September 15-29, 2004
Our seminar combines a structure for those who wish to see and do everything included in the itinerary or the freedom of a private vacation to spend time as one wishes. A perusal of the itinerary will reveal multiple nights in the same hotels, giving opportunity to spend days at leisure enjoying the mountains, an outing on a lake steamer, or such pursuits as one might choose. Within the cities there are a variety of easily accessible museums to suit every taste, or you may join us at the following sites:
Itinerary
Wednesday, September 15Departures are available from NW KLM gateway cities throughout the United States at minimal additions to the $3,855 for a New York, Boston, or Washington, DC departure. Meals aboard.
Thursday, Sept. 16Leave Amsterdam KLM 1953 at 7:55am, Arrive Zurich 9:30am. Four star Hotel Arabella Sheraton Vitznauerhof, overlooking the Vierwaldstatter See and Mount Pilatus, for rest and lunch. For those who wish, a 2:00pm return to Zurich for a tour of historic and contemporary churches: Petruskirche (origins in 7th century), Fraumunster (1250) with the Chagall windows, Wasserkirche (15th cent.), Grossmunster (11th-13th cent), SS Felix & Regula by Fritz Metzger. If time: Effretikon: Kirche (1951) by Ernst Gisel. Return to Vitznauerhof. Dinner.
Friday, Sept. 17
Lv. 9:00am for Zurich and the Le Corbusier Haus, followed by the Sammlung Buhrie, one of the most important private art collections in Switzerland. While there are paintings by Hals, Rembrandt and van Ruysdale, the primary emphasis of the collection is on 19th century French works. If you wish, lunch at the famous Jules Verne Bar Parorama. You may have the afternoon at leisure, or join us at the Kunsthaus, "two millennia of European art history and the best gallery in the country." Its emphases are on the twentieth century Swiss and French schools, as well as the largest collection of Charles Munch outside of Scandanavia. On the way out we'll stop at the Stadelhofen Train Station by Calatrava ('83-'90). Return to the Vitznauerhof. Breakfast & Dinner.
Lv. 9:00am as our private coach will take us along the lake to Meggen and the wonderful Miesian Pius-Kirche (1966) of steel and pentelicon marble by Franz Fueg. Our lakeside drive will continue to Sarnen: Kollegiumskirche (1966) by Ernst Studer. Those who prefer scenic views might wish to plan an ascent to Mt. Pilatus. For the rest, it�s Luzern with a RR Station by Santiago Calatrava (1991) & Kultur and Kongresszentrum by Jean Nouvel (2000), Jesuitkirche (1666); Sank Karskirche, Metzger (1934). Free for lunch and enjoying the covered bridges, shore and shopping areas of Luzern, or the Sammlung Rosengart (200 works of 19th & 20th century art including works by Chagall, Klee and Picasso. 5:00pm, return to Vitznauerhof. Breakfast.
Lv. 8:00am for Suhr and a concert hall & Baronmatte Community Center by Calatrava, then on to Basel. Those who wish can certainly catch a service in one of the following: S. Antoniuskirche by Karl Moser (1927); Johanniskirche, also by Karl Moser. Alleheiligenkirche by Hermann Baur, Bruderklausenkirche, also by Hermann Baur. Lunch. The Kunstmuseum boasts the world's largest collection of Holbeins. There are seven rooms of Dutch paintings, including a Rembrandt. There are also the masters of Romanticism, before moving into the Impressionists and Post-Impressionists. These are followed by the twentieth century collection with Braque, Picasso, Gris, Leger, Matisse, de Chirico, Chagall and Klee. Our next three nights will be in the modern, four star Hotel Atlas in a quiet suburb. Breakfast, Dinner.
Monday, Sept. 20
Lv. 9:00am, passing through the Jura mountains via the Belfort Gap for Ronchamp and Le Corbusier�s Chapelle Notre-Dame-du-Haut (1954). Lunch. Return to Basel and the Foundation Beyeler by Renzo Piano (1997). Included in this magnificent museum, set in a lovely park, are some two hundred works by noted 20th century artists. If needed, one can do some banking at the Union Bank of Switzerland (1986-1995) by Mario Botta. Hotel Atlas. Breakfast, Dinner.
Lv. 9:00am (optional) for the Basel Munster, the tomb of Erasmus, and the house of his publisher, Froben. Lv. 10:15 for the Vitra Design Museum by Gehry in Weil am Rhein and the Vitra Fire Station (1990-93) by this year�s Pritzker Prize winner, Zaha Hadid, Hon. FAIA. The Vitra Conference Pavilion on Charles Eames Strasse has been designed by Tadao Ando. Lunch. Museum Jean Tinguely by Mario Botta, contains the great metal sculptures of the artist. Since it's Tinguely Day, we'll also see his fountain, the Fashnachtsbrunnen. Hotel Atlas. Breakfast.
