On the trail of the Lipizzaners

On the trail of the Lipizzaners

Austria Travel Direct’s signature summer tour 'Trail of the Lipizzaners' features three highlights centred around the famous white stallions of the Spanish Riding School in Vienna. For 2012, the tour breaks away from its traditional Germany/Austria starting point - and will begin in Geneva, Switzerland. From there the tour heads south into the region of Provence and the town of Avignon, noted for its Papal Palace and the Pont St. Benezet.

Travelling east, the tour then overnights in Manosque, the capital of lavender growing in France. Ladies will delight at a tour and visit of the L’Occitaine factory and showroom. A spectacular drive follows next as the tour makes its way through the Gorges du Verdon, with some of the most spectacular scenery in southern France. Next destination is Nice on the Riviera, from where the tour visits Cannes, Antibes and Monte Carlo.

Crossing the border into Italy, the fashion and commercial capital of Milan also offers history and architecture in the form of its Cathedral and “Last Supper” fresco painted by Leonardo da Vinci. Continuing east there is a visit to Verona to view the Roman Arena and see the balcony made famous in Shakespeare’s “Romeo & Juliet”, before continuing to the island-city of Venice.

Now the famous white stallions are very close - with the next destination being the original stud in Lipica, Slovenia. A stable visit, guided tour, carriage ride and farmhouse dinner complete the stay. A short drive to the underground caves of Postojna for a visit is next on the itinerary before arriving in Lake Bled, the “Pearl of Slovenia”.

Still on the trail of the Lipizzaners, Piber in Austria is the next stop. This is the current site of the Federal stud that supplies the stallions to the Spanish Riding School. Highlights of our stay here are a visit and guided tour of the stables, a carriage ride around the estate, a visit to the mountain pastures to see the young stallions, then witness the “parade” as the stallions are brought from the mountains down to the valley to be blessed at the church of Maria Lankowitz before going to their winter stables.

Final stop of the tour is Vienna, where we have front row seats in the VIP Box at the Spanish Riding School for a gala performance of the Lipizzaner stallions.

The 20 day tour is limited to a maximum of 16 persons and includes stays in 4 and 5 star hotels, daily breakfast, 13 dinners, all sightseeing and services of a Tour Manager. The tour starts in Geneva on August 23 and is priced from $6675 per person twin share.

For more information contact Austria Travel Direct or visit their website.