Rapperswil Castle - St. Gallen - Vaduz - Heididorf

Route: Lucerne - Rapperswil Castle - St. Gallen - Vaduz - Heididorf - Lucerne
Duration: 10 h
Our first stop in this tour will be at the medieval Rapperswil Castle, where you can admire 600 rose varieties in Rapperswil Rose Garden. Rapperswil Castle dates back around 1200 to 1220 AD, and it was first mentioned in 1229 on occasion of the foundation of the Rüti Abbey. The castle and the fortifications of the former locus Endingen (given by the Einsiedeln Abbey) were built by Count Rudolf II and his son Rudolf III von Rapperswil, when the nobility of Rapperswil moved from Altendorf (Alt-Rapperswil) across the lake to the other side of the so-called Seedamm, maybe to establish their own parish church and to avoid to go the mess, by crossing the lake, in St. Martin Busskirch. The castle was given to the citizens of Rapperswil in 1442. Later the castle was controlled by the Swiss confederation. Our next stop will be at the St. Gallen which is a canton and a city in the eastern part of Switzerland. In 610, an Irish monk called Gallus chose this spot for his hermitage. Later on, in 747, a Benedictine abbey was founded. With the addition of a library in the 9th century, it became a center of learning. The famous cathedral and abbey library are a must to visit. The whole abbey precinct was declared a World Cultural Heritage in 1983. St. Gallen was an important producer of linen which was exported throughout Europe. St. Gallen's embroidery is known around the world.  St. Gallen features one of the most picturesque old towns in Switzerland: many of the houses and buildings being from the 16th and 18th century, sometimes with painted facades, often adorned with wrought-iron signs and carved and painted wooden oriel windows. Walk along the pleasant alleys and browse through the many small and charming shops. During our visit to St.Gallen you will see  St. Gallen Cathedral which was built from 1755 – 1767 by the architects Peter Thumb and Johan Michael Beer, the cathedral is a marvelous work from the late baroque period.  Abbey Library, Lapidarium and Court Wing . The Abbey library is one of the oldest libraries in the world. The main room designed by Peter Thumb in 1758-1767 is again a baroque masterpiece. The library contains more than 150’000 books and manuscripts, some dating from the 8th to the 11th centuries. The Lapidarium is a “Stone collection” of the Abbey church. Archeological findings from the Carolingian monastery built from 830-837 are displayed. The bishop of St. Gallen resides in the western part of the Court Wing. Karlstor (Karl’s Gate) this gate was built in 1569/70 and is named after the Archbishop Milan Carlo Borromeo. It’s the only remaining outer gate of the city’s original 11 gates. Marktplatz (Market Square) the square which was once the town’s main market square. City Lounge which is located In the centre of St. Gallen, the red carpet is spread out between buildings. Next we will stop at the capital city of Liechtenstein - Vaduz. Where the city tour will take you to the Government Building and the Vaduz Cathedral, past the Kunstmuseum (Museum of Fine Arts), past Town Hall and up to the historic Red House, and to the princely vineyards with their own wine cellars, the Hofkellerei.On the round trip you will gain an insight into the state of Liechtenstein which is a constitutional hereditary monarchy, and find out more about the Princely Family, the political and economic developments as well as the people of Liechtenstein. Afterward we will continue to Swiss Heidiland, which gets its name from Johanna Spyri’s world-famous Heidi story. Spend some time admiring the picturesque village. Follow the Heidi Path to discover all of the locations described in Spyri's book and even pay a visit to the authentic Heidi house. After that we will return to Lucerne.
Price: Per person