Wednesday, Sept. 22
Lv. 8:00am for Bern. Bruder Klausenkirche �one of the most representative specimens of modern architecture in Switzerland� according to the Michelin Guide. Munster Sankt Vinzenz (1431-1573). Einsteinhaus, Gerechtigheitstrasse with its frescoed buildings, and the Kamgasse with its fountains and arcades and Bern�s signature clock tower. Lunch and free time for shopping or the Kunstmuseum with its fine collection of 13c-20c paintings, and the world�s largest collection of the works of Paul Klee. 4:00pm leave for Hotel Dorint Bluemlisalp in Beatenberg, looking across the Thunnersee to the Bernese Oberland. Breakfast, Dinner.
Lv. 8:00am for a spectacular day of mountain scenery, crossing the Susten and St. Gotthard passes. Gotthardpass: Kapelle der Weltreligionen by Guiguard & Saner. Giornico: La Congiunte by Peter Markli. Our destination is the Four star Esplanade Hotel Resort & Spa in Munusio, just east of Locarno overlooking Lake Verbano--Maggiore to the Italians. Breakfast, Dinner.
Friday, Sept. 24
Lv. 9:00am for more Alpine beauty in the Maggia Valley as we head for Mogno and the Church of S. Giovanni Battista by Mario Botta. Then it�s on to Rivera where we will take a gondola to Monte Tamaro and the Chapel of Santa Maria degli Angeli by Botta (The schedule will have to remain flexible, but these are two �must sees.�) Esplanade Hotel Resort & Spa. Breakfast.
Lv. 9:00am via Lugano and a lakeside drive along Lago Lugano for Riva S. Vitale: Roman baptistery (oldest in northern Europe and across from Virginia Tech's Center for European Studies and Architecture.
Back to Lugano: Library of the Convento dei Cappuccini, renovation by Botta. The Banca del Gottard and the Palazzo Ransila by Botta.. If time: Bellinzona: Public buildings by Aurelio Golfretti. Housing at Monte Carasso (1992-96) by Mario Botta. Leave for Vals and the Hotel Therme (1990-96) by Peter Zumthor. Breakfast, Dinner.
Sunday, Sept. 26
A day of rest. An opportunity for worship and/or architectural satisfaction at the Chapel of St. Benedik (1998) by Peter Zumthor at nearby Sumvitg. Hotel Therme by Peter Zumthor. Guests have the free use of the therme. Breakfast, Dinner.
Another great scenic drive from Vals to Vaduz, Lichtenstein with its Art Museum by Morger & Degelo. Then on to Bregenz with its Kunsthaus by Peter Zumthor. On to Munich. We are spending the night outside of Munich since it is Oktoberfest (during which some ten million pints of beer are consumed), and we should get some sleep before returning home. Those who wish may spend tomorrow in Munich imbibing Oktoberfest. We will stay at the Hotel Gasthof Huber. While Zumthor's Hotel Therme was the essence of careful architectural reflection, the Gasthof Huber is the essence of centuries of German gemutlicheit. Breakfast, Dinner.
The highlight of our day in Munich will be the Herz Jesu Kirche, by Amandus Sattler. In the center of the city is the Octoberfest and the historic Frauenkirche (1282-1347) with its magnificent 15th & 16th century stained glass; Petruskirche (1050); and the wonderful south German Rococo Assamkirche (1733-46). A possibility for lunch would be the famous Hofbrauhaus. For those exercising restraint at the Hofbrauhaus, there are one (or two) more art museums, the Alte Pinakothek with its magnificent collection of old masters, or modern art in the Haus der Kunst. At 4:00pm we'll leave for the Hotel Gasthof Huber and take a bit of rest before our farewell dinner. Breakfast, Dinner.
Depart Munich 10:30am. Arrival in the United States mid afternoon depending upon gateway city. Breakfast & meals in flight.
Thanks to Prof. Jack Davis, FAIA, of Virginia Tech, for his many helpful suggestions in constructing this itinerary, to Donald R. Sunshine, FAIA, who introduced me to Jack Davis, as well as to James Ream, FAIA & A. Richard Williams, FAIA.
Cost
The cost of the seventeen day adventure is $3,855 per person, double occupancy, from New York, Washington, DC or Boston. A $500 deposit is required to register. Please see complete details in the linked document below from Witte Travel.
