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Destinations...
Czech Republic
 The
land of castles, monasteries, chateaux, hops fields and great
breweries. Also a center of design innovation in the days of the
Austro-Hungarian Empire and the first half of the 20th
Century. Art Nouveau (Secession), Cubism and Modernism held
sway here. Czech furniture artistry,
glassmaking, graphic arts, button-making, ceramics,
porcelain, textile arts and architecture will inspire
you! Great beers of all varieties.
Marvelous antiques in all price ranges -- Baroque, Continental
Provincial, Secession, Deco, pine and more. Also: wonderful
glass, crystal, jewelry, pottery and porcelain.
Germany
Germany
has profoundly influenced European culture, art and history --
in good and bad ways, yet it still remains a mystery to
many.
Our expeditions go beyond the lederhosen-and-buxom-blonde
stereotypes to give you a feel for regions, cities and small towns
you're not likely to see on other tours. Design trends
such as Historicism, Jugendstil, Functionalism and Art
Deco breathed life into German decorative arts and left the
world a rich legacy of furniture,
architecture, interior decor, "every-day antiques," and
collectibles. We sample Germany's material and visual culture
as we veer off the beaten path, travel through German wine
country and its famed brewing regions, and visit parts of
the former East Germany that were off limits during the Cold
War.
Franconia
 One
of the most delightful but lesser-known regions in Germany,
Franconia lies to the East of Frankfurt and West of the Czech
Republic.
Studded with castles, chateaux, walled cities, beautiful
forests and yawning vineyards, it is a traveler’s paradise.
Franconian wines are earthy and much loved. The Franconia
brewing tradition goes back more than 1000 years. Antiques
abound in the countryside and in cities such as Nürnberg and
Bamberg. We visit small dealers, fairs, markets, wholesalers
and even shop in an antiques castle.
Nürnberg
Nürnberg
is one of Germany’s great medieval jewels, still girdled by
three miles of its original city wall
. It grew to be a center of Arts and Humanism in the Middle
Ages. In the 18th and 19 centuries, it became the home of
Germany’s toy industry. Nürnberg has retained its
original charm. It boasts great antiques shopping, two
excellent auction houses and an exceptional Christmas market, held
every year during the four weeks preceeding
Christmas. The city has an ancient brewing tradition
and offers several lucious brews.
Bamberg
 Northern
Franconia's charming sleeper, this medieval-baroque city features a
stunning cathedral and a charming city hall built on an island
in the Regnitz River, which bisects the town.
The city boasts, a number of delightful small palaces and a
delightful old town that is best enjoyed on foot. The
entire city is walkable and there are many quality antique
shops. Bamberg also boasts several small breweries, most of
which are within walking distance of each other. Bamberg hosts
an antique fair and a large flea/antique market every
year.
Prague
Prague
is a symphony for the eyes and the spirit!
It is the home of medieval art treasures and Europe’s
best Art Nouveau, Deco and Cubist architecture. We
criss-cross the city visiting shops offering estate finds,
furniture, glass, jewelry, decorative arts and more.
We make it a point to visit lesser-known dealers and
wholesalers on the periphery of the city. The Jewish
Quarter, Charles Bridge, Old City, Town Hall, Castle and
Wenceslaus Square are among the cities many riches.
Brno
The
history of Brno -- Brünn
in German -- reaches at least back to 1021, when the Brno
castle was built. Located in the roilling hills of southern
Moravia, it was one of the largest cities in the Austro-Hungarian
Empire and was a center of innovative design during the
First Republic (1918-33). Highlights include the
Cathedral, Castle and Villa Tugendhat, noted for its pioneering
design, which was designed by Mies van der Rohe.
Bohemian Highlands
Bohemia
became known early on for its innovative applied and decorative
arts.
Home of glassblowing, graphic design, furniture, crystal, porcelain,
garnet jewelry and more. We’ll see primitive, high-end, and
everything in between at the largest antiques market in the Czech
Republic. Antiques warehouses, too.
Dresden
 Dresden
is Germany's imperial jewel.
It straddles the Elbe River and boasts a large array of
palaces, art museums, and is known for
its Frauenkirche (Our Lady's Church) that underwent a
painstaking, stunning restoration after laying in ruins for decades
since World War II. Home of progressive design in the early 20th
century. We will comb the Dresden Antiques Market for
collectibles and antiques -- many dealers consider it to be one
ofGermany’s
very best.
Leipzig
 Dating
to the 10th century, Leipzig city grew to be an important trading
center and was the home of one of Germany's oldest
universities.
Leipzig embraced the Reformation early on and became a
center of art and culture. One of its most famous citizens,
Johann Sebastian Bach was resident director of the Thomanerchor,at
St. Thomas Church. Leipzig boasts one of the biggest and best
antique markets in Germany. It never fails to please Heart of
Europe travelers.
Saxony
This former kingdom in
Germany
’s southeastern
corner was part of the former German Democratic Republic (East
Germany).
It is home to charming remote villages and
thousand-year-old towns where artisans turned out furniture, wooden
toys and Christmas decorations, ceramics and porcelain, folk art,
textiles and more.
We visit warehouses, galleries and
small dealers offering painted furniture, smalls, pottery and
other treasures. We also visit Thuringia, the sister state of
Saxony, to the West.
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