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Join our escorted tour to Germany, home to enchanting forests and glistening streams, and enjoy the panoramic scenery of the Harz Mountains, as we travel into the heart of a fairy tale country stopping at the Möhne Dam en route. With visits to medieval cities and picturesque towns of Goslar, Wernigerode, Hannover, Celle and Hamelin, you can discover the history and culture of this impressive region, on one of our popular holidays.
7 days from £549 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 or Door-to-Door service, then to Belgium for an overnight stay.
This morning, we travel across the border into Germany and include a stop at the Möhne Dam in the Ruhr Valley, heroically breached by the Lancasters of 617 Squadron (Dambusters) in 1943. At Möhne you can walk on top of the dam and still see where the breach was made. Of the 20 massive dams constructed in the Ruhr Valley, six dams were selected as targets with three of these being the primary targets: the Möhne, the Eder and the Sorpe dams. Between the Möhne and Sorpe, they held back 76% of the total water available to the industrial valley, one of the main reasons they were two of the primary targets. If breached, these dams would bring the whole industrial valley to a standstill, causing massive damage to the steel industry devastating production of tanks, aircraft, guns and locomotives which were all vital to Germany's war effort. After our visit we continue east to Hannover and our hotel for a four-night stay.
Included highlights
Our included excursion today takes us first to the former imperial city of Goslar. With over 1,000 years of history, Goslar was the favoured seat of government in northern Germany for centuries. At the same time, it was also a centre of Christianity and the spires of the 47 churches, chapels and monasteries define the town’s unique silhouette. Goslar was also referred to as the ‘Rome of the North’. Today, 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 a joy to explore. After free time, we take a scenic drive through the beautiful Harz region to the delightful town of Wernigerode. Wernigerode is an attractive destination on the Holtemme River, nestling against the northern foothills of the Harz Mountains. It has an impressive medieval town centre with rows of charming, centuries-old, timber-framed houses and is dominated by a fascinating, fairy tale castle. Enjoy free time exploring the town at your leisure before returning to our hotel in time for our evening meal.
Included highlights
A free day to relax and explore Hannover at your own pace. Hannover has had a long and special relationship with Britain since 1714 when Elector Georg Ludwig became King George I of England. Hannover is not the typical European city. It was unfortunately hit hard during World War 2, leaving it with only a few historical landmarks. Even the Altstadt or Old City is relatively new. Head to the Kröpcke, a large pedestrian area in the heart of Hannover. It is the city’s major shopping spot and home to the opera house. You will also find many places to eat here. This afternoon, why not join us for an optional visit to the nearby picturesque town of Celle? Situated in a glacial valley, Celle is a town with a distinctive flair. It is located approximately 25 km south of the town of Bergen, the location of the largest concentration camp on German soil during World War 2. It was here that Anne Frank was interned and later died. Celle was founded over 700 years ago, and managed to emerge from World War 2 virtually unscathed with its historical centre intact. There are over 400 half-timbered buildings in the Old Town alone, which has made it a popular tourist destination. There will be free time to explore this picturesque town. Be sure to see the three oldest buildings: the Ducal Palace, Town Church and the Old Town Hall. Another architectural delight is the New Town Hall, which is an impressive red brick building dating from the 19th century and one of the largest buildings of its kind in Germany. Please note: entrances to places of interest are at extra cost.
Included highlights
Optional highlights
Today’s optional excursion is devoted to two of Germany’s most famous sons, the Brothers Grimm, who between them wrote some of the world’s best-loved fairytales. We head south to the city of Göttingen, where the Grimm brothers were both professors at the university. One of the main sights is the ‘Gänseliesel’ or Goose Girl fountain. This art nouveau figure is a favourite of all newly graduated doctors, who kiss her bronze cheeks after passing their exams – a tradition which has continued for over 100 years. This afternoon we continue to the quaint town of Hamelin. Situated on the River Weser, Hamelin was originally founded in the 9th century by monks. By the 13th century a full-fledged town had developed. Although the town itself is quite charming with many Renaissance and half-timbered buildings, the famous Pied Piper fairy tale is the town’s principal draw. Many of the bakeries offer rat shaped breads and you will even have the opportunity to walk in the footsteps of the Pied Piper and follow the ‘Rat Trail’ where thousands of handcrafted painted rats show you the way around the town.
Optional highlights
This morning, we leave our hotel after breakfast and travel back through Germany to Belgium and our overnight hotel. En route, we pause at the majestic city of Cologne. This stylish and attractive city stands on the banks of the Romantic River Rhine. Here, you can enjoy some free time to explore the many shops and boutiques. During the Second World War, around 90 percent of Cologne’s inner city was reduced to rubble. Today, the Rhine metropolis is the fourth largest city and one of the most outstanding travel destinations in Germany and Europe. Cologne cathedral, famous around the world, dominates the panorama of the city and is still today the second highest building in Cologne after the telecommunications tower. Maybe take time to visit the famous Gothic cathedral, with its most celebrated work, the Sarcophagus of the Magi, thought to hold the remains of the three wise men. The local cuisine, with its many traditional pubs and restaurants, is highly varied and attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors each year. Whether it’s relaxing on the Rhine promenade or drinking a Kölsch in one of the typical breweries, a visit to Cologne is always enjoyable.
Included highlights
Return home.
Travel Insurance from £35.00 (7 days) (includes insurance premium tax, prices per person). Single Room Supplement from £129.00 (7 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 four nights at the 4-star H4 Hannover Messe. The hotel has a restaurant, bar, swimming pool and lift.
Overnight stays in Belgium will be in city-style hotels.
Würzburger Str. 21 Laatzen , Lower Saxony, 30880
Front row seats can be reserved for £14pp (up to 6 days' duration), £22pp (7 & 8 days' duration) and £25pp (9 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 £7pp (up to 6 days duration), £14pp (7 & 8 days duration) and £17pp (9 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.
All of our coaches are modern and comfortable, and you can be assured of a high level of service. On selected air holidays, the executive coach may not have an onboard toilet or drinks facilities.
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 seven 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, 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.
On Single Traveller holidays and coach holidays of 7 days’ duration or more, you don’t even have to think about getting to your local joining point. If you live within 20 miles of one of our free joining points we’ll pick you up from your home and take you to meet your transfer vehicle, then return you back home at the end of your holiday. The cost is from £35 per booking each way for up to four people per booking.
If you live a little further afield, you can also take advantage of this convenient option for an additional charge – please enquire at the time of booking.
Travelled on this tour? You can submit your review to: feedback@leger.co.uk
To book this tour, just give our friendly team a call on 01709 787 463 or book online at www.leger.co.uk
