Day
1: Thursday, October 2, 2008: The journey begins
Our journey back in time begins with an overnight flight to
Berlin. Sit back, relax, and enjoy the flight. IF
Day
2: Friday, October 3, 2008: Berlin
Willkommen
in Deutschland! On arrival at Berlin Airport, we will meet our
tour manager who will travel with us throughout our tour of
the Reformation sites of Europe. We'll be seeing the interesting
Cecilienhof Estate where the significant Potsdam conference
was held following WWII. We’ll then settle into our centrally
located hotel in Berlin. IF/ D
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Day 3: Saturday, October 4, 2008: Berlin, Leipzig, Wittenberