Germany

"Porcelain Painting Art & Beyond" Tour 2010 to Germany

Germany is the birthplace of European porcelain. Until today the tradition of artful handcrafted porcelain is very much alive at many local porcelain manufacturers.

Since the beginning of the 13th century, porcelain had been imported by European royalty from China at an enormous cost. In the early 18th century endeavors were made in Meissen to unlock the secret of porcelain manufacturing. The orders were given by Augustus II "the Strong", the Electoral Prince of Saxony and the King of Poland. In 1708, white porcelain was manufactured for the first time in Europe under the leadership of Ehrenfried Walther von Tschirnhaus and the – imprisoned – Johann Friedrich Boettger.

The “State Porcelain Manufacturer Meissen” was founded in 1710 and celebrates its 300th anniversary in 2010 as Europe’s first and premier porcelain manufacturer. Table services, figurines, accessories are still hand-crafted, processed and artistically decorated by hand in various styles by a specialist team. Meissen porcelain still remains today the model of European table and fine dining culture. Each piece of porcelain is hand designed and marked with the manufactory trademark. The "Crossed Swords" are the oldest trademark in the world to have been used without interruption since their creation. Forms and decorations have changed throughout the manufacturer’s history; the premium quality of Meissen porcelain has never been compromised.

Founded in 1751, the “Royal Prussian Porcelain Manufacturer KPM” stands for the very finest porcelain and one of the leading luxury brands in the world. The company's craft, developed over generations, is still creatively nurtured today in its historical location. KPM's décors are applied by means of freehand painting, including the painting of gold, flowers, fruits, animals and landscapes. The legendary King of Prussia, Frederick the Great, gave the company its name and symbol in 1763. The royal blue sceptre is a claim to, and seal of quality for each and every masterpiece of Berlin porcelain. The company manages to combine the preservation of tradition with future-based aspirations.

In the mid-18th century, the first porcelain manufacturers were founded in the state of Thuringia. Contrary to Saxony and Prussia, in Thuringia many small manufacturers made their ways developing an exciting and unique diversity of local porcelain designs. Today more than 20 mostly family-run porcelain manufacturers create and sell their designs along the so called “Thuringian Porcelain Road”. Many designs such as the “Weimar Porcelain” were very much valued by local Royal courts in and outside Thuringia. In addition to the still active manufacturers, you can admire Thuringian porcelain art at many museums which are often located in splendid palaces or ancient fortresses.

The “Porcelain Painting Art & Beyond” Tour includes two 2-day hands-on seminars at the Meissen porcelain manufacturer and KPM Berlin where you create your own decorative pieces. We visit several porcelain manufacturers presenting their local designs, traditions and handcraft as well as precious porcelain collections. We organize encounters with local porcelain painters and friends of German porcelain art.

On the “Porcelain Painting Art & Beyond” Tour you will also have plenty of time to discover Germany’s historical castles and palaces, parks, gardens, traditional small towns & villages, scenic landscapes and, last but not least, the many culinary delights Germany has to offer – especially at this time of the year, the beautiful spring season.

We also offer to plan and organize individual trip extensions in case you want to add a few days in Bavaria or elsewhere. We provide alternative programs for accompanying spouses, family or friends who would like to join the group but who do not want to participate in the porcelain painters’ hands-on workshops at the porcelain manufacturers.

“Porcelain Painting & Beyond” Tour 2010 to Germany Trip itinerary - overview & highlights

Travel date: June 03 – 17, 2010 (Thu – Thu, 15 days, 13 days on ground)

Tour price starts at: $ 3,499 (ground package, double occupancy, cash payment) Tour price is calculated for a minimum of 12 travelers.
Add $ 665 single supplement (twin bed rooms to share available)

Packages include:

Hotel accommodation (air conditioned if available) incl. breakfast
Private coach (7 days) and additional tour-related bus transfers
Admission fees for tour-related trips, museums, galleries etc.
Two-day porcelain painting seminar in Meissen
Two-day porcelain painting seminar in Berlin (KPM)
Porcelain painting demonstration in Thuringia
Three group dinners and five group lunches including beverages
One wine tasting
Two lunch picnics with local culinary specialties & beverages
Bilingual travel escort 24/7

Day 1 – Thu, June 03: Individual departure from the U.S. or elsewhere

Day 2 – Fri, June 04: Individual arrival in Germany’s capital Berlin
Welcome at the hotel - classic sightseeing tour on a boat through central historical and modern Berlin, brief walking tour in the trendy district Berlin-Mitte – Welcome dinner.
Overnight: Berlin

