Day
1: Thursday
Depart USA for overnight transatlantic flight to Berlin- Motor
coach transportation will be provided from Madison to Chicago
O’Hare International Airport
Day
2: Friday – Berlin (B, D)
Upon our early morning arrival in Berlin, our European Tour
Director will greet and escort us to our waiting deluxe, air-conditioned
motor coach. We will begin our visit to Berlin with a city tour
highlighting the three centers of Berlin. The west around Kurfuerstendamm
Blvd and Memorial Church, the new center around Potsdamer Square
and the east around Unter den Linden, Brandenburg Gate and Alexanderplatz.
Tonight, we are invited to a special welcome dinner and orientation.
Overnight in Berlin
Day
3: Saturday – Berlin, Wittenberg (B)
This morning you will visit the Pergamon Museum including stops
for photo opportunities. You will also have time to visit the
KaDeWe department store, the continent’s largest. Later this
afternoon we will travel to Lutherstadt Wittenberg home to the
most historic sights of Luther’s life and work. Upon arrival
in Wittenberg this evening we’ll have time to freshen up in
our hotel before attending the weekly service of the Wittenberg
English Ministry in one of the historic churches where Luther
himself preached. Following the service enjoy dinner on your
own (or with one of our new friends) at one of the quaint restaurants
in town.
Overnight in Wittenberg
Day
4: Sunday – Wittenberg, Leipzig (B, D)
This morning we will join a local guide for a city tour of Wittenberg.
Here, Martin Luther’s 95 Theses were courageously given to this
prominent university town and to the world. We’ll tour the inspiring
Castle Church, and the historic "Theses Doors", the beautiful
"Stadt Kirche" with its marvelous Cranach Altarpiece, and the
Lutherhalle, home to the largest collection of Reformation artifacts
in the world. We’ll have time to walk through the historic places
where Martin Luther and his fellow reformers lived, taught and
preached.
Later this afternoon we’ll continue on to Leipzig, in the region
of Sachsen, one of Europe’s flourishing trade and commercial
centers during the Middle Ages, and which became the center
of resistance to Communist rule just over a decade ago. Here
we have the privilege of visiting the Nicholaikirch (St. Nicholas
church), the home of the faithful “Pray for Peace” Christians
and the powerful force that transformed Germany’s East and West.
Another Leipzig highlight will be our visit to Thomaskirche
(St. Thomas Church) where Luther preached and Johann Sebastian
Bach performed and directed the infamous St. Thomas Boys choir.
The awesome musical and intellectual heritage of Leipzig goes
far beyond Bach. It was here that Schiller wrote his immortal
Ode to Joy later to be adopted as the principal theme of Beethoven’s
9th Symphony, written in Leipzig as well. Wagner was born here,
and Mendelssohn founded the first Germany conservatory in this
talented city. Even Goethe studied at the Leipzig University.
This evening we’ll enjoy dinner and a concert.
Overnight in Leipzig
Day
5: Monday – Eisleben, Quedlinburg (B,D)
This
morning we travel to Lutherstadt Eisleben to explore the birth
house of Luther, which is now a Museum and contains the first
translated German bible. Other points of interest are the Church
of Peter and Paul, Luther’s Baptismal site, the house where
Luther died at age 62, and St. Andrews Church where Luther preached
his last four sermons and where his body was laid in state.
This afternoon, we’ll travel to beautiful Quedlinburg in the
Harz Mountains. Listed by Unesco as a world cultural heritage
site, Quedlinburg is surely one of the most beautiful towns
in all of Europe. The town is still in its original condition,
with over 1,000 timber-framed buildings still existing today.
We’ll stroll through the maze of cobblestone streets up to the
castle and church of St. Severatii where empress Theophano ruled
over 1,000 years ago. Most interesting here are the world famous
“Treasures of Theophano” including an alabaster urn said to
be one of the urns used by Jesus during the miracle of Cana.
How did it get here? You’ll find out… Our hotel this evening
has been reconstructed in an original 16th century timbered
house.
Overnight in Quedlinburg
Day
6: Tuesday – Erfurt (B)
We continue our journey to Erfurt, the spiritual home of Martin
Luther. We begin with a walking tour through the historical
section of the city. Luther studied here from 1501 to 1505 at
the Augustinian Monastery and at the 600-year old University
Quarter. The Monastery has a permanent exhibit depicting Luther’s
life as a monk in Erfurt. Visits will also be made to the church
of St. Severus, where Luther gave his sermons. Time permitting
we may have the opportunity to further explore the unique Kraemerbrueke
“Merchants Bridge”, with its Renaissance dwellings. Overnight
in Erfurt
Day
7: Wednesday -Eisenach, Rothenburg (B)
Our journey of Luther continues as we travel on to Eisenach
where Johann Sebastian Bach was born. A visit is planned to
the Luther home which provides a glimpse of the Reformation
at its earliest moments. An exhibit shows Martin Luther as a
teacher of the Church and educator of the German people. Traveling
on to Wartburg Castle, where Luther was in exile and hidden
by Frederick the Wise, after he refused to recant his beliefs
and writings in 1521-1522. During this period, Luther translated
the New Testament from the original Greek into German. This
afternoon we travel on to Rothenburg, a well-preserved medieval
city, with ramparts, a city gate and town hall. Take a walking
tour with a local guide and glimpse back to the Middle Ages.
A visit will be made to Jakobskirche (Church of St. James) with
its splendid interior of Gothic design and noteworthy altars,
and then explore the Marktplatz with its Rathaus, whose older
section dates to the 13th century. A visit to Kathe Wolfahrt’s
Christmas Village will tempt anyone who loves Christmas. Evening
is free. Overnight in Rothenburg
Day
8: Thursday – Romantik Road, Bavarian Alps, Oberramagau (B,
D)
Today
we follow the “Romantic Road” past the quaint and medieval towns
of Dinkelsbuhl and Nordlingen as we make our way into the heart
of Bavaria and the Alpine villages of Fussen, Neuschwanstein,
Garmisch Partinkirchen and Oberammergau. We’ll have time to
stroll the old streets lined with the famous painted houses
of Oberammergau and shop in the famous wood carving studios.
Our journey continues to mad King Ludwig’s famous castles. First,
we'll visit King Ludwig’s spectacular Neuschwanstein Castle,
nestled in the Bavarian Alps. In route, we’ll stop to visit
the Weiskirche, “The Church on the Meadow”. Then, it’s off to
the Linderhof Castle, with its ornate suites and Venus Grotto.
Free time this afternoon for a ride to the top of “Zugspitz”!
Overnight in Oberammergau
Day
9: Friday –Munich (B, D)
We leave this morning and drive south to Munich. We begin with
an orientation drive of this lively city, where you’ll see the
Old Pinakothek Museum, Olympia Tower and Stadium, BMW Tower,
Nymphenburg Palace, Deutsches Museum the Marienplatz, the Rathaus
and its Glockenspiel. This afternoon we’ll have time for some
shopping and more sightseeing before we meet for dinner at the
famous Hofbrauhaus. Overnight in Munich
Day
10: Saturday – Depart Munich (B)
Transfer to Munich Airport for our flight home.
Motor coach transportation will be provided from Chicago O’Hare
International Airport to Madison.
ReformationTours reserves the rights to alter
itineraries without notice should it become necessary. While
on tour, if conditions necessitate changes, or if certain features
are unavailable or limited, we reserve the right to vary or
substitute alternatives. All prices are calculated at the exchange
rate in effect at the time of this quotation. Should currency
fluctuations necessitate an adjustment in tour price the adjusted
price will be reflected in the final invoice.