The Gardens of Berlin

Date: Thursday 21st - Monday 25th June, 2012

Cost: €865 per person sharing

IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE IRISH GARDEN MAGAZINE

Itinerary:

The capital of Germany and one of its most interesting cities, Berlin is a place of renowned universities, research institutes, sporting events, orchestras and museums. Twenty years after its rebirth, it is a safe, vibrant and modern city of great historical interest.

Gardening in Germany is generally regarded as a civic activity and no other country can boast such magnificent botanical, public and historical gardens. Although influenced by English and American landscaping, they have their own unique modern design and spectacular horticultural effects.

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Thursday 21 June
Meet Frances MacDonald at Dublin airport for our evening flight to Berlin, arriving at our hotel at 10pm. We are based in the new 4* Winter´s Hotel Berlin Mitte at Checkpoint Charlie. Located right in the middle of this new city centre, it lets you explore historic sites as well as modern conveniences, all in walking distance. http://english.winters-hotel-berlin-mitte.de/

Friday 22 June
Depart after breakfast for our first garden, Sanssouci in Potsdam. Frederick the Great wanted to cultivate plums, figs and wine on Potsdam's doorstep so, in 1744, he had a terraced garden designed in Sanssouci Park for this purpose. A large summer residence above the terraces was added just a year later to take advantage of the magnificent views, and the slopes of the castle were used as flower and vegetable gardens. The garden has continually evolved over the last 250 years and has been described as "the most rewarding garden in Germany". A smaller garden in the afternoon – originally created almost 100 years ago by German nurseryman, plant breeder and writer Karl Foerster (1874-1970), it's now maintained by a trust. The garden is famous for its combination of architectural and naturalistic garden styles and its sunken garden.

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Saturday 23 June
We take a city tour by bus which will give you an idea of the layout of the city and an opportunity to see the major sites including the Brandenburg Gate, the Reichstag (seat of German Parliament), visit the Berlin Holocaust Memorial and Unter den Linden Boulevard. Afternoon free to explore Berlin's museums or shop!

Sunday 24 June
This morning we have a guided tour by Isabelle Van Groeningen of The Koenighiche Gartenakademie in Berlin which is fast becoming the centre for horticulture in Germany offering a wide range of courses on plants, design and planting design as well as gardening. We lunch here before our afternoon visit to The Botanic Gardens Berlin-Dahlem, one of the world´s largest and most important gardens. About 22,000 different species of plants are cultivated here. In the 39 acres of the plant-geography section - one of the biggest of its kind in the world - you can travel all the way around the Northern Hemisphere. The greenhouse complex consists of 16 houses open to the public which enables them to travel through tropical and subtropical vegetation

Monday 25 June
After a leisurely breakfast, we check out of the hotel for a visit to one of Berlin's most exciting additions to its recreational garden landscape – the Gardens of the World in the suburb of Marzahn. This has been developing since 2000. There is a Chinese Garden, Japanese Garden, Italian Renaissance Garden and a paved labyrinth and maze modeled on the one at Hampton Court - just a sample of some of the eight international gardens, each one individually designed and planted yet linked by wonderful walks. Evening flight to Dublin arriving at 22.55pm.

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GUIDES: Frances MacDonald, a qualified and experienced gardener and guide, escorts this tour; she will be available at all times to help and advise you. We will also have the services of a local guide and driver, Michaela Bostelmann.

HOTEL: We are based in the new 4* Winter´s Hotel Berlin Mitte at Checkpoint Charlie. Located right in the middle of this new city centre, it lets you explore historic sites as well as modern conveniences, all in walking distance. http://english.winters-hotel-berlin-mitte.de/

Further details from: Frances MacDonald (tours@thebaygarden.com)

Cost includes ...

• flights
  
• all private coach transfers
  
• gardens
  
• guides
  
• city tour
  
• bed and breakfast in hotel
  
• lunch where mentioned

COST: €865.00 per person sharing

Single Supplement: €50.00

Deposit: €250.00 – Cheque or bank draft payable to Bay Garden Tours.

All of our tours have a final booking date but as our numbers are limited, they tend to book out before those dates (particularly single rooms) so we would recommend early booking.

Itinerary subject to change