Day 3 – Sat, June 05: KPM porcelain manufacture – Berlin
Visit to the KPM porcelain manufacturer with museum – Time for individual excursions in Berlin (personal tips and maps will be provided) – Bar Crawl (optional).
Overnight: Berlin

Day 4 – Sun, June 06: Porcelain Manufacturer Meissen Museum & Wine Tasting
Transfer from Berlin to Meissen – Visit of the museum at the Meissen Porcelain Manufacturer – Wine tasting and picnic at Saxony’s oldest still existing winery and palace Proschwitz with guests from the local club “Friends of Meissen Porcelain”.
Overnight: Meissen

Day 5 – Mon, June 07: Porcelain Painting Seminar Meissen – Day 1
Welcome in the manufactory atelier – Work place set up – Classes – Lunch – Classes –
Walking tour in the over 1000-year old town Meissen with the fortress Albrechtsburg (location of the Europe’s first porcelain manufacturer), cathedral, porcelain chimes…
Overnight: Meissen

Day 6 – Tue, June 08: Porcelain Painting Seminar Meissen – Day 2
Appraisal firing results – Continuation of classes – Lunch – Concluding classes.
Overnight: Meissen

Day 7 – Wed, June 09: Dresden, the cradle of Saxony’s culture and porcelain art
Transfer to Dresden along the river Elbe – Walking tour through historic Dresden with Church of Our Lady, Bruhl’s Terrace, Theatre Square, Semper Opera House and more– Zwinger Palace with Porcelain Collection – “Pfunds Molkerei”, the world’s most beautiful dairy shop with hand-painted tiles – meet with local porcelain painter at her workshop.
Overnight: Dresden

Day 8 – Thu, June 10: Fortress Koenigstein – Boettger in “protective custody”
Boat trip on the scenic river Elbe through the Saxon Switzerland National Park– Mountain fortress Koenigstein where the alchemist and porcelain re-inventor Johann Friedrich Boettger was being held in “protective custody” by August the Strong – Lunch.
Overnight: Dresden

Day 9 – Fri, June 11: Castle Leuchtenberg and Thuringian Porcelain Road
Transfer to the State of Thuringia – Castle Leuchtenberg “Queen of the Saale valley” with porcelain museum – Visit of a local porcelain manufacturer – Walking tour in Erfurt with well preserved medieval town centre and the world’s longest inhabited bridge – Dinner.
Overnight: Erfurt

Day 10 – Sat, June 12: Porcelain painting art made in Thuringia
Porcelain painting demonstration at the workshop of a local porcelain manufacturer– Lunch picnic with local culinary specialties with guests from the local booster club and supporters of the project “Thuringian Porcelain Road”.
Overnight: Erfurt

Day 11 – Sun, June 13: Weimar, Classicism and Weimar Porcelain
Trip to the European City of Culture, Weimar – Walking tour through historic town with Residence Castle, town hall with porcelain chimes – Palace and Park Belvedere with Weimar Porcelain collection – Transfer back to Berlin.
Overnight: Berlin

Day 12 – Mon, June 14: Porcelain Painting Seminar KPM – Day 1
Welcome in the manufactory atelier – Work place set up – Classes – Lunch – Classes.
Overnight: Berlin

Day 13 – Tue, June 15: Porcelain Painting Seminar KPM – Day 2
Appraisal firing results – Continuation of classes – Lunch – Concluding classes –
Overnight: Berlin

Day 14 – Wed, June 16: Prussian Charme in Potsdam
Potsdam with Palace and Park Sanssouci – Painting collection – Tea House – Dutch Quarter Potsdam – Time for individual activities / Shopping – Farewell dinner in Berlin.
Overnight: Berlin

Day 15 – Thu, June 17: Individual departure from Berlin

Itinerary is subject to change due to availability. Tour price is subject to change due to seasonal adjustments and currency fluctuations (currently based on 1 EUR = 1.40 USD). Tour price does not include airfare, travel insurance, shipping costs, personal expenses.

Along with the registration a deposit of $ 800 per person is required to secure your booking and due January 15th, 2010. Final / full payment is due February 25th, 2010.

View the Google map for the “Porcelain Painting & Beyond” Tour

The customized “Porcelain Painting & beyond” Tour to Germany is a joint project of:

		CULTOURINARIA

Donna Sullivan www.sullivanscustomtours.com Email: donnabsullivan@aol.com Phone: (1) 713-291-3492		Ute Boese (partner for Germany) ute_boese@cultourinaria.com