Tour Suggestion
Celebrate the centennial anniversary of the impressive Bauhaus movement, which has been a powerful inspiration for modern architecture and style alike. Based on interdisciplinary teachings, which combined art, architecture and craftsmanship, Bauhaus created a comprehensive approach to building design and function. Retrace the steps of the Bauhaus movement on this interactive tour, which provides insightful views and information on architecture and culture. Developed and fine-tuned during a period of huge political upheaval, the Bauhaus was continuously persecuted and targeted for its radical ideas. This journey not only provides you with a comprehensive view of Bauhaus and its effect on modern style and creation, but also provides ample opportunity to explore classical history and culture.
Day 1: Arrival in Frankfurt or Berlin
Welcome to your journey of discovery and celebration of everything Bauhaus. Your tour guide will meet you at the airport, where you will board your private coach for transfer to Weimar.
Hotel check-in.
Enjoy a welcome dinner with your tour companions. Dine on delicious regional cuisine while toasting your upcoming adventures.
Overnight in Weimar.
Day 2: The Birthplace of Bauhaus
This morning, you will begin your exploration of Bauhaus in the city of Weimar. A guided tour will introduce you to the great buildings and focal points throughout the city. The Bauhaus University, which was originally founded in 1860, was developed into the Bauhaus-Universitaet Weimar that we know today by Walter Gropius in 1919. The University is home to architecturally stunning buildings, one of the most noted being the main building, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
View the strength of the Maerzgefallenen-Denkmal (Monument to the March Dead), designed by Walter Gropius to honour the Weimer citizens who had been killed in 1920 as a result of the Kapp Putsch, the powerful governmental coup headed by Wolfgang Kapp. Although the original monument was destroyed by the Nazi regime, the Maerzgefallenen-Denkmal was victoriously rebuilt in 1946. Walter Gropius designed this monument for interaction with its viewer, so walk around it, stand in the middle of it, and admire the lightening-like bolt which seems to rise out of the earth.
Enjoy lunch with your tour companions.
This afternoon, visit the newly built Bauhaus Museum. Discover the myriad of Bauhaus artists who are featured in this amazing new space of creativity. Celebrate the achievements of the Bauhaus movement and reflect upon the beauty of famous Bauhaus masterpieces.
A stop at the Haus am Horn, the first Bauhaus-designed construction ever built, will certainly fascinate visitors. This building, built for the Bauhaus exhibition of 1923, features furniture and fixtures which were both designed and created at the Bauhaus University. In 1996, it was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
This evening, enjoy dinner with your tour companions at the hotel.
Overnight in Weimar.
Day 3: Excursion to Apolda and Jena
Today, a full day excursion to Apolda and Jena will allow you to delve further into the world of Bauhaus. Visits to the Kunsthaus Apolda Avantgarde, the Stadtmuseum, and the Eiermannbau offer special exhibits celebrating the anniversary of Bauhaus and provide additional insight and discovery.
Admire the colossal Feiningerturm Mellingen, built in 1999 commemorating the "Mellingen" , the watercolour painting created by Lyonel Feininger. Feininger, one of the great Bauhaus artists, was appointed as the first faculty member of Bauhaus University by Walter Gropius and served as the Master Artist of the Printmaking Workshop. Note the colours typical to Bauhaus used in the construction of this huge art installation.
Enjoy lunch with your tour companions in Jena.
This afternoon, visit two Bauhaus-designed villas in the city of Jena. View Walter Gropius' first private home design and build project, the Auerbach Villa. Function and form were merged as one to create this unique geometrically designed dwelling. The Zuckerkandl House is also a fine example of Bauhaus residential design. Built in the late 1920s as a private home for Therese Zuckerkandl, the Zuckerkandl Villa was purpose designed to house several generations of the same family. Note the sharp incline of the property and how the villa was created to work with, rather than against, the physical characteristics of the site.
