The Danube Tour

Welcome to Nuremberg! Your Danube Tour begins in this historical Bavarian city which dates back to the 11th century. Although most of the city was destroyed by World War II bombing, many of the buildings, including the medieval Nuremberg Castle, have been restored to their former splendor using the original stones. Nuremberg is the perfect starting place for your Teeming River Cruises European tour. After settling in your cabin, which will be your floating hotel room for the duration of the cruise, a mandatory Safety and Information Briefing will begin at 6 PM.

Step into Regensburg and back in time. The history-drenched Bavarian city of Regensburg is often described as “Germany’s medieval miracle” and is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site. With more than 1,400 original historic buildings still standing, it is easy to envision what life would have been like centuries ago as you wind through the narrow streets lined with 13th and 14th-century patrician houses and cross old town squares. There is a myriad of treasures to uncover from Germany’s oldest surviving stone bridge, the imposing St. Peter’s Cathedral, the stunning interior of Old Chapel (Alte Kapelle), the enchanting Old Town clock tower, and Porta Pretoria (arched gate to an ancient Roman fort built in 179 AD) ~ just to name a few. If you worked up an appetite with all your exploring, treat yourself to a sausage at the Old Sausage Kitchen (Alte Würstküche), Germany’s oldest restaurant. You might also enjoy sampling some regional dishes and a cold mug of beer at a traditional Bavarian Beer Garden (such as Alte Linde or Bischofshof am Dom).

Known as Dreiflüssestadt (City of Three Rivers), Passau is the place where the Danube meets the Inn and the Ilz. The picturesque city lies in Germany’s far southeast corner near the Austrian border. Settled since prehistory and a former hub of the salt trade, it became the Roman village of Batavis, then later the Holy Roman Empire’s largest diocese and a sword-making center. The city is overlooked by the Veste Oberhaus, a 13th-century hilltop fortress housing a city museum and observation tower. The old town below is known for its baroque architecture, including St. Stephen’s Cathedral, featuring distinctive onion-domed towers and an organ with 17,974 pipes. Saint Stephan’s Cathedral is one of Passau’s favorite attractions and one you surely do not want to miss. Passau with its unique charm and atmosphere is one of the most beautiful and spectacular German cities on the Danube.

Docking right in the heart of town will allow you to easily explore Linz, Austria’s third largest city. First founded by the Romans, it is steeped in both history and culture. The Old Town is perfect for leisurely strolls past centuries-old architecture, or you explore the riverside Lentos Kunstmuseum renowned for its modern art. The picturesque Hauptplatz (The Main Square) of Linz is one of the largest enclosed squares in Austria and ideal for meandering.

Alternatively, you will have a marvelous opportunity to join the full day Optional Excursion to historic Salzburg (more details to follow closer to cruise date), the birthplace of Mozart and setting for the acclaimed Sound of Music. The tour will include a bus ride to Salzburg and a walking tour of this internationally acclaimed world Heritage-listed city. Visit some of Salzburg’s most famous sites; then use free time to shop the historic district, dine at a local restaurant and explore on your own. After personal exploration, we’ll rejoin the group and return to the ship.

Located in the heart of the Wachau Valley, the tiny Austrian village of Weissenkirchen is named after the 14th-century Gothic church that sits on a hilltop overlooking the town. Weissenkirchen means “white church” and refers to the Fortified Church of the Assumption of Mary which served as both a center of worship and a fortification to protect the villagers from incursions by the Ottoman Empire’s Turkish armies. The church’s imposing defensive tower was added in 1531. Today, travelers can climb a covered staircase that leads to the top of this largely preserved structure and take in breathtaking views of the valley below. Below the church is the Teisenhoferhof, one of the most beautiful Renaissance courtyards of the Wachau. It was built in 1335 as a fortified completion of the marketplace and today it is a cultural center that forms the platform for festivals, art exhibits and the Wachaufestspiel (performing arts theater). Steeped in history, Weissenkirchen dates back to the 11th century when the Kuenring family came to Austria from the Bavarian-Saxon region and were given large territories in lower Austria. This area is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its medieval landscape that depicts architectural monuments, human settlements, and the agricultural use of its land. The area is known for producing some of the best white wines in the world, thanks to the extremely diverse geology of the region, coupled with the construction of terraces in the best steep hillsides and the cultivation of vines on these terraces by the Bavarian monasteries during the Middle Ages. Weissenkirchen is the largest wine-growing community in the Wachau Valley today, and urban explorers can sample the prized dry Rieslings and Grüner Veltliners that come from the steep stony slopes next to the Danube on which the vines are planted.

