Description
“In the Footsteps of Blessed Karl”
Each day will include Mass (Missa Privata) in the Extraordinary Form
As well as Ongoing Historical Narrative on Blessed Karl from established scholars
Austria & Hungary – June 6-15, 2026
$3,980.00
IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF BLESSED KARL – AN EMPEROR KARL ARCHIVE PILGRIMAGE TO AUSTRIA AND HUNGARY
By traveling to the heart of the ancient Hapsburg empire, discover the imperishable Crown of St. Stephen, and the first and last kings to wear it- St. Stephen & Bl. Karl; husbands, fathers & kings, whose lives embodied the virtues that win Eternal Life. Each day will include Mass (Missa Privata) in the Extraordinary Form as well as ongoing Historical Narrative on Blessed Karl from established scholars. Land only cost- $3980 in double occupancy
Daily itinerary
Saturday, June 6, 2026 – Day 1 of the tour – Afternoon check-in at Hotel Opera in central Budapest. Meet for 7:00pm dinner at the hotel restaurant.
Sunday, June 7, 2026 – Panoramic tour of Budapest highlights. See the fabulous Parliament with the coronation Crown of St. Stephen on dis-play: worn by all the kings of Hungary, from St. Stephen (in 1001), to Blessed Karl (in 1916). Visit Coronation Church, with its Blessed Karl memorial, and Budapest Basilica. Take a Danube River cruise from Budapest to a nearby destination such as St. Andrews (Szentendre).
Monday, June 8, 2026 – Day outing to Lake Balaton area. View beautiful Hungarian countryside along the Emperor’s route. Stop at Tihany Monastery, where Blessed Karl and Servant of God Empress Zita were interned after the final restoration attempt in 1921. Possible visit to a vineyard or farm in the area for lunch.
Tuesday, June 9, 2026 – Excursion to Esztergom-former capital of Hungary, set on the banks of the Danube River. Visit the cathedral on Castle Hill to pay homage to Venerable Cardinal József Mindszenty; spiritual leader of the Catholic Church in Hungary for almost four decades until his death in 1975. Return via Godollo (Possen-hofen), the royal palace that was especially favored by Empress Elisabeth and where Blessed Karl and family stayed in 1918.
Wednesday, June 10, 2026 – Leave Budapest in the morning for Vienna, Austria (a half-day’s drive) — View beautiful Hungarian countryside along the Emperor’s route passing through Szombathely, the town where Blessed Karl stayed during his restor-ation attempt. Drive through the Burgenland province, a sunny area of vineyards and farms, to Vienna. Panoramic tour of Vienna to include the principal historical buildings of the stunningly beautiful “Ring-strasse”, including the Rathaus (City Hall), the Burgtheater, the Austrian Parliament, and the Votive Church (Votivekirche), which were all con-structed during the reign of Emperor Franz Josef. Stop at Hofgarten Park with its rose garden, and the Old City to visit the must-see Stefansdom – St. Stephan’s Cathedral, with its Bl. Karl memorial. Check-into Classic Hotel Wien in central Vienna.
Thursday, June 11, 2026 – Cultural Day in Vienna. Participants will have the opportunity to visit the Museums of their choice at leisure, including the Liechtensteiner Palais, the Kunst-historisches Museu, the Szession, or similar sites. Advice will be provided as to which museums might be most interesting for each one’s particular needs. Evening; Dinner in a Schnitzel Restaurant with Viennese cuisine.
Friday, June 12, 2026 – Guided tour of the Hofburg (Habsburg Palace) in the heart of Vienna, which was home to the dynasty for centuries. See a bust of Blessed Karl and Empress Zita. See the apartments of Franz Josef and his wife, Empress Elisabeth, as well as the state rooms. Walk around the courtyards and buildings with a brief viewing of the Stallburg, where the Lippanzaner Horses live. Visit Kapuzinergruft, where many of the Habsburg family, including Empress Zita, are buried. Visit Belvedere Palace-former home of Blessed Karl’s uncle, Archduke Franz Ferdinand. Time permitting, visit the Austrian Military Museum to see WW I exhibits. Dinner at the “Alte Bachhengl” in Grinzing, a beloved wine restaurant for centuries, with music, near Carmelitenkirche in the neighborhood of Unterdobling, (Our Lady of the Bowed Head icon).
Saturday, June 13, 2026 – Tour the Karlskirche, the baroque church dedicated to Blessed Karl’s patron saint, Charles Borromeo. Tour Schon-brunn Palace, home to Blessed Karl during World War I. Visit the room where he signed the document of renunciation of participation in government, as well as the apartments of Empress Maria Theresa. Lunch at Nachmarktin. Attend a classical music concert at a venue such as the Wienermusikfreunde Auditorium or Schwarzenberg Palais, with a focus on Mozart, and others.
