Colditz and Corso (7 days, 6 Nights) - Pennywood Tours
Leaving from Henry Street Garden Centre
You may not have heard of the Corso at Zundert, but it is billed as the world’s biggest flower parade and is simply awe-inspiring with floats the size of a 3-storey house and so many bands, marching bands, bicycle bands, bands doing all sorts of manoeuvres, truly amazing!
Hopefully though, you will have heard of Colditz Castle, famed for its use as the prison where allied officers’ serial escapers were put together in WWII.
For the tour, in addition to hearing the story of Colditz in the war, we’ll pay particular attention to one prisoner: Colonel Peter Storie-Pugh, from Kent.
Peter escaped twice, which led to him being sent to Colditz in 1940, where, despite several escape attempts, he remained until liberation in 1945. Our specialist guide has a particular interest in the story because he is Colonel Piers Storie-Pugh (retired), Peter’s son.
Departure Date
Tuesday 27th August 2024 - 6 nights, 7 days
Price Includes
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All cross-channel crossings
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Transport to and between all venues and the hotel by luxury coach
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4* hotel accommodation on a bed and breakfast basis
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Entry to all named venues
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A numbered seat in a grandstand with a good view
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Group Leader to smooth your way and explain each stage of the trip
Itinerary for Colditz and Corso
Day 1
Crossing the Channel
As we have no other visits this day we’ll take the Dover/Calais ferry across the Channel and head to our hotel, the Holiday Inn, located in central Eindhoven in the Netherlands.
Along the way we’ll hear about how and where Peter was initially captured and of his first escape and recapture.
Day 2
Spangenberg Castle
Today, the Spangenberg Castle is a luxury 5-star hotel but, during the war, it was a POW camp, the second that Peter Storie-Pugh escaped from.
It also held other notable prisoners including Bruce Shand, the father of our Queen, Camilla. John Frost, of Arnhem Bridge fame and Bob Stanford Tuck, to mention a few!
We’ll enjoy afternoon tea and cake in the hotel and follow the story of Peter’s escape and recapture.
In the evening, we’ll adjourn to the Golden Tulip Hotel located in the centre of Kassel, not too far from Spangenberg.
Days 3
Arrival at Colditz
We arrive at the town of Colditz and find lunch before entering the castle to hear a talk from Piers about life in the castle as a prisoner.
Overnight we’ll stay at the Park Hotel Leipzig.
Day 4
Colditz Castle Tour
We return to the Castle for a tour, visit the museum and souvenir shop before finding lunch in the town. Then we’ll see the town jail – staging point for many POWs – and the exercise park, the start of so many escapes.
We’ll return to the Park Hotel Leipzig overnight.
Day 5
Return to Eindhoven
We’ll enjoy a run across Germany (with plenty of stops) back to the Holiday Inn, Eindhoven for a night of rest.
Day 6
Corso
The Corso at Zundert in the Netherlands is national news in the country. It consists of a parade of huge floats, three storeys high (yes bigger than a house), accompanied by marching bands, bicycle bands (well it is Holland!) and other jollity.
The stunning floats comprise frameworks covered in millions of dahlia flowers and often involve moving parts, smoke, noise and may even have people woven into the designs! Quite an amazing sight and worth the trip on its own! We, of course, have a grandstand view with seats booked!
In the evening we return to the Holiday Inn, Eindhoven for our last evening.
Day 7
Homeward Bound
Today we return to the UK via Eurotunnel for speed and comfort, returning to our departure points by the early evening.
Please note that all destinations will require walking, possibly with steps and slopes, which may be slippery. Sensible shoes are a requirement, and you should dress for the weather.