In the morning, optional excursion: Dresden, the "Florence of the Elbe." Your visit will begin with a panoramic tour where you will enjoy a magnificent view of the vast green spaces, such as the Grand Garden, as well as the banks and hills of the Elbe, the prestigious villas, and large buildings like the football stadium and the VW factory. Then, you will explore the Old Town on foot, passing through the iconic Theater Square, where you can admire architectural masterpieces in styles ranging from Baroque to Renaissance. You will see the Semper Opera House, the magnificent Zwinger Palace (a Baroque palace), and the Georg's Tower. Then, you’ll stroll along the Brühl Terrace, known as the "balcony of Europe," lined with an exceptional ensemble of Baroque and Neoclassical architecture that overlooks the Elbe from the southern bank.Return aboard. We'll be cruising towards Meissen.Optional excursion: Meissen and its famous porcelain factory. This picturesque town is dominated by the 15th-century Albrechtsburg Castle, which overlooks the Elbe. Meissen is also known for producing some of the finest German porcelain. You will discover the old town, with its large square lined with Renaissance houses, the Town Hall, and the Church of Our Lady, both in late Gothic style. Then, you will head to the porcelain factory. In 1708, the discovery of a kaolin deposit in Saxony, combined with the ingenuity of the alchemist Johann Friedrich Böttger, led to the creation of the first hard-paste porcelain in Europe. The Duke of Saxony, Augustus the Strong, was a great lover of porcelain, and under his patronage, the Meissen ceramic and porcelain factory became, from 1720 onwards, the most remarkable porcelain factory imaginable. A permanent exhibition traces the history of porcelain.Enjoy an evening of entertainment.
