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Bratislava
15 June, 4 days

Fact is often stranger than fiction in Central Europe. Bratislava was for 250 years the capital of Hungary, and formed part of greater Hungary for over 500 years. Nevertheless it is fundamentally a German town, historically known as Pressburg; but a German town in which hardly any Germans live today. For 75 years the Cinderella of the artificially created Czechoslovakia, it is now the booming capital of the Slovak Republic. Whereas recently Slovaks were still being shot for attempting to cross the Danube into Austria, a new motorway is just being opened to reduce Vienna to Bratislava transit time to just 40 minutes.
Entering the city's main square you could imagine yourself almost in a Disneyland version of a South German town, as all the mainly medieval and baroque period buildings have been recently renovated and appear as if new-built. Until 1945 over 40% of the population were German speakers and 20% Hungarian. The city retains the feel of a multi-cultural melting pot, open to different influences and styles.
Bratislava is a beautiful, compact city, dominated by the historic castle complex overlooking the Danube set on the last rocky outcrop of the Carpathians, and by the ultra-modern New Bridge with its panoramic restaurant at a height of 80 metres atop a sloping pylon.
Amazingly for a city of 500,000 inhabitants, Bratislava possesses two opera houses. Our four-day opera holiday features two great works of the Slavic tradition, sure to be given idiomatic performances: Tchaikovsky's Eugene Onegin and Smetana's The Bartered Bride. They are performed at the historic building of the Slovak National Theatre, only minutes on foot from our hotel, and at the new cultural complex (coach transfers) by the Danube.
Our hotel is the four-star Hotel Devin, in the heart of the city and on the banks of the Danube. The city's leading hotel during communism, it has been thoroughly modernised whilst retaining a restrained elegance. Most bedrooms will be Danube-facing and with a small balcony. The hotel features one of Bratislava's finest dining places, The French Restaurant and a spa centre.

15 June

Arriving late-afternoon from Manchester, Birmingham or London Luton on Sky Europe we make the short journey to Hotel Devin. The remainder of the afternoon is at leisure, before we stroll through Hviezdoslavovo Square behind the hotel to the historic Reduta Restaurant for our included evening meal.

16 June

Our morning guided tour shows us the most attractive city sights, all of which are easily accessible on foot from our hotel. Elegant palaces, picturesque squares and streets, majestic churches, statues and fountains to the great and the good and, with an unusual sense of civic humour, to 'everyman' such as 'The Watcher', a smiling man emerging from a drain inspection cover. We visit the interior of the finest neo-classical palace, the Primate's Palace, with its Hall of Mirrors and set of six Mortlake tapestries recounting the story of Hero and Leander, woven for Charles I in 1632 and beautifully restored. Later we enter the coronation church of Hungarian kings, St Martin's Cathedral, its steeple surmounted by a 1.5 metre tall Hungarian crown. The cathedral's gothic exterior conceals an airy interior mixing gothic and baroque.
The afternoon is at leisure, maybe to visit the Slovak National Gallery, the City Museum or the house of the composer, Johann Hummel.
This evening's opera is Eugene Onegin at the historic building of the National Theatre, situated only a few minutes walk from our hotel.

17 June

Our coach drives us first to the Castle grounds overlooking the city and the river. This stately building has been restored to its exterior appearance of the mid-1700s, when it was a favourite residence of Maria Theresa; whilst the interior remains under restoration. Leaving Bratislava Castle we drive to Slavin, the largest war memorial in Central Europe, the burial site of 7,000 Red Army soldiers, set on hills above the city. From Slavin we drive to the romantic ruin of Devin, ten kilometres from the city. Long a symbol for the Slovakian people, it has served as a gathering point for expressions of national pride and independence. The area below the castle was a no-man's land for 40 years. A memorial commemorates those shot trying to flee communism. More tranquil today, we enjoy an included picnic by the confluence of the Morava and Danube rivers, before a Danube cruise takes us back to the centre of the city. Remainder of the afternoon is at leisure.
Coach transfers are provided this evening for a new production of The Bartered Bride given at the recently inaugurated cultural complex.

18 June

Some final free time in Bratislava before our early afternoon flight back to the United Kingdom.
Clients may choose to extend their stay in Bratislava (there is a ballet called Ivan the Terrible at the SND on 18 June, using music composed by Prokofiev for Eisenstein's film about the Czar). The coach station is close to the hotel for Friends wishing to make a day-trip to Vienna. We will be pleased also to make accommodation arrangements in Vienna itself.

Holiday includes return flights from Manchester, Birmingham or Luton (other airports may be available), coach transfers, three nights at the Hotel Devin with breakfast, one picnic lunch, one evening meal, two excellent stalls opera seats, entrance fees as described above and services of local guides and a Grosvenor Travel representative. Price £670pp, in a twin room. Single supplement £140 (double bed for single occupancy). Extra nights £97 per room per night (double or single occupancy). (Please enquire regarding extending holiday with accommodation in Vienna itself and opera/ballet performances in Vienna). Deposit to be paid at time of booking £240pp.
Travel insurance (if required) is £18pp for Friends aged up to 65 at time of booking, £36 aged 66 to 75, £45 aged 76 to 79, and £60 aged 80 to 86. Excess waiver £10 extra. Conditions do apply. Annual insurance is also available.