The dreamy, narrow streets of Weissenkirchen offer idyllic views of picturesque courtyards, steep hillsides and ancient terraces. People who love history should make their way to the Wachau Museum that showcases works of artists from the Danube School provides information about wine culture and the importance of wine to the local economy. The Wehrkirche St. Michael is a fortified church that stands on the sire of a small Celtic sacrificial site.

Vienna, the capital of Austria, is known as both the “City of Dreams” (thanks to Sigmund Freud’s influence) and the “City of Music” (inspiring creative geniuses such as Strauss, Mozart, and Beethoven). The day is yours to begin your exploration of this enchanting imperial city. Soar to new heights in Vienna’s famous giant Ferris Wheel (Wiener Riesenrad), which has been turning high above the city and the Danube for over a century. The day is yours; the choice is yours.

Discover Bratislava’s unique blend of modern and medieval. While one of the youngest European capitals, this historic gem boasts over a 2,000-year history and is the ideal finale to your encompassing tour with Teeming River Cruises. Wind through the labyrinth of cobblestone lanes lined with colorful 18th-century buildings and sidewalk cafes in the traffic-free Old Town, the historic heart of Bratislava. Take in seventeen centuries of Slovak history while exploring its 13th-century Old Town Hall, St. Martin’s Cathedral (coronation site of many of the Kings of Hungary), the Art Nouveau Little Blue Church and the Neoclassical Primatial Palace. The landmark Bratislava Castle majestically overlooking the city is truly postcard perfect.

Close to the Danube Bend, the city of Esztergom is one of Hungary’s oldest towns. Established around 972 AD, it is the place where St. Stephen, the first King of Hungary, was crowned at the start of the 11th century. Esztergom was the nation’s royal seat from the late 10th to the mid-13th century and has been the seat of the Roman Catholic Church in Hungary for more than a thousand years. Having once been the center of the country’s political and economic life, however, Esztergom never regained this prominence after it was attacked and destroyed by Mongols and the capital was moved to Buda in the 13th century. The city, as it was rebuilt in the Middle Ages, now rests in the ground, under the present day Esztergom. The most famous building in the city- the massive Esztergom Basilica– is Hungary’s tallest building as it sits high above the city overlooking the winding Danube and surrounding mountains. Stephen I built the first church between 1001-1010 and the present Esztergom Basilica sits on its foundation. A picturesque town packed with an eventful history, this town is a significant link to Hungary’s past.

With a rich history, Kalocsa is one of the oldest towns in Hungary, dating back to the 11th century. It was founded by St. Stephan, the first king of Hungary in 1000 and nine years later the first church was built elevating it to the archdiocese status.  The church was destroyed several times over the centuries; the current cathedral was built on the remains of those previous churches in the mid-1700’s. Kalocsa was a thriving medieval town with a great deal of political and economical importance until it was sacked by the Turks in 1529. Despite bouts of destruction, today it is a wonderful place to visit with a special link to the past. The cathedral that now sits where the first church once did, (Cathedral of Kalocsa), is considered a masterpiece, with an eye-popping gilded interior replete with vivid frescoes and baroque flourishes. The sepulchre in the crypt is said to be the original resting place of the first archbishop of Kalosca. Relics from the past can be seen today at the Archiepiscopal Treasury on the Szentháromsâg square which houses an astounding trove of precious manuscripts, vestments, and other objects—many in solid gold or silver or encrusted with precious jewel. But the thousand year history of this Baroque provincial town is only one intriguing aspect of the city. It is also renowned for the brightly colored flowers found in embroidery and wall paintings designed by its “painting women” which have become emblems of Hungarian folk art in general. Also noteworthy, Kalocsa is the world’s largest producer of paprika and is considered the Paprika Capital of the World.