The Abbeanum building at the Friedrich Schiller University is another fine example of Bauhaus. The reinforced concrete design gleam with rows of windows which cut across the facade of the building like stripes. Built from 1929-1930, the Abbeanum was terribly marred by the bombs of World War 2. The building has since been restored and refurbished over the years to the current excellent condition.
This afternoon, admire the Zeiss-Planetarium, the oldest planetarium in the world which has been in consistent operation. The style of the planetarium reflects the ideals of the Neues Bauen design style. Sit back in the plush, comfortable seats of the planetarium while you enjoy gazing at the twinkling stars of the night sky.
Dinner at the hotel with your tour companions.
Overnight in Weimar.
Day 4: Bauhaus in Erfurt
You will start your adventure today with a Bauhaus-themed city tour of Erfurt. Championed by industrialists and art supporters alike, Bauhaus found a welcome home in Erfurt in the 1920s. View the sleek Bauhaus buildings of the city centre, with their stunningly simple but powerful facades.
Enjoy lunch with your tour companions in Erfurt.
This afternoon, delight in a visit to the Margaretha Reichardt Haus, which is a fascinating combination of Margaretha Reichardt's home and handweaving factory, and now considered a historical monument of importance. Margaretha Reichardt, one of the most celebrated former students of the Bauhaus University Dessau, founded this factory in the 1930s. Witness a fascinating demonstration in the artform of handweaving. Featured products of the factory included tapestries, carpets and clothing textiles.
Spend the rest of the afternoon as you choose in Erfurt. Revel in your free time as you stroll through the Old Town of Erfurt, with its amazingly preserved Medieval buildings and Gothic architecture. This visual comparison of old world Gothic versus new world Bauhaus is both stunning and fascinating.
Dinner at the hotel with your tour companions.
Overnight in Weimar.
Day 5: Lovely Leipzig
This morning, you will transfer to Dessau by way of vibrant and energetic Leipzig. Historically an important centre of trade for centuries, the city centre of Leipzig is characterized by its magnificent Renaissance style buildings, along with a great number of ornate and spectacular Gruenderzeitstil style structures.
Enjoy lunch with your tour companions in Leipzig.
Spend the afternoon at your leisure in Leipzig. The Bachmuseum, a favourite with visitors, provides a truly comprehensive and fascinating view into the life of this venerated composer. Discover the compelling life and view historical artefacts owned by the Bach family while you explore this amazing building. Witness one of the hourly musical demonstrations of baroque era keyboard instruments.
Continue onwards to your hotel, where you will check-in and enjoy dinner with your tour companions.
Overnight in Dessau.
Day 6: Bauhaus in Dessau
The excitement of Bauhaus exploration continues this morning with a guided tour of the Bauhaus Building, a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site. Designed by Walter Gropius, this sleek building was completed in 1926. The dark windows of the building are a stunning contrast to the pristine white concrete exterior. Be amazed at the architecture of the building while you discover the priceless creations and artefacts of the Bauhaus. Your guide will provide you with fascinating information as you take in the surrounding world of Bauhaus.
Enjoy lunch with your tour companions at the gleaming Bauhaus Canteen or the peaceful Café-bistro, both offering a variety of choices to suit your tastes.
This afternoon, you will have the opportunity to view the Masters' Houses. A collection of several semi-detached houses and one detached house, this group of houses was built in a peaceful wooded area. Note the use of the Bauhaus colours as accents in surprising locations. Featuring outdoor living spaces such as balconies and terraces, the Masters' Houses inspire a connection between building and nature.
Tour the intriguing Dessau-Toerten Housing Estate, the large-scale housing community designed by Walter Gropius in the 1920s. The rows of attached houses were designed to provide a level of self-sufficiency to the residents. Integral to this model of self-sufficiency was the inclusion of adequate private gardens for vegetable cultivation and animal keeping. Affordability and cost efficiency were the key drivers in this major project.
Dinner at the hotel with your tour companions.
Overnight in Dessau.
