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DAY 1: Afternoon & evening departure from Boston or New York. DAY 2: Upon arrival in Leipzig, Germany, we will be escorted to the Rochsburg in the heart of former East Germany, Sachsen. A walk across the old drawbridge into the outer ring of protective walls brings us into the castle. The original cobblestones under our feet and the eerie towering mass before us will send the chills of ancient legends down our backs. Here in the valley of castles we will feel the history through the walls and hear the clashing of knights’ swords in a pleasant breeze that sweeps us back in time. This old knight's castle, dating back to the 12th century, is embedded on a plateau that overlooks the Rochlitz Mulde Valley. We settle into the hospitality of a nearby hotel. After lunch, in a magnificent blend of history, we will witness the breathtaking Gothic and Renaissance architectures on a tour of the castle. Its enclosed chapel and museum add to the awe-inspiring layout of this 800-year-old fortress. Dinner will be served at the Hotel Muldenschlösschen.
DAY 3: After breakfast, we travel via a scenic bus route to the ancient German town of Penig: established in 1227, once occupied by Napoleon in the early 1800’s, and later by American soldiers during the second world war. Our visit starts with the oldest building in Penig, the Sankt Aegidien Church built in 1157. Next we will venture into one of the oldest German breweries for a tour and tasting! The ominous labyrinth of the catacombs provides an excellent ending to our morning, with lasting memories of an ancient and beautiful Penig. With lunches prepared we then find our way leading to the neighboring village of Amerika-- yes Amerika, for a brief photo stop. Castle Waldenburg awaits our visit to peruse the museum of natural history and the pottery kiln. En route to Lunzenau for dinner we will tour through the enchanting Mulde Valley. DAY 4: After breakfast we set our bearings for the foothills of the Erzgebirge along the Czech border, where we find the castle of Augustusburg. This historical gem, built more than 400 years ago, was a hunting lodge and summer residence for August von Sachsen. It portrays a monumental Renaissance charm to the visitors’ delight. The chapel is one of the few Renaissance churches in Germany to have survived in its original condition. After lunch we follow the foothills to the mountains of the Erzgebirge and the town of Seiffen: a shoppers delight! Home of the original nutcracker and the enchanting smoker, Seiffen is the center of Germany's toy and wood-carving industry. A quaint and romantic guest house in Arnsdorf will host us for dinner.
DAY 5: After breakfast, our days starts with the famous Mulden Valley Train that takes us to Colditz. The castle, once a hunting sanctuary of the upper nobility, a Nazi concentration camp for anti-fascists, and also a notorious prison camp for Allied officers (glorified by the movie "The Birdmen", where the POWs actually built a glider for an attempted escape), houses a turbulent history within its walls. After lunch we continue by bus to Rochlitz-- the city of red lava. This thousand-year old city on the River Mulde will fascinate us with its typical Sachsen flavor and hospitality with the castle as the center of attraction. In the afternoon our bus will take us to the small market town of Wechselburg, where we are free to shop, tour a Romanesque basilica, walk to the castle for a photo stop, and enjoy a cozy dinner setting with the monks in their basilica, before returning for the evening. 
DAY 6: This day is dedicated to the famous city of Dresden (also known as the Florence of the Elbe). Our local guide will unfold the historical and artistic aspects of Dresden before, during and after W.W.II. In the afternoon, we will continue our bus tour to the castle of Moritzburg, then on to Meissen, the city of the "Blue Swords" where we will sample products of the local vineyards. Before returning we will dine in Tauscha. DAY 7: Taking a break from our daily routine, this day is free for us to spend at our leisure. Optional activities include walking the famous trails around Rochsburg, bicycling or a shopping trip to the city of Chemnitz. A cookout awaits us at the Rochsburg! DAY 8: After breakfast, we visit Kriebstein, the last castle on our tour of the valleys of Sachsen. It is the most remarkable and well preserved in all of Sachsen. This monumental Gothic fortress is mounted high onto a rock formation that overlooks the river Zschopau. Every stretch of this marvel surpasses the visitors’ expectation. Clouded in mystery and intrigue, to this day annual jousting tournaments bring back to life the spirit of medieval chivalry and knighthood. In the afternoon, as a climactic close to an unforgettable tour, the Castle Rochlitz invites us to become part of the ancient tradition of feasting, with its own interpretation of the medieval celebration. DAY 9: Breakfast and bus transfer to Airport.
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