Scenic Luxury Cruises and Tours, the ultra-luxury cruise and land tour operator, is offering guests the opportunity to discover some of Europe’s lesser-known architectural wonders. Sail through historic towns and cities with cultures that are defined by an extensive timeline of architectural styles, all whilst enjoying an ultra-luxurious, all-inclusive experience onboard Scenic’s innovative Space-Ships.
Guests will be transported back in time as they gaze up at great structures of Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque and Modernism styles, both on board and during carefully-curated Scenic Freechoice excursions. In the evenings, Scenic Enrich offers unforgettable classical music performances inside breath-taking venues inaccessible to the ordinary traveller, including the mystically Gothic church of Liebfrauenkirche in Trier and the remarkable UNESCO-listed San Francisco Church in Portugal.
All Scenic river cruises are truly all-inclusive, meaning guests can leave their wallet in a safe place and relax, knowing everything is taken care of. Flights, transfers, fine dining experiences, premium branded beverages and once in-a-lifetime immersive experiences are all included in the price.
Canals, cobbled streets and classical music
The fairytale landscapes of the Rhine and the Moselle rivers enchant with preserved medieval towns and cities nestled along the riverbanks. Set sail from Amsterdam, a treasure trove of architectural beauty with tranquil scenes of boats along 16th-century canals, to Antwerp, where Gothic-style buildings line the cobbled streets. Learn about the fascinating history of the oldest city in the Netherlands, Nijmegen, before touring Düsseldorf’s extraordinary and unconventional buildings designed by Frank Gehry, which are an interesting juxtaposition to the historic quay walls of the city’s harbour.
The exclusive Scenic Enrich experience is a highlight of everyone’s journey, with a classical concert in the UNESCO-listed Liebfrauenkirche, Trier. As the earliest church built in French High Gothic style outside France, guests can admire the incredible 13th century architecture and intricate stained-glass windows which exude deeply religious symbolism. Known as the gateway to the Upper Middle Rhine Valley, Koblenz has a melange of French and German cultures, as does the picturesque city of Strasbourg, where an ancient cathedral and Alsatian-style houses found in the “Petite France” quarter contrast the city’s glass and steel European Parliament building.
Scenic’s 15-day Romantic Rhine and Moselle itinerary is priced from £3,499pp, including flights, transfers, free Wi-Fi and all meals and drink/beverages. (0161 516 5548; scenic.co.uk).
Dazzling architecture of the Douro Valley
Journey through the soul of Portugal on this eight-day return voyage from Porto, a 2,000-year-old bustling city built on the hills overlooking the mouth of the Douro River. Here, guests can take a guided tour around the ancient city walls now adorned with street art, past historical buildings decorated with intricate colourful tiles, and visit the iconic Palacio da Bolsa, a 19th-century neoclassical building which boasts an intricately detailed architectural style, particularly prominent in the Arab Room, adorned with stunning Moorish-inspired decorations and with a ceiling made entirely of gold leaf.
Regua is an excellent base for exploring the wider Douro Valley, offering guests the choice of visiting the hidden gem of Lamego, famed for its magnificent Baroque stairway leading up to Nossa Senhora dos Remédios church, or Mateus Palace, considered one of the best examples of Baroque civil architecture in Portugal. On the penultimate night, guests will attend an exclusive Scenic Enrich event of an enchanting classical concert in the iconic Gothic-style Sao Francisco Church, one of the most emblematic religious buildings in Porto featuring gilded interiors and breathtaking altars.
Scenic’s eight-day Delightful Douro itinerary is priced from £2,952pp, including flights, transfers, free Wi-Fi and all meals and drink/beverages. (0161 516 5548; scenic.co.uk).
Gala dinners, Gothic spires and German styles
A region steeped in history, guests will discover a vast array of Europe’s most spectacular, well-preserved architecture, spanning over six centuries. Amongst the stretches of forested hillsides and idyllic vineyards along the riverbanks of the Rhine, Main and Danube rivers, romantic ruins echo with a timeless beauty and Gothic spires rise out of the charming, historic Old Towns of Bamberg, Nuremberg, and Regensburg. Part of Scenic Enrich’s exclusive offering, guests can attend a lavish gala dinner and a private classical concert where live music from Beethoven and Mozart will be played in a spectacular neoclassical style recital hall, La Redoute, in Bonn.
Marvel at the Würzburg Residence, a UNESCO World Heritage Site considered one of Europe’s most extraordinary and lavishly opulent palaces. The famous German architect, Balthasar Neumann, led the construction of the palace, which combines various German and imperial Vienna baroque styles with French château architecture. The final two destinations do not disappoint either; Vienna’s imperial history is reminiscent in the grandeur edifices that encircle the city’s Ringstrasse, and Budapest’s layered architectural past encapsulates everything from Roman ruins to the city’s signature Art Nouveau style.
Scenic’s 15-day Jewels of Europe itinerary is priced from £3,499pp, including flights, transfers, free Wi-Fi and all meals and drink/beverages. (0161 516 5548; scenic.co.uk).
