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Art & History Abroad Tours

Art Nouveau and Modernisme in Dresden, Leipzig & Chemnitz

Step into the golden age of artistic innovation, where elegant lines, intricate ornamentation, and the spirit of modernity transformed cities into living galleries.

This six-day cultural journey through Dresden, Leipzig, Chemnitz and Hellerau traces the evolution of Art Nouveau—known locally as Jugendstil and Secession—into a bold new aesthetic language. From the garden villas of Dresden and the expressive façades of Leipzig to the rare treasures of Chemnitz, uncover the artistic ideals that reshaped Central Europe. With expert guidance from Professor Anne Anderson, explore exquisite architecture, remarkable museums, and off-the-beaten-path gems.

From

£2,995

per person

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what’s included

At A Glance

  • The Travel Editions Experience
    Our tours are thoughtfully crafted and meticulously planned, with every destination, hotel, excursion and stop along the way having been selected to form a truly memorable experience.
  • Meals Included
    All breakfasts and two dinners.
  • Handpicked Accommodation
    Five nights’ at the four-star Bilderberg Bellevue Hotel, Dresden    , based on shared occupancy of a twin/double room. 
  • Discover Art Nouveau Dresden, Leipzig & Chemnitz
    From Dresden’s elegant Jugendstil villas and pioneering garden city of Hellerau to Leipzig’s ornate Stadtbad and Grassi Museum, and Chemnitz’s remarkable Villa Esche, explore Central Europe’s Art Nouveau and early Modernist heritage with expert Professor Anne Anderson
  • Your Expert Guide
    Professor Anne Anderson and tour manager throughout.
  • Transfers & Tours
    Transfers, tours and entrance fees.
  • Flights from the UK
    Return flights from London Heathrow to Berlin.
Meet Your Expert Guide

Professor Anne Anderson

Anne is an author, broadcaster and Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries, with a first degree in archaeology and a PhD in English. She was a senior lecturer in Art and Design History for fourteen years, specialising in the Aesthetic Movement, Arts and Crafts, Art Nouveau and Modernism.

An experienced international speaker and published author, Anne has inspired Travel Editions travellers for more than fifteen years with her wit, wisdom and enthusiasm. Her tours reveal the connections between architecture, interiors and design, bringing the artistic revolutions of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries vividly to life.

Meet Our Expert Guides
itinerary & excursions

Your Itinerary

Explore this incredible tour in detail and discover what makes each day so special. Below, you’ll find a full day-by-day breakdown of your journey, from the moment you arrive to your final farewell. Learn more about the highlights you’ll experience, the unforgettable places you’ll visit, and the unique moments that bring each destination to life. Whether you’re drawn by rich history, stunning landscapes or unforgettable cultural encounters, this itinerary gives you everything you need to picture your adventure and look forward to every step of the way.

Day 1: Fly from London Heathrow to Berlin, then transfer to Dresden

Fly from London to Berlin and transfer to our hotel in Dresden. After settling in, enjoy a welcome drink followed by an introductory lecture from Professor Anne Anderson: ‘Jugendstil/Secession: New Art for the Modern Age’. Dinner with wine is included this evening.

Day 2: Art Nouveau in Dresden

This morning, enjoy a guided tour of the Galerie Neue Meister, home to one of Germany’s most important collections of 19th and 20th-century art.

After a break for lunch (not included), Anne leads a walking tour through Dresden’s Art Nouveau quarter, taking in decorative façades, villas, and elegant streetscapes. We conclude with a private guided visit to the twin-towered Christuskirche Strehlen. 

Day 3: Day Trip to Leipzig

We begin with a guided tour of the striking Stadtbad Leipzig, an early 20th-century bathhouse rich in Jugendstil details.

Our architectural tour continues with Anne, taking in the Krochhaus, Hansa Haus, and Specks Hof, before a visit to enjoy the interior of the café of the remarkable Riquethaus, where we enjoy coffee and a traditional Lerche pastry.

After lunch (not included), visit the Grassi Museum of Applied Arts to see its celebrated exhibition From Art Nouveau to the Present, followed by a visit to the Völkerschlachtdenkmal (Monument to the Battle of the Nations) for an optional climb up 365 steps to its observation deck.

Day 4: Hellerau then Dresden

We begin the day with a tour of Hellerau, Germany’s first garden city and a pioneering centre of early modern design. A guided walk reveals an extraordinary ensemble of early 20th-century architecture, where architects created a coherent community of cottages, villas and workshops set among curving streets and greenery. 

