Central Europe is one of the many corners of the world you can explore on your next vacation with Israel Tours. Here, we rank the top attractions in the central European countries where we offer tours.
Hungary
Castle Hill:
Castle Hill is a fantastic tourist attraction located on the west side of the Danube. It is officially listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which was done in 1987. However, the area has been around way longer than that. Settlers first saw it in the 11th century. When you visit as a tourist, the cobblestone streets will transport you to a medieval atmosphere rife with Budapest history- it’s a must see for anyone visiting Budapest and anyone interested in history in general.
From the Buda Castle itself to Matthias Church to the underground Castle Labyrinth to the Museum of Music History to the Museum of Telephony to Fisherman’s Bastion to more, you’ll find there’s almost no end to what you can learn about Budapest’s past. The lack of vehicle traffic also creates an old-timey sensation.
Czech Republic
Prague Castle:
Prague Castle is the center-point of Prague tourist attractions and a must-see for anyone visiting the area for the first time. In the city’s Hradčany neighborhood and dating from the late 10th century, Prague Castle has been central to Eastern European history for centuries, and once housed Holy Roman Emperors, the Habsburgs, and Bohemian kings. Over the course of its 1,000-year history, the castle – the largest in the world in terms of area – has undergone many dramatic changes in architectural style, evidence of which can be seen in the numerous buildings constructed within its walls through the centuries. Highlights include beautiful St. Vitus Cathedral, St. George’s Basilica, the Powder Tower, and the Golden Lane with its medieval workshops. Of particular note is the Old Royal Palace with its magnificent Vladislav Hall, so big it was used to host knightly jousting tournaments, as well as the adjoining 16th-century Royal Garden with its spectacular Singing Fountain.
Poland
Auschwitz-Birkenau Concentration Camp:
Though an incredibly somber site, Auschwitz-Birkenau is a highly ranked visit in Poland. It was the largest of the many concentration camps under Hitler’s reign. Also, the most infamous of the extermination camps was Auschwitz-Birkenau, now a memorial and museum, in the town of Oświęcim. More than a million people were murdered over a four-year period here. Much of the camp has been preserved as it was during the war, allowing visitors to learn, bear witness and resolve that this can never happen again. Several trips you can take with Israel Tours pay their respects to this somber site.
Germany
Schloss Neuschwanstein:
Like a fairytale castle, the Schloss (castle) Neuschwanstein rises up above the Bavarian woods. Actually, the castle was the inspiration for the castle in Disneyland’s Sleeping Beauty, given it’s undeniable royal, European charm.
The castle is exquisitely designed, both in terms of architecture, and with respect to the regale adornment both on the exterior and within the interior. If you spend any amount of time in Germany, visiting Schloss Neuschwanstein is a must.