Eurotours Ges.m.b.H. | Büros in Kitzbühel/Österreich | Wien/Österreich | München/Deutschland | Krakau/Polen | www.eurotours-gruppenreisen.at 200 years Silent Night, Holy Night – Music and Christmas Markets in Tyrol & Salzburg Discover the origins and legacy of the world’s most fa- mous Christmas carol: “Silent Night, Holy Night”. Since they were written in the early 19 th century the original German lyrics have been translated into more than 300 languages and dialects and spread to the four corners of the world. In 2001 UNESCO declared the carol an intangible cultural heritage in Austria. Two men are cre- dited with creating this song: The curate Joseph Mohr who wrote the lyrics and the schoolteacher and organist Franz Xaver Gruber who composed the melody. Wan- der in their footsteps and see the places that inspired them to create this immortal piece of music. Day 1: Make your way to Austria and immerse yourself in the pre-Christmas atmosphere with some hot punch or mulled wine and Christmas biscuits at the Christmas market in Kufstein or Rattenberg before checking in in your hotel. Dinner at the hotel. Day 2: “Silent Night” launched its dissemination throughout the world in the Ziller valley in Tyrol. Several very musical and highly talented families brought the song to Europe, America and Russia. Today, these families are known as the “Zillertal national singers”. Thus it was assumed for a long time that the Christmas song was indeed Tyrolean. 289,- € from The search begins in Fügen, the home of organ builder Carl Mauracher. The Fügen Culture Walk leads to the most important monuments in the town and concludes with the Museum at Widumspfiste and Schloss Fügen. In the Museum at Widumspfiste an entire section is de- dicated to the song “Silent Night”: Here you will find the world’s largest known Silent Night record collecti- on. Additionally, visitors will learn exciting details about the Tirolean national singers from the Zillertal valley and the organ builder Carl Mauracher, in whose memory a gravestone at the cemetery of the parish church in Fü- gen was erected. Afterwards visit the town Hippach and the birthplace of the Strasser siblings. Today, the Stras- ser-Häusl houses a museum which tells the story of the singing merchants from the Ziller valley. Return to your hotel and dinner. Day 3: After breakfast you start your journey of discovery, looking for the origins of Silent Night. Your trip will first take you to Oberndorf where you will visit the Si- lent-Night-Chapel, built in place of the former St. Nicho- las Church where the carol was performed for the first time on Christmas Eve 1818 by its two creators. Con- tinue to Hochburg, the birthplace of Franz Xaver Gru- ber with its museum dedicated to the composer and to the Silent Night Museum in Hallein. At Hallein’s parish Fotos: 2017-12-02-Stille-Nacht-Reportage-Achensee-Michael Groessinger