House of travel Northern, Central & Eastern Europe Brochure 2017 | Page 9

A rail
extravaganza Iconic and
historic The main
waterway
Views. Extensive picturesque
views. That’s all you really need
to know about Eastern Europe
by train. If you find driving
tedious, airports tiring and
prefer to experience multiple
destinations in one fell swoop,
a rail pass provides nothing
but uninterrupted scenery – at
uninterrupted speed. As a survivor of both the darkest
and most promising chapters of
German history, Brandenburg Gate
has witnessed everything from Nazi
parades to fallen walls. As the only
city landmark to completely survive
WWII bombings, its 12 column
gateway and iconic quadriga (the
horse-drawn chariot that sits atop)
have stood strong since 1791. For a never ending succession of
captivating waterside scenery,
embark on a river voyage from
Amsterdam to Budapest, navigating
the Rhine, Main and Danube rivers
and visiting up to five countries at
once: Holland, Germany, Austria,
Slovakia and Hungary.
From tiny gingerbread villages
to dreamy green pastures, views
transform by the minute. Notably
modern, clean and comfortable,
rail travel in Europe is nothing but
a pleasure. For ease of travel, get
to grips with seating and platform
guides which will indicate where
you should stand on the platform
in relation to your seat number,
and once on-board, soak up the
camaraderie between passengers;
you’re sharing such a unique
experience together. And nothing
quite says adventure like the
railroad. From 18th century monuments
to ornate musical houses, the
Vienna State Opera House is most
prestigious. The façade is grand but
step inside and observe opulent
décor at its most lavish. A forty
minute tour will lead you from the
foyer to magnificent auditorium.
If Prague’s your port of call, spend
a leisurely afternoon meandering
Charles Bridge. With its brickwork,
archways and sleepy river setting,
it’s the most romantic thing to do in
the Czech Republic.
Absorb the perennially perfect
canals of Amsterdam, the medieval
town of Regensburg, with its 12th
century bridges and Germany’s
most famous beers, as well as
Austria’s wine-rich Wachau Valley.
Soon enough you’re in Slovakia,
admiring Bratislava’s gothic St.
Martin’s Cathedral; the country’s
largest, oldest and arguably the
most beautiful.
The adventure culminates in
Budapest, where the river wows
and the architecture astounds; look
out for baroque, neoclassical and
Art Nouveau.
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