Danube Waltz

Experience all the charms of this capital of Upper Austria during a walking tour. Founded by the Romans, Linz rose to prominence under the Hapsburg Empire. Today, it remains a vibrant cultural center. Set off on foot to explore the Danube’s south bank, passing the massive Brucknerhaus concert hall, named for the famed Austrian composer, and view the modern New Town Hall across the Danube. Continue to Linz Castle, considered the most beautiful museum in the province. In the Old Quarter, see the Market Hall, the Mozarthaus, where the composer wrote the Linz Symphony, the magnificent Renaissance Landhaus tower and the elegant facade of the Landestheater. At Hauptplatz, the city’s main square in the Old Quarter, you may step inside the New Cathedral if the church’s schedule allows and admire its ornate interior.

Step into the Bohemia of old during a guided stroll through the Czech Republic’s fairy-tale town of Český Krumlov. After a scenic drive through the Czech countryside, you will begin your walk from the town’s highest point at Český Krumlov Castle. During a guided tour, admire its Renaissance style, the stone arches of the Cloak Bridge and the Upper and Little Castles. Walk over the Bear Moat, where bears have been kept since 1707, and pass the Castle Gate, pharmacy and monastery. Your tour descends the castle hill by foot into the town center, where you will see the Renaissance Town Hall, House of the Prelate and Gothic Church of St. Vitus. Savor a delicious lunch at a local restaurant and enjoy free time to explore at your leisure, perhaps visiting the Egon Schiele Art Centrum.

Step into the Bohemia of old during a small group guided stroll through the Czech Republic’s fairy-tale town. After a scenic drive through the Czech countryside, you will begin your small group walk (maximum of 16 guests), from the town’s highest point at Český Krumlov Castle. During a guided tour, admire its Renaissance style, the stone arches of the Cloak Bridge and the Upper and Little Castles. Walk over the Bear Moat, where bears have been kept since 1707, and pass the Castle Gate, pharmacy and monastery. Your tour descends the castle hill by foot into the town center, where you will see the Renaissance Town Hall, House of the Prelate and Gothic Church of St. Vitus. Savor a delicious lunch at a local restaurant and enjoy free time to explore at your leisure, perhaps visiting the Egon Schiele Art Centrum.

Enjoy a sweeping culinary excursion through picturesque landscapes. Along the way, stop to sample the region’s delicious bounty. You will begin with a drive through rural farmlands outside Linz where fields are fed by Danube waters. Your destination is the small and tranquil village of Gutau, where life is lived at the easy pace of the seasons. At a local farm, a bread maker invites you to a demonstration and shows you how to bake your own loaves using local techniques. Continue to St. Oswald and its Mittendorfer Schnapsmuseum and distillery. Enjoy a tour of the facility to see how schnapps is made from locally grown ingredients. Learn more about the spirit at the museum, where you can sample three different flavors. Make a stop at Seyrhof to enjoy a farm-fresh plate of cured meats, bacon, cheese and bread before returning to your ship.

Honor the memory of the victims of World War II during a solemn visit to the Mauthausen Memorial. From 1938 to 1945, Mauthausen and its subcamps operated as notorious Nazi slave labor camps, imprisoning a total of around 190,000 and killing at least 90,000 people. Today, it is a site of remembrance and education, preserving the memory of those who perished here. During your guided exploration, learn about the camp’s brutal history as you see sites such as a former barracks that housed prisoners and the Quarantine Yard, where new arrivals to the camp were indoctrinated. View the infamous “Stairs of Death,” where prisoners were forced to carry heavy granite blocks up 186 steps to the top of the quarry. You will also have free time to visit the Commemoration Site including the “Room of Names,” a hall displaying the names of all known persons who died at the camp.