Sunday, June 14, 2026 – Day outing to Villa Wartholz in Reichenau; favorite home of Blessed Karl. Pro-ceed to Mariazell, the chief Marian pilgrimage site in Austria. Blessed Karl and Empress Zita visited here.
Monday, June 15, 2026 – 6:00AM transfer from hotel to Vienna Airport.
Terms and Conditions
TERMS & CONDITIONS & PAYMENT: A $500 deposit is required to hold a reservation. The cost is based on payment by personal check or direct bank transfer. Credit cards are accepted with a fee. CANCELLATION:If a written cancellation notice is received beyond 50 days before departure, a full refund less $500 applies. If received within 50 days of departure, $500 plus any funds kept by hotels, restaurants, bus companies & sights are non-refundable. ITINERARIES: Daily itineraries are prepared in advance. As they are subject to change, notice of daily timing is given the night before each new touring day. BAGGAGE: Baggage regulations for the tour are one carry-on size luggage (plus a personal item) and one larger luggage. DOCUMENTATION: All passengers must have a government-issued valid passport. Check with the US State Department for the latest requirements as they may change. SINGLE OCCUPANCY: Costs are based on double-room occupancy. Accommodation in a single room is available at a surcharge. TRAVELERS INSURANCE RECOMMENDED: St. Olav Enterprises, LLC (DBA Sacred Heart Tours) is not responsible for loss or damage to property due to handling and/or accidents. MEALS:The meals during the tour are pre-arranged. We will do what we can to assist special requests on a case-by-case basis. RESPONSIBILITY: Sacred Heart Tours acts only as an agent for the hotels, and bus companies or owners or contractors providing accommodations, transportation, or other services and all Coupons, Exchange Orders, Receipts, Tickets & Contracts issued by the company are issued subject to any and all tariffs and terms & conditions under which any accommodations, transportation, or any other services whatsoever are provided by such hotels, or bus companies or owners or contractors, and by the accep-tance of such coupons, exchange orders,
TERMS & CONDITIONS receipts, contracts and tickets, the tour member agrees to the following and also agrees that neither Sacred Heart Tours nor any of its affiliates or subsidiary companies shall be or become liable or responsible for any loss, injury or damage to any property, person or otherwise in connection with any accommodations, transportation or other services resulting, directly or indirectly, from acts of God, dangers incident to the sea, fire, machinery or equipment failure, acts of governments, or other authorities, dejure or de facto, wars (declared or undeclared), hostilities, civil disturbances, riots, strikes, thefts, pilferage, epidemics, quarantines, medical or customs regulations, cancellations or delays, of or changes in itinerary or schedule, or from any causes beyond the control of Sacred Heart Tours, or for any loss or damage resulting from improper or insufficient documents, and that neither Sacred Heart Tours nor any of its affiliated companies shall be or become liable or responsible for any additional expense or liability sustained or incurred by the tour member as a result of any of the foregoing causes. If illness or other imperative reason compels a member to withdraw after a tour begins, there would be no refund as most or all of the services are prepaid. There is no refund for the absence of sightseeing or meals. Sacred Heart Tours reserves the right to require any individual to withdraw from a tour if their conduct is deemed detrimental to or incompatible with the tours interest, harmony, comfort, and welfare. The bus companies, or any transport company whose service is employed on the tour will not be held responsible for any act, omission, or event during which passengers are not on board their conveyance. When issued, the passage contract in use by these companies shall constitute the sole contract between the companies and the tour purchaser.
Details
LAND-ONLY TOUR COST INCLUDES: – 9 nights accommodations at 4 Star city- center hotels w/ private bath & breakfast
K+K Hotel Opera in Budapest
Classic Hotel Wien in Vienna
– 7 Dinners (including an Austrian Winery Restaurant and a Hungarian Dinner Show) – All transportation by motorcoach or van – All touring with historical narrative – Entrance fees to all sites on itinerary – 6 hour Danube Bend River Cruise – One-way airport transfer on June 15 from Vienna hotel to Airport – Chaplain & Daily Mass (Extraordinary Form)
NOT INCLUDED: – Travel Insurance – Air from your home city to Budapest, Hungary, and return from Vienna, Austria – 1-way Budapest Airport to hotel transfer on June 6 (approximate cost is 35 Euros) – Hotel Opera can arrange for you – All Lunches & 2 dinners (optional) – Gratuities (total suggested amount-100 Euros)
