Danube River Facts | Tauck
DANUBE RIVER FACTS
European River Cruises
Built around included shore excursions that immerse you in each destination through exclusive access to cultural experiences, our river cruises explore the very heart of Europe: along entire length of the Danube from the North Sea to the Black Sea; the Rhine, Main and Moselle rivers in Germany; the Maas in the Netherlands; the Albert and Main-Danube canals; and the Rhône, Saône and Seine rivers in France.
Ships
The Tauck Destination Fleet features spacious, comfortable cabins and suites; personalized service rivaling that of a premium hotel; fine European-style shipboard dining with a choice of dining venues; and up to four times the number of suites as other European lines. Our custom-designed riverboats include five 361-foot ships and four 443-foot ships accommodating no more than 130 guests.
Tauck Experience
Our river cruise experience revolves around four cornerstones: Uncommon Access on our included shore excursions blending in-depth sightseeing with Tauck Exclusives; All-Inclusive Value, with virtually every expense included in one upfront price; Personalized Cruising based on caring service from four Tauck staff on every cruise; and the Intimate, Club-Like Atmosphere of our custom-designed riverboats
First Time Cruisers
DANUBE RIVER FACTS
A wealth of universities, monasteries, libraries, museums of art and history, orchestras, opera and theatre companies, and other key cultural institutions have thrived – many of them for centuries – along the Danube River… both in major cities like Prague, Vienna, Bratislava and Budapest, as well as in less populated areas along the river, like Melk Abbey in Austria’s Wachau Valley. A few examples follow:
Kunsthishoriches Museum, Vienna, Austria: Opened in 1891, the Kunsthishoriches (Museum of Art History), on Vienna’s Ringstrasse, was commissioned by Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria to make the Habsburg family’s vast art collection accessible to the public. Today, its collections comprise Greek, Roman and Egyptian antiquities, sculpture and decorative arts, and significant European paintings from the 14th to 18th centuries.
Melk Abbey, Austria: Among the world’s most renowned monastic sites, this Benedictine abbey overlooking the Danube in the Wachau Valley was founded in the 11th century, and has been a center of learning for a millennium. The Baroque structures of the current complex were built between 1702 – 1736, and their library holds a remarkable collection of medieval manuscripts from the 12th – 15th centuries.
Prague Castle, Prague, Czech Republic: Prague's ancient Hradcany (Castle) district is dominated by the 1,000-year-old Prague Castle complex of palaces, courtyards and gardens, the center of government for the kingdom of Bohemia under the Habsburgs for centuries and, later, Czechoslovakia. Within this complex lies Strahov Monastery and its gorgeous Baroque libraries dating back to the 18th century.
Food
A longstanding custom in the Danube River region of Austria are the heurigers – traditional taverns attached to fine wineries, which can be found in the Vienna Woods, just outside the city of Vienna. Most visitors don’t know about this off-the-beaten-track opportunity to taste authentic Viennese food in a cozy atmosphere with local charm.
Some National Foods from the Danube River region
Germany: Along with its beers, breads and cheeses, Germany – especially Bavaria – is renowned for bratwurst. In one tavern in Regensburg, this sausage has been served the same way for 500 years – grilled over charcoal, served with sauerkraut and mustard.
Austria: In Austria, it’s wiener schnitzel – the traditional Austrian dish featuring boneless meat, pounded with a mallet, then fried in an egg-and-breadcrumb coating.
Slovakia: One national specialty featured in traditional Slovak restaurants is Bryndzové halušky, a hearty meal that actually combines two dishes – halušky (boiled, gnocchi-like potato dumplings) and bryndza (a soft sheep cheese).
Hungary: With roots dating back to the 9th century AD, goulash – a thick soup or stew of meat, vegetables and noodles and flavored with paprika and other spices – rules in Hungary, but nearly every country along the Danube has its own national version.
Wine
The Danube River valley is home to many world-class wines, and viticulture here goes back nearly 2,000 years. The valley’s prime winegrowing areas include Wachau, Kremstal, Traisental, Kamptal and Wagram. Varieties produced in the region include Grüner Veltliner, Roter Veltliner, Riesling, Zweigelt and Blaufränkisch.