Back in Dresden, we have the afternoon free before Anne’s second lecture: “Jugendstil to Modernism”. 

Day 5: Day trip to Chemnitz

Today we drive to Chemnitz via the Kassberg area to view some of the best-preserved Art Nouveau residential districts in Europe. Entire streets are lined with richly ornamental facades, decorative tilework, and elaborate architectural detailing, reflecting the prosperity of Chemnitz during its industrial heyday and the flowering of Jugendstil design.

Next, visit Villa Esche, an architectural masterpiece designed in 1902 and one of Germany’s finest examples of Jugendstil architecture, where we have a private guided tour followed by lunch included at the cafe. In the afternoon, explore the city’s vibrant modern art collections at Kunstsammlungen am Theaterplatz, followed by a visit to the Karl Schmidt-Rottluff House, the artist’s former family home and now a museum dedicated to his life and work.

The farewell dinner this evening is at a local restaurant, with wine included.

Day 6: Departure

Free time this morning to explore Dresden at your own pace before our group transfer to the airport and flight back to London Heathrow.

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Date
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13/04/2027
London Heathrow
£2,995
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Solo Traveller Supplement From: £195
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HOTELS

Tour Accommodation

Bilderberg Bellevue Hotel, Dresden

Set on the banks of the River Elbe, this stylish 4-star hotel offers peaceful gardens, an indoor pool, and modern comforts in a historic building just a short walk from the Old Town.

Hotel Website

our regular tours

Mobility Information

This tour has a moderate fitness rating, reflecting a fuller itinerary with a good balance of visits, walking and time spent exploring on foot.
 
Some visits may involve cobbled streets, uneven paving, slopes, steps, stairs, limited seating, or walking from the coach drop-off point to the entrance of a site or attraction. The exact demands will vary from day to day, and we highlight specific practical details within the itinerary wherever possible.
 
You should feel comfortable walking at a steady group pace, standing during visits and enjoying a full day of sightseeing. If you are unsure whether this tour is right for you, please contact us before booking.

Mobility Information
Your questions answered

Tour FAQ

If you have a question, we are more than happy to answer it via email or phone, but you may find your answer below more quickly.

Simply complete our online booking form or give us a call on 020 7251 0045 between 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday where you can speak to a real person. A 20% deposit per person is required at the time of booking, to book your place. Payments by debit card or credit card incur no charge. 

You must pay for the balance of your holiday at least 12 weeks before departure. Please note: no reminder for balance payments is sent to you and are not receipted unless requested. If you book your holiday within 12 weeks of departure, full payment is required at time of booking. Please note that some tours may require final payment to be paid earlier than 12 weeks, due to financial commitment with suppliers. The exact date will be notified to you at the time of booking. Final joining instructions and documentation will be dispatched approximately 10 days before travel.

In almost all cases, the price includes your accommodation, meals as described in the itinerary, all excursions shown in the programme, and travel arrangements from the UK. Excursions are taken by private coach exclusively for Travel Editions guests. If anything is ever excluded from the price, it will be clearly marked as optional and payable locally, you won’t find any hidden extras on your final bill. Travel Editions operates a firm no-surcharge policy, so the price you are quoted is the price you pay.

The specifics vary by tour and are set out in your individual itinerary, but most of our tours depart from London, either by Eurostar from St Pancras International or by air. For rail tours, we advise allowing at least one hour before the Eurostar departure when planning your journey to London. For flights, all costs are based on economy class unless otherwise stated, and all times shown are local time. For tours in the UK, these often start at the hotel in question.

Flight upgrades and connections from regional airports are available on request and subject to availability, contact us on 020 7251 0045 or at tours@traveleditions.co.uk for details. We strongly recommend not booking non-refundable connecting travel until you have received your final joining instructions, which are sent around 10 days before departure and confirm all timings and meeting points.

Yes, and you’re very welcome. Single room supplements apply on most tours, reflecting the fact that single and double rooms are generally priced similarly by hotels. If you would prefer to share with another solo traveller of the same gender, we are happy to arrange this, simply let us know at the time of booking. Sharing is subject to another traveller in the same situation being booked on the same tour.

Each tour is accompanied by a dedicated tour manager, who in most cases will travel out from the UK with the group. On some tours, the tour manager will meet you at your destination station or airport, with full details being confirmed in your joining instructions 10 days before travel. Many of our tours are also led by expert lecturers or specialist guides whose knowledge brings each destination to life; details of who will be accompanying your particular tour are included in the individual tour pages and itineraries.

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