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If you’re looking for a unique holiday atmosphere somewhere a little off the beaten track, delve deep into history and enjoy the Germany’s medieval Christmas Markets of Hannover, Hamelin and Goslar. Enjoy time in the beautiful Harz Mountains and, of course, take in one of the German heavyweights of Christmas Market season, Cologne. You’ll be getting a fully-rounded festive experience touring the markets of Medieval Germany.
6 days from £589 pp
We offer flexible payment options
Once you have booked your tour either online, or by telephone ( 01709 787 463 ), you have the flexibility of how you pay off the remainder of your balance. You can:
Our contact and online banking payment details will be on your confirmation invoice to remind you of your choices.
Local departure by coach, then to Belgium for an overnight stay.
Advent magic spreads throughout Cologne at this time of year, when the idyllic Christmas markets open their gates to visitors. More than 150 stalls offer traditional goods and handcrafted gifts. Wonderful spicy aromas of cinnamon stars, baked apples and roasted almonds will fill the air and local wreath binders, glassblowers and blacksmiths will demonstrate their art.
Start at the Christmas market in Cathedral Square where you will find a fascinating array of high-quality arts and crafts, many gift ideas and delicious food and drinks, and a huge Christmas tree.
Continue onto the Old Town where the rustic ’Home of the Elves’ market takes place at the Heumarkt and Alter Markt. Traditional stalls and huts, pretty lanes and hidden Heinzelmännchen (house gnomes who are said to have done the work of the people of Cologne at night), and craftspeople demonstrating their skills, give this market its particular charm.
At Neumarkt you will find the Market of Angels with its charming chalets, twinkling lights shining from the trees, and high quality products. Just a ten minute walk from Neumarkt is the Village of St Nicholas at Rudolfplatz. Here the theme is the St. Nicholas Village which makes this market particularly popular with younger visitors.
In a picturesque setting overlooking the Rhine, the Cologne Harbour market at the Chocolate Museum will bring a maritime flavour to Christmas. With around 80 stalls this market is one of the largest in Cologne. Take in the lively atmosphere, and why not sample fish specialities or fine food and drink from around the world.
Finally, there is the the dynamically artful and attractively different Christmas market at Stadtgarten in the heart of the Belgian quarter. The Stadtgarten Christmas market traditionally only takes place in the afternoon. Whilst visiting Cologne be sure to indulge yourself in some typical culinary delights such as the famous ’Christstollen’ yeast cakes, ’Lebkuchen’ soft gingerbread cookies and Marzipan almond confections. Also try the mandatory ’Gluhwein’ a hot spiced wine in mugs perfect to warm chilly hands.
We leave Cologne mid-afternoon and continue our journey through Germany to our hotel in the Hannover area where we stay for the next three nights.
Included Highlights
We start this morning with an included visit to the quaint town of Hamelin, famous for the Pied Piper tale told to children around the world. The old town centre has been reconstructed with Renaissance and wood-frame buildings; all adding to the fairy-tale atmosphere that brings alive the legend of the piper who offered to rid the town of rats, and ended up stealing all the children!
During the advent season the town is illuminated with the lights from the Christmas market. Taking place in the middle of the beautiful Old Town, approximately 70 wooden stalls all decorated in the Christmas style invite you to browse for gifts. Sit back and relax in one of the cosy coffee shops or perhaps visit Hamelin Glassworks where you may have the chance to blow your very own colourful Christmas bauble assisted by the glass blower himself. (Entrances to any places of interest are at own cost).
We return to Hannover this afternoon where you will have the opportunity to explore the shops and Christmas market. Hannover is the capital of Lower Saxony and has had a long and special relationship with Britain since 1714 when Elector Georg Ludwig became King George I of England. Today Hannover offers visitors an array of interesting architecture and museums and a wealth of shopping opportunities with department stores, specialist shops and chic boutiques.
The Christmas market takes place in the historical old quarter around the market church. You will be spoilt for choice here with beautifully decorated stalls selling tree decorations, carved items and wooden toys. We return to our hotel later this afternoon arriving in time for our evening meal.
Included Highlights
Today we head to the beautiful town of Goslar, located on the north western slopes of the Harz Mountains. This former Free Imperial Town has over 1000 years of history. For centuries it was the favoured seat of government in northern Germany, and at the same time, a centre of Christianity. So much so Goslar was referred to as the ‘Rome of the North’. The view of the townscape with the steeples of the five large parish churches is impressive when viewed from the knoll upon which the Imperial Palace stands.
