What will we
see each day?
Our
itineraries are designed to be not too full - or too empty! Each day we'll
have breakfast at our hotel, followed by the day's activities. In the
evenings, you'll have the opportunity to join the devotional time. Enjoy
browsing the proposed itinerary.
IF =
In flight meals, B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner
Day 1: Wednesday, May 11,
2011: Overnight Flight to Berlin, Germany
Our
adventure begins as we depart on our transatlantic flight bound for Berlin,
Germany. (In flight meals)
Day 2: Thursday, May 12,
2011: Arrival in Berlin, Wittenberg
We
are greeted at the Berlin Airport by our Reformation Tours expert guide and
luxury tour bus for a Berlin
orientation tour. We see the famous Brandenburg Gate, the Kaiser Wilhelm
Memorial Church, the Cathedral, the Reichstag building and the lively
boulevards before arriving in Lutherstadt-Wittenberg for our welcome dinner. (In
flight meals/ D)
Day 3: Friday, May
13, 2011: Wittenberg
Our
local guide from Wittenberg will escort you on an orientation tour of Wittenberg,
including the Schlosskirche (Castle Church), the Lutherhalle (Luther House)
Museum and Stadtkirche St. Marien (St. Mary's church). The afternoon will be
free to explore this delightful town at our leisure. We spend a second night
in Wittenberg. (B/D)
Day
4: Saturday, May 14, 2011: Leipzig
We
start the day with a short drive to Leipzig
where we enjoy a guided city tour, including St. Thomas Church, home of the
famous St. Thomas choir and where J.S. Bach served as music director. We will also visit St. Nicholas' Church and hear about the prayer meetings that helped bring down the Berlin Wall. At 3
pm, we are treated to a Bach “Motet and Cantata” with soloists and the
Gewandhaus Orchestra. In the evening, we have the option of a concert at the
Gewandhaus (not included in price, but details will be sent before final
payment is due). We stay in Leipzig for two nights. (B)
Day 5: Sunday, May 15,
2011: Eisleben, Leipzig
This
morning we have the opportunity to attend St. Thomas church and hear the
famous boys choir if in residence, or another church of our choice. In the
afternoon there is an excursion to Eisleben
to visit the house where Luther was born and the house where he died. We also
visit the Church of St. Peter and St. Paul, where Luther was baptized and St.
Andrew's Church with the Luther pulpit from where Luther preached his last
sermon. Returning to Leipzig, we will dine at the historic Auerbachs Keller
restaurant. (B/D)
Day
6: Monday, May 16, 2011: Erfurt
On
arrival in Erfurt,
our local guide will lead us on a guided walking tour of Erfurt, ending with a
wonderful organ concert. We are staying in the fabulous Augustinian Monastery,
where Luther lived for several years (subject to availability). In the evening
we may choose to explore the shops along the Merchant’s Bridge, wander around
the old town or enjoy some good German coffee and cake! (B/D)
Day
7: Tuesday, May 17, 2011: Eisenach, Erfurt
We
begin today with a day trip to nearby Eisenach
for a tour of the Wartburg Castle, where Luther translated the New Testament
into German. After returning down to the valley, you drive to the city center
and visit St. George's Church, where Luther sang and worshipped as a teenager
and where J.S. Bach was baptized. The afternoon is free to either visit the
Luther House, the Bach House or relax in a local café. We return to Erfurt
where we will dine at a restaurant of our choice this evening. (B)
Day 8: Wednesday, May 18,
2011: Coburg, Rothenburg ob der Tauber
Traveling
south today, we first stop at the Coburg
Veste (Fortress) where Luther stayed during the Augsburg Debates and
Confession in 1530. We have a tour of this amazing castle, seeing the
Furstenberg (Duke's quarter) where Luther stayed incognito from April to
October, 1530. This is the place that inspired Luther's most famous hymn, "A
Mighty Fortress is Our God," and what better place to sing it than here! We
arrive in medieval Rothenburg
ob der Tauber with time to shop in the famous Kathë Wölfart Christmas shop
and museum. Our local city guide will also show us the Tilman Riemenschneider
carving and the Glockenspiel. After our evening meal, we congregate under the
Town Hall Tower for the 8 pm Meistertrunk Show and then join the Night
Watchman on his nightly tour. (B/D)
Day 9: Thursday, May 19,
2011: Rhine Cruise, Mainz, Heidelberg
Today’s
highlight is a relaxing Rhine cruise! We board the boat at St. Goar and sail
past magnificent castles and the famous Lorelei rock. In the afternoon we take
an excursion to Mainz to focus on the contribution of Johann Gutenberg, who
developed moveable type. Prepare to be amazed as we view original copies of
the Bible in the Gutenberg Museum. We also visit Mainz Cathedral, dating back
to 975 AD. We dine at our hotel this evening in Heidelberg, a gorgeous town on
the Neckar River. (B/D)
Day 10: Friday, May 20,
2011: Worms, Heidelberg
We start the day with a walking tour in the Old
Town of Heidelberg, including the famous Stone Bridge over the Neckar River.
