Tours Let Travelers Celebrate Mozart While Cycling Through His Homeland

MT. PLEASANT, S.C. - The hills are alive with the sounds of Mozart this year in honor of his 250th birthday, and Breakaway Adventures, a tour company that specializes in relaxed overseas getaways, offers travelers the chance to cycle those hills through an Austrian tour that follows in Mozart's footsteps.

The company's nine-day Classic Salzburg Cycling tour takes travelers through the Austrian countryside from Mondsee to the waterfront village of Mattsee, or “Venice of the Lakes,” and on to Eugendorf with spectacular Alpine mountains views. On day four of this moderate level cycling tour, guests arrive in Salzburg, the city where Mozart was born, for a two-day stop to see the town by bike and a chance to see many tributes to this musical genius. Tour the home where Mozart was born, visit one of his family's homes, now a museum, or see the house where he composed parts of 'Magic Flute.'

Guests may also enjoy many other events, including operatic performances, concert series, festivals, galas, special exhibitions and more, also taking place in Salzburg as part of Mozart's 250th celebration. They include:

•Viva! Mozart – A special exhibition at the Neue Residenz in Salzburg's historic city center, presenting manuscripts, original letters from Mozart, paintings, instruments and many other historic artifacts. Through Jan. 7, 2007.
•Salzburg Festival: Mozart 22 – Featuring for the first time performances of Mozart’s entire 22 works. At various venues that include the Landestheater, the courtyard of the Residenz, the Great Hall of the university (one of Mozart’s original performance halls), and the Marionette Theater. July 23-Aug. 31.
•Best of Mozart – The Mozarteum Orchestra and the Salzburg Chamber Soloists perform Mozart’s most popular symphonies, overtures, arias and divertimenti in the world-renowned Main Concert Hall of the Mozarteum. Through Nov. 18.

"Cycling through Salzburg is a wonderful way to experience the beauties of Austria while paying tribute to one of the world's greatest musical geniuses," says Michael Carson, co-owner of Breakaway Adventures. "Because this is an independent tour, you can travel at your own speed and take as much time as you'd like enjoying the various Mozart celebrations."

The Cycling Through Salzburg tour starts at $1845 per person, and tours run from May 13-Aug. 27.

Breakaway Adventures is a tour company that offers relaxed overseas getaways where guests can walk, cycle, trek or barge through the back roads of 30 countries, including Italy, France, Greece and Great Britain. Specializing in self-guided and full-supported independent tours, the company provides the highest level of service to its customers, managing all the details so they can focus on the adventure at hand. For more information about the company, detailed itineraries or to book a tour, visit www.breakaway-adventures.com or call 1-800-567-6286.
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