offers.
NIGHT TIME VENUES
When it comes to eating & drinking some specific surprises can be found and enjoyed in the city on the river Elbe. It goes without saying that in the capital of Saxony, hearty Saxon meals are served. Within the historic centre and especially in the area around the Frauenkirche and Dresden Castle some fine restaurants are located. An alternative scene of dining offers the quarter “Outer Neustadt” and invites you to a culinary journey around the world.
PLACES TO SHOP
From classic shopping streets with department stores and international fashion chains (area around “Prager Straße”) to the largest innercity shopping temple “Altmarktgalerie” - the shopping world of Dresden is as diversified as the city itself. Products and souvenirs which are characteristic of Dresden and Saxony can be found both in the historical part of the city (Old Town) and in the district Inner New City:
Culinary specialities such as “Dresdner Christstollen” (fruit loaf), handmade products in carved wood from the Erzgebirge Mountains as well as world-famous porcelain from Dresden and Meissen.
3-hour city sightseeing tour of Dresden

The walking tour provides an all-round impression of Dresden and introduces the visitors to the most beautiful aspects of the city. Through the historic district of Dresden you pass the most important sites and let yourself be captivated by exciting tales. Historical city centre with the Semper Operea, Church of our Lady, the Palace and the Zwinger courtyard (late Baroque palace garden).

Guided tour in requested language (duration approx. 3 hours)

  Public transport ticket for Dresden (inner zone)

Traditional Restaurant Altmarkt Keller in Dresden
The Altmarkt was the first market place in Dresden and located in the heart of the settlement founded in 1200. Impressive town houses were erected around the Altmarkt including Giebelhaus No. 10, which was built as a residential house in 1544. Since March 1, 2002, the restaurant has reopened as a Saxon-Bohemian Beer house in a rustic historic ambience. Using artistic wall paintings, the restaurant has attempted to capture the spirit of Dresden as it once was. Bohemian dishes and original traditional Saxon recipes are served. Enjoy selected wines from the top local winegrowers, fresh Radeberger Pilsner from the tap and Krusovice, one of the finest Bohemian beers, round off the treats.
3-course menu incl. 1 drink

D A Y 0 7

 Optional: Visit Zwingermuseum Dresden - Old Masters' Gallery

The world renowned Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister (Old Masters Picture Gallery) in Dresden is founded in its outstanding collection of highranking masterpieces. Among the primary focuses of its holdings are Italian painting of the Renaissance - as exemplified by major works of Raphael, Giorgione and Titian - as well as works in the Mannerist and Baroque styles. Of equal significance is the inventory of Dutch and Flemish paintings of
the seventeenth century.
min group size 10 persons
Opening hours:
Daily 10:00 – 18:00h
Closed on Mondays
Public Transport:
Stop: Postplatz
Transfer time from main train station: 6 minutes (tram line 8)
Optional: Entrance fee Old Masters' Gallery Eur 7,50 per person (not included in the total price so far)

By foot or public bus  to railway station to take train to Prague.

Junior Hotel

Senovazne Nam. 21, Prague 1
Welcome: Junior has the comforts that can be expected from a hotel in the three star category, and yet it's
affordable. It's a typical city building, from the beginning of the century, located conveniently in the centre. Junior is recommended for individual travellers and smaller groups
Location: Comfortable accommodation in a quiet part of Prague, right in the centre, in the immediate vicinity of
the historical part of the city, Wenceslas Square and the pedestrian zone.
Rooms: Our Hotel Junior offers accommodation in 9 double rooms, 5 triple rooms and one room for disabled
people. Every room has its own bathroom, satellite TV, radio and direct-dial telephone.
Restaurants: The hotel also offers a Pizzeria restaurant Pasta e Basta, Café bar U Sovy, Bowling bar,
Services: exchange office and safe-deposit box.
Arrive and transfer on foot or public bus to the hotel.Dinner on your own. Overnight ,

D A Y 0 8

Program
Guided tour of Prague • Your tour begins at the celebrated Prague Castle (Hradcany).
In the castle’s courtyard, you’ll visit the magnificent St. Vitus Cathedral, which took more than 600 years to complete. On the nearby Golden Lane, royal alchemists once labored (unsuccessfully) to turn lead into gold. More recently, on the same street, Franz Kafka turned his angst into some of the century’s finest fiction. You’ll also stroll through the quaint, cobbled streets of the Mala Strana, the backdrop for Milos Forman’s Amadeus. Cross the Charles Bridge, adorned with 30 beautiful baroque statues, to the 13thcentury Old Town (Stare Mesto). Here, you’ll see Market Square, famous for its 15th-century astronomical clock. You’ll also wander through Josefov, the traditional Jewish Quarter,(Additional entrance fee 20 euro ) home to the oldest synagogue in Europe (built in 1270).

Lecture on the Velvet Revolution at extra costs  285 euro  • Learn more about the Czech Republic’s Velvet Revolution during today’s lecture. The Velvet Revolution was a nonviolent overthrow of the communist government through peaceful protests that took place between November 17 and December 29, 1989. On November 17, students staged a protest to mark 50th anniversary of a previous protest against the Nazi regime. Although offered flowers by the students who posed no resistance, riot police beat the students with nightsticks, reportedly injuring 167 people. This incident spurred many union workers and others to rally
against the communist regime, which would fold within weeks under the pressure.
Mucha Museum • Examine a collection that includes more than 100 paintings, drawings, lithographs and personal memorabilia of Czech Art Nouveau hero Alphonse Mucha in the Baroque Kaunicky Palace. Mucha gained notoriety as an artist in Paris in December 1894, when he created an unconventional poster for famed actress Sarah Bernhardt, which spawned what was known as Le Mucha, or the Art Nouveau movement.

Farewell dinner in Novomestsky Brewery incl. aperitif, 3 coursemeal, coffee, unlimited drinks and live accordion music. Overninght in Prague .

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Program.

Morning. Breakfast .Transfer to the airport for return flight to the US.

 The estimated rate is  $ 2,295 per student  and based on 15 paying students and 2 faculty teachers in singles. In case of   less students there would be a supplement  ranging from $ 100-200 per student pending on the final number.
(The rates are based on the exchange rate of one euro=$ 1,40 is subject to increases at the time of final payment if the value of the euro is increased .)


Deposit of $ 350 per student required ,

Cancellation  conditions upon request.

Arrangement include :
 
Twin or triple accommodation  with private facilities in selected tourist class hotels near the railway stations  for 8 overnights ,
Daily breakfast .
3 dinners .
English speaking tour escort from the arrival to the departure .
Rail transportation between all cities, Berlin –Weimar-Dresden – Prague.
All local guides required for the visits in the itinerary .
Local transportation in the cities by metro, bus or when no public transport is available private charter bus .
Private bus to the airport in Prague
Our assistance  from our local reps

Not included:
2 lectures at additional charges.$ 60 estimate per student,
Admission fees to the museums and monuments   45 euro or  $ 60 per student.
Transatlantic tickets  from the US to Berlin and from Prague to the US

Click Here to book your trip or for more information!