Day 1: Hello Reims

We meet at 2pm at Mannheim's main railway station. Located in the center of Germany. And soon we're off to the capital of French Champagne. Reims, the ancient city of the coronation of kings, is one of Europe's most interesting cities. (UN)

Day 2: Sacred Art and Champagne Summit

First of all, Saint-Remi, an ideal stage for studying the transition from late Romanesque to Gothic. In particular, the construction of the buttresses and the layout of the windows already foreshadow the great cathedrals of the future. Saint-Remis is home to the tomb of Bishop Remigius, who crowned the Merovingian Clovis as king at the beginning of the Middle Ages in France. This furious start is immediately followed by a pinnacle of European architecture. If it weren't for the cathedral here, Saint-Remis would certainly be world-famous. But how! This cathedral offers everything that High Gothic could achieve, vaulted construction, rose windows and double buttresses. And a unique collection of sculptures, including the world-famous "Sourire de Reims". After these artistic delights, a visit to one of the city's champagne cellars follows - of course, with a tasting of some fine wines. (F)

Day 3: Transepts, passage towers and triforiums: Soissons and Laon

How did the mighty architectural masterpieces of the Gothic era come into being? Today, we follow the evolution of these gigantic works of stone through two cathedrals. First, we visit the cathedral of Saint Gervais and Saint Protais in the historic town of Soissons. And slowly, we see for ourselves where the most important innovations began. Compare the two transepts! We spend the afternoon on the hill of Laon. Visible from afar is the five-towered Notre-Dame cathedral, one of the most powerful in the country and a model for Bamberg and Naumburg. For many connoisseurs, it's perhaps the most beautiful religious building in France, and that's saying a lot. 170 km (F)

Day 4: Window lines and Japanese style : Metz sur Moselle

Through the vast landscapes of Champagne, you'll reach the former capital of Lorraine, Metz on the Moselle. In this ancient French city, we see two very different art centres: First, we visit the Centre Pompidou Metz, a center for contemporary art since 2010. It was designed by a team of Japanese architects - and there's no denying its origins. In the cathedral today, we're particularly interested in the stained glass windows. No cathedral in France has more! And nowhere else can you follow its construction and history like here. Some are even based on drawings by Marc Chagall. 195 km (F)

Day 5: Steel and former emperors: Völklingen and Speyer

For a long time, the Saarland was disputed between Germany and France. Today, it represents a central European region shaped by the coal and steel industries. The Saar steelworks in Völklingen represents this era. It serves as an exhibition space and industrial museum, and tells the story of whole generations of engineers and workers. The afternoon also belongs to a World Heritage Site, the mighty Imperial Cathedral of Speyer. Who doesn't know the story of Henry IV's visit to Canossa? The world's largest crypt with Salian tombs and one of the world's largest Romanesque churches. Which do we love more? Romanesque or Gothic? Let's find out. A jumbo jet? A space shuttle? A submarine? Everything can be seen here. Technical innovations from the recent past, from the old Ju to the spacesuit. Everything that flies and rolls can be seen up close at the Technik Museum Speyer. Afterwards, we head for the old residential town of Mannheim. Our tip for the evening: Palatinate delicacies - especially Saumagen! 240 km (B, D)

Day 6: An Episcopal church, a monastic complex and the Concorde

A round trip today takes us to some very different highlights of the region. We start with the great cathedral of Worms, which was not an imperial cathedral. The citizens and the bishop wanted to show that it was possible without the sovereign. Luther later stood in front of Charles V. Above all, the building's sculpture is a great success. Then comes a big jump: in Kraichgau, we visit the famous Sinsheim Museum of Technology. The French Concorde, rocket cars, Ferraris and powerful steam locomotives. The history of locomotion is the theme here. And it all went faster and faster! We enjoy the last evening of our trip with dinner together. 180 km (B, D)

Day 7: One of Europe's greatest castles and a special museum

Mannheim, the former residential city of the Electoral Palatinate, has much to offer in addition to its original square city plan: the largest Baroque palace complex after Versailles or the famous Reiss-Engelhorn Museum. The director, Professor Rosendahl, welcomes us to his home for a tour. Our program ends around 2pm. Start your return journey from the main station. (F) Time, hotel and program changes are expressly reserved. (B=breakfast, D=dinner)