The many crooked, narrow, cobble-stoned streets in the Old Town are also interesting to explore. From the Kaiserpfalz you will find the impressive Romanesque Imperial Palace opens up to view. In the background is the Rommelsberg Mountain with the ore mines that only closed down as recently as 1988. Since 1992 the mine and the Old town of Goslar have been entered onto UNESCO World Cultural and Natural Heritage List.
The traditional Christmas Market on the historic Market Square is a delight to visit. Many little booths entice visitors to sample the delicious-smelling Christmas delicacies. There will be free time for you to explore the festive market at leisure. Perhaps enjoy a hot mulled wine before returning to our hotel for dinner.
Included Highlights
We say goodbye to Hannover and commence our journey south through Germany, crossing the Netherlands and finally into Belgium. We continue to our hotel for an overnight stay.
Return home.
Travel Insurance from £35.00 (6 days) (includes insurance premium tax, prices per person). Single Room Supplement from £129.00 (6 days).
Book online OR call our friendly travel advisers on:
01709 787 463
If you prefer, then you can join the tour at the hotel. To do this, we will require a copy of your passport for identification purposes and you must advise us at the time of booking.
No reduction will be given if you should choose to do this.
We are unable to guarantee that the hotel will be able to meet your dietary requirements. We find that the majority of European countries do not generally cater for vegetarians and that the meal supplied may well be what everyone else is having minus the meat.
We will of course endeavour to arrange for a vegetarian meal at the hotel. We do however suggest that you advise us of your dietary requests at the time of booking and recommend that you speak to the receptionist on arrival with regard to your request.
You will stay for three nights at the Wyndham Hannover Atrium Hotel, five miles from the heart of the city. Overnight stays in Belgium will be in city-style hotels.
Front row seats can be reserved for £15pp (up to 6 days' duration), £24pp (7 & 8 days' duration), £26pp (9, 10 and 11 days' duration) and £30pp (12 days' duration and over) on all European tours. This offer is only available for bookings of two or four persons on the front row and is subject to availability. In addition to this, seats on the second row can be reserved for £8pp (up to 6 days duration), £15pp (7 & 8 days duration), £18pp (9, 10 and 11 days' duration) and £22pp (12 days' duration and over). Guaranteed front/second row seats cannot be reserved on transfer journeys to/from the interchange. Children under 15 years cannot occupy a front row seat due to French Law. Central view seats are free.
Please note: On some coaches the legroom on front seats may be slightly less than that available on other seats due to the presence of a modesty board in front.
If your tour is cancelled for any reason and front/second row seats are not available on your new tour, you will be refunded the supplement. No other compensation will be payable.
Alternatively, we can take seating requests on your booking. However, requests are not guaranteed. All seat numbers are confirmed on travel documents approximately 7-10 days prior to departure.
Transfer coaches are routed approximately 2-3 weeks before departure. The route taken depends on where paassengers are booked to travel from on any particular date as to which route is taken. If you require further detailed information regarding the route to the port you can contact our Customer Service Department on 01709 830333 two weeks before you are due to travel.
With regard to the route taken by the main tour coach, this is determined by the driver.
When it comes to getting you to your destination, Leger Holidays make it easy, with a selection of travel options for you to choose from.
You can join your coach at your nearest joining point – we’ve hundreds to choose from throughout England, Scotland and Wales. To find your nearest pick up, search using your postcode below.
*Please note pickups are subject to availability.
Why not go the night before your tour for a relaxing start?
You can park for FREE for up to nine days at the Holiday Inn Ashford North and enjoy an overnight stay with English breakfast from just £39.50 per person (Based on 2 sharing a twin/double room on a B&B basis, subject to availability. Single supplements and terms and conditions apply.) We’ll then collect you from the hotel on the day of departure and return you there at the end of your holiday.
To book this package, please call the hotel on 01233 713333, select option 1, quoting ‘Leger Holidays’ and your booking reference. If your holiday is longer than seven days you can pay for additional days’ parking. Ask one of our friendly reservations team for more details when you book your holiday
On most holidays if you’d prefer to join your tour coach at Stop 24 services, you can park your car in the car park which is accredited by the Park Mark safer parking scheme and is monitored 24 hours a day by CCTV. Payment for the parking is made on arrival using the self-service machines. Excludes holidays to Ireland and the U.K. and tours travelling via Brittany Ferries.
To book this tour, just give our friendly team a call on 01709 787 463 or book online at www.leger.co.uk
