Holidays Organiser:    holidays@yant.org.uk

Thirteen Members and our Tour Manager Michael Gill had an early start from York to catch our Lufthansa flight to Munich where we met up with our coach and driver Giuseppi for the 3-hour drive to the Hotel Schwarzler in Breganz in Austria, our base for the first four nights, a modern hotel with comfortable bedrooms and helpful staff. Next day we started with a guided tour of Tettnang New Palace; commenced in 1712 and completed in 1770 it is one of the most beautiful palaces in the region with its wonderful Baroque interiors. Unfortunately, owing to the family going bankrupt, all the original furniture and paintings were sold. There was time to walk around the pretty town before heading off to “Wangen im Allgau” for lunch and a walking tour of the city. The main sights were the Ravensburg Gate, St Martin’s Church, the Women’s Gate and several quirky fountains.

The next day was our Lake Cruise to Insel Mainau on the MV Austria; it’s a 3½ hour trip with lots of stops. The island gardens are stunning and are themed, such as the Rose and Mediterranean Gardens as well as others, there is also a fine array of statues. On the way back we experience a storm on the lake, some found it scary but for one it was the highlight of the trip.

The following day we start with a visit to former Cistercian Salem Monastery and Palace, an impressive complex of buildings now used as a private school and small businesses. The church was OTT with ornamentation, the Monks’ Dining Room had a wonderful ceiling, there was also a museum of religious artefacts and another with an amazing selection of fire engines. Then it was off to Meersburg for lunch and a wander around the town before visiting the New Palace which quite frankly was underwhelming. The only redeeming features were the Grand Staircase and the adjacent Church. On the way back to the hotel we spotted a Zeppelin Airship which are still constructed at Friedrichshafen on Lake Constance.

Day five and we have a long journey in front of us to get to Strass im Zillertal; we stop in the town of Garmisch-Partenkirchen for lunch and to stretch our legs. Continuing our journey, we pass Innsbruch before reaching Hotel Café-Zillertal, our base for the final three nights. It is typical of the buildings in the Tyrol, being made of wood. England play Spain in the Euros tonight watched by some of us in the Lounge.

Our first day here is visiting Innsbruck; situated on the River Inn it is the capital of this region. We pick up our guide Luke and start with a coach tour of the city among which are the Bell Factory, the Ski Jump, Triumphal Arch and the statue of Andreas Hofer who led the Tyrolean Army against Napoleon. Our first visit is to the Wilten Basilica all recently restored and now looking splendid. Then the walking tour passing through the Imperial Gardens, passing the Hofburg (Imperial Palace) to the Cathedral of St James. The much-venerated painting Maria Hilf (Mary of Succour by Lucas Cranach the Elder from c. 1530) is displayed above the main altar. The cathedral also contains in the north aisle the canopied tomb of Archduke Maximilian III of Austria, Grand Master of the Teutonic Knights, dating from 1620. We continue to the city centre and view the Goldenes Dachl (Golden Roof) which was completed in 1500 for the Emperor Maximilian. After lunch we continue to the Gothic Tratzberg Castle situated high on a mountainside. The rooms we visit are all filled with furniture, paintings, frescoes and all sorts of artefacts, in one room the Family Tree is painted all around the room on the walls. A memorable visit.

Our last day of visits commences with a steam train ride on the Zillertalbahn from Jenbach to Mayrhofen, some of us take advantage of being able to ride in the open coach, smuts and all. At Mayrhofen we rejoin our coach and travel further up the valley to Hintertux and catch the cable car up to the restaurant where we are having lunch. Some of 17 the party go further on another cable car, to the Glacier. Then it is back to Strass.

On the final day we travel back to Munich Airport, say farewell to Giuseppi and catch our flight back to Manchester and coach to York. With thanks to Michael for his good humour managing us and to Peter for his support.