Day 7: Dessau and travel to Berlin
This morning, enjoy a short, guided tour of the Bauhaus buildings of Dessau. Journey through the city centre, viewing the many Bauhaus and Bauhaus inspired buildings of Dessau. Walter Gropius' Employment Office, the Consumption Building, and Hannes Meyer's Laubenganghaeuser all offer insight into the world of Bauhaus. The Federal Environment Agency, designed by Sauerbruch Hutton, offers a truly amazing structure to behold. Colourful on the outside, and full of vibrant plant life in the huge indoor atrium, it continues to pleasantly surprise visitors and employees alike.
Transfer to Berlin, with a stop for lunch in Potsdam with your tour companions.
Before continuing onwards to Berlin, discover the beauty of the amazing Hollandaise Quarter of Potsdam. Built in the 1700s to house Dutch artists and craftsman, these lovely red brick houses with their quintessentially Dutch facades are a delight to view. The vast and amazing Park of Sanssouci Castle continue to amaze visitors as they have for centuries. Discover this seemingly never-ending park filled with historical buildings and dramatic beauty. With the stunning Sanssouci Castle as backdrop to this outstanding park, you will truly understand why many consider it the German version of Versailles.
Continue to Berlin and hotel check in.
Enjoy dinner tonight at a local restaurant with your tour companions.
Overnight in Berlin.
Day 8: Brilliant Bauhaus in Berlin
Begin your adventure in Berlin with a guided tour. Learn about the impact of Bauhaus on Berlin while you explore this dynamic and exciting city.
Enjoy lunch with your tour companions.
This afternoon, discover the fascinating Bauhaus Archive Museum of Design while taking part in a guided tour. Be amazed at the striking exterior of the building, which almost appears to be futuristic and has been featured in quite a few science fiction films. Originally designed by Walter Gropius, the blueprints for the building were adapted and modified numerous times to suit both political and financial interests. Home to a variety of Bauhaus artefacts, the collections within will be certain to fascinate.
Dinner with your tour companions at a local restaurant.
Overnight in Berlin.
Day 9: The Beauty of Berlin
A guided tour of Berlin will provide you the opportunity to explore this city while you gain insightful and meaningful historical knowledge.
Visit the Kulturforum, which was once the heart of cultural development in West Berlin. This collection of dynamic, modern buildings includes the impressive Neue Nationalgalerie (New National Gallery), the amazing Berliner Philharmonie, and the Gemaeldegalerie (Picture Gallery), with many other noteworthy buildings.
The Potsdamer Platz, a huge project of redevelopment and renovation, is a centre of modern architecture of futuristic proportions. The once powerful, dynamic centre of Berlin in the 1920s was frequently bombed and targeted during World War 2, reducing the area to ruins and wasteland. It wasn't until the 1990s that interest in redevelopment peaked, which eventually led to the massive and amazing Potsdamer Platz known today. The gleaming glass, the neon lights, shops, restaurants, and monuments have created a stunningly exciting centre for trade and tourism.
A visit to the Rotes Rathaus (Red City Hall) makes for an interesting stop on your city tour. The vibrant red façade of the Red City Hall is quite a sight and was originally built in the Rennaissance Revival style in the 1860s. After sustaining heavy damage from the bombs of World War 2, the Red City Hall was restored to its original glory.
The powerful Memorial of the Murdered Jews of Europe, which provokes deep thought and reflection, provides a stark reminder of the atrocities committed by Third Reich. Take time to stop at the Ort der Information (Place of Information) to view the names of the 3 million Jewish Holocaust victims. Reflect on the horrors of the Nazi Regime while taking part in a moment of silent respect for the men, women and children who were murdered.
Enjoy lunch with your tour companions.
This afternoon, choose how you will spend your time in this young and amazing city.
Farewell dinner with your tour companions. Enjoy the comradery and merriment of your last night on tour while dining on delicious local cuisine in beautiful Berlin.
Day 10: Departure
Begin your journey home or spend an additional day in the exciting city of Berlin.
Copyright program and pictures: © APPINA TRAVEL GmbH
