Bonn. Travel by rail from London to Cologne, leaving St Pancras at 10.00am and changing at Brussels. Continue by coach from Cologne to Bonn (30 km), arriving in time for a talk and dinner.

Bonn. A morning walk follows a route linking places associated with Beethoven: family homes, school, churches where he played the organ, the Electoral Palace, the tavern he frequented, memorial sculpture and the Beethovenhalle (concert hall). Free afternoon: the Rheinisches Landesmuseum, well documenting the history of the region through works of art and artefacts, is recommended. Evening concert: Beethoven, Symphony No.1; Unsuk Chin, Violin Concerto with Viviane Hagner (violin); Beethoven, Symphony No.7.

Bonn. Guided visit of the Haus der Geschichte, an excellent museum of the history of Germany since 1945, followed by some free time with the opportunity to visit the adjacent Kunstmuseum Bonn, a good collection of 20th-century art especially August Macke. Evening concert: Beethoven, Symphony No.2; Brett Dean, ‘Testament’ for orchestra; Beethoven, Symphony No.3.

Brühl. Drive to Brühl to visit Schloss Augustusburg, residence of the Prince-Archbishops of Cologne and one of the most magnificent 18th-century palaces and gardens in Germany. Free afternoon. Evening concert: Beethoven, Symphony No.6; Joseph Phibbs, new work; Beethoven, Symphony No.4.

Maria Laach. A relaxing day begins with cruising upstream along the Rhine past wooded hills, vineyards and small towns. Disembark at Remagen and drive into the hills to the west to visit Maria Laach, an abbey with one of the most complete and satisfying of Romanesque churches. Lunch here and time to walk around the lake. Evening concert: Beethoven, Symphony No.8; Steven Stucky, new work; Beethoven, Symphony No.5.

Cologne. Optional rail excursion to Cologne with five hours for independent exploration (maps and notes supplied). Cologne was the largest city in Roman Gaul and the largest city in northern Europe in the Middle Ages. Outstanding architecture includes several Romanesque churches and the Gothic cathedral, vast, prolix and supremely beautiful. Museums include the Römisch-Germanisches Museum (Roman and early mediaeval collection) the cathedral treasury (reliquary of the Three Magi) and the Wallraf-Richartz Museum (Old Master paintings) and the Schnütgen, a superb display of mediaeval art. Evening Concert: Mamadou Diabaté, new work for percussion ensemble with Martin Grubinger & Friends; Beethoven, Symphony No.9.

Bonn. Visit the graves of Beethoven’s mother and Robert Schumann then arrive in Cologne in time for another short visit, including the cathedral, before boarding the 3.15pm train for Brussels. The Eurostar arrives at London St Pancras at 8.00pm.