We then tour the Castle, which is where the Heidelberg Confession was written
in 1653. In the afternoon we have an excursion to nearby Worms with a brief
local walking tour to see the site of the Worms Debates (Diet of Worms), now a
park, with a plaque commemorating the Diet of Worms. We also see the
Reformation Monument, St. Peter’s Cathedral, and the Church of the Holy
Trinity. Our guide also shares about another Reformer, William Tyndale, who
finished his printing of the English Bible in Worms, escaping persecution in
England. In 1525 his New Testament was printed and smuggled back into
England. Tonight we have the opportunity to dine in the restaurant of our
choice in Heidelberg. (B)
Day
11: Saturday, May 21, 2011: Black Forest, Zurich
This
morning, we continue our journey through the Black Forest region of Germany to
Switzerland, with a stop in the delightful town of Triberg, famous for cuckoo
clocks, before a visit to Constance on the Swiss-German border. The
cathedral, site of the Council of Constance in 1415, is where Jan Hus was
sentenced to death for his so-called heresy. We also see the Hussenstein, the
stone which marks the very spot where Hus was burned at the stake. Continuing
on to Zurich, a local guide accompanies us as we learn much more about Zwingli
on a tour of the key Reformation sites in Zurich. We tour Zwingli’s church,
the Grossmünster, where he began his Reformation teaching in 1518 that led the
way to Zurich’s eventual freedom from Rome’s control. His little study (the
"Zwingli-Stübli"), in the official dwelling of the deacon of the Great
Minster, is carefully preserved in its original condition. We also view the
Fraumünster, Zurich’s famous Catholic Cathedral, where we admire the world
famous Chagall stained glass windows. The rest of the day is at leisure. (B)
Day 12: Sunday, May 22,
2011: Zurich, Lucerne, Geneva
This
morning we have the opportunity to worship in Zurich, before an afternoon
visit to the charming Swiss town of Lucerne, beginning with a brief walking
tour to view the City Walls and famous covered wooden bridges. The
Kapellbrucke (Chapel Bridge) is a symbol of Lucerne and one of the most
photographed sights. We view the ornate patrician houses along the cobbled
streets. We then drive through spectacular scenery to Geneva,
before settling into our hotel for the final two nights. We enjoy a group
dinner at the hotel this evening. (B/D)
Day 13: Monday, May 23,
2011: Geneva
It
was here in Geneva that John Calvin and John Knox brought Christ's teachings
to eager listeners. After a walking tour of the old town, including the
Reformation Wall, we visit the Reformation Museum. The Museum paints a
comprehensive picture of the Reformation from its origins to the present day,
using the latest museum technologies. Next door is St. Peter's Cathedral,
where Calvin often preached. We have our farewell meal and spend our final
night in Geneva. (B/D)
Day 14: Tuesday, May 24,
2011: Return
We
transfer from the hotel to the airport for our morning flights back to the US.
(B/ In-flight meals)
Reformation Tours 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.