Central European History

Explore Alexanderplatz, known to locals as simply "Alex". This public square is dominated by the impressive TV Tower, built by the former socialist East German government in the 1960's as a showcase to the West. Today the tower shapes the skyline of the city. See the World Time Clock, which shows the time for various cities around the world, and the Red City Hall, once again Berlin's administrative center since reunification. Take a stroll down the boulevard "Unter den Linden" to Bebelplatz, the site of the Nazi book burnings and see the memorial to commemorate the event. Walk through the Hackesche Hoefe - a courtyard complex built in the "Judenstil" or Art Nouveau style. Pass through the medieval Nikolai Quarter, famous for its vibrant restaurants and cafes which was destroyed by Allied bombing in WWII, but has since been rebuilt. Then view Museum Island, home to a complex of 5 major museums and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A city with a rich and complex past, your Berlin City Walk will be one of the most memorable parts of your trip!

Join a professional, licensed tour guide as you discover one of the most historical cities in Germany. Although nothing remains of the mortar and cement-block barrier between East and West Berlin, the Berlin Wall (built in 1961; destroyed in 1989) is still a main “site” in Berlin. View the well-known Brandenburg Gate, once a main gate hidden behind a 10-foot barrier and now known for celebratory dancing on its flat top during the reunification. Travel to the Checkpoint Charlie Museum, the most famous border crossing point. Checkpoint Charlie, once a wooden guard hut, was the most (in)famous border-crossing point between East and West Berlin from 1961 to 1989. All that remains of the checkpoint itself is a skeletal watchtower and a memorial of attempted escapees. Follow your guide as they lead you through the museum’s accounts of the most ingenious of these escape attempts— even a few by hot air balloon.

Follow the route of the Berlin Wall viewing numerous crosses and wreaths to remind us of the tragedies which occurred after the wall was built in 1961.

Spend time at the Brandenburg Gate, a triumphal arch, which stood in "no man's land" between East and West Berlin during the Cold War and became a symbol of a divided Germany. Enter the Room of Silence, built into one of the guardhouses, where visitors gather to meditate and reflect on Germany's past.

Visit the museum that documents the history and significance of the most famous crossing point between East and West Berlin during the Cold War.

Located on the line that once separated East and West Germany, this stirring museum was built in the shape of a warped Star of David and focuses on the realities of Jewish life in Germany, from ancient times up to the horrors of the Holocaust.

Visit this moving memorial museum dedicated to honoring the brave Polish soldiers who fought against Nazi occupation in Warsaw and the innocent civilians who lost their lives during the battle. Hear first-hand accounts of those dark days, visit the virtual memory wall with the names of thousands of soldiers and civilians who lost their lives and see actual weapons, video footage and pictures from the uprising.

Untouched by bombing during World War II, Krakow has maintained much of its delicate beauty and rich history. (UNESCO has declared the entire city one of the 12 most significant historic sites in the world.) Its magnificent airy castle, built by Sigismund the Old in an Italian villa style, was the seat of Poland's royal government. The Rynek Glówny, medieval Europe's largest town square, dealt with more mundane concerns, and the market stalls and merchants that still congregate here carry on the old traditions.

Explore the Kazimierz Jewish Quarter, the main cultural center of Polish Jewry with its unique Oriental atmosphere. Its soul perished during the traumatic events of the Second World War, but many of the buildings, some still with Yiddish inscriptions, survived. Today, the revival of Jewish life and activity in Kazimierz is visible in the numerous restored buildings, fashionable cafes, and restaurants.

Travel to Auschwitz, Nazi Germany’s largest internment and extermination camp, to pay your respects and remember the millions of innocent men, women and children who were killed there during Hitler’s reign

Feel the inspiration for Franz Kafka’s novels as you stroll the medieval streets of the Mala Strana (Little Quarter). Stop in Josefov (Jewish Quarter), to view Europe’s oldest synagogue, dating from 1270.

Prague is the capital of the Czech Republic, built on seven hills astride the Vltava River. The beauty of Prague is legendary; Goethe described the city as “the most precious stone in the crown of this world.”. As the former capital of the Holy Roman Empire, the city was built on beauty and decadence from a wide array of architectural styles (including Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque and Art Nouveau). Wander through the courtyards of Hradcany (Prague Castle) where Europe’s grand ruling family, the Habsburgs, lived and reigned.

Stroll across the stunning Charles Bridge which spans 16 arches and is lined with 30 Baroque statues of religious figures.

Prague Castle in the Hradcany quarter, was named by the Guinness Book of World Records as the largest ancient castle in the world. Prague Castle represents virtually all of the architectural designs of the last millennium and contains several churches, a monastery, gardens as well as multiple museums.

Look behind the Iron Curtain on a guided visit of a real nuclear bunker from the 1950’s, hidden 4 floors deep, built for 5000 people to survive a nuclear blast behind a 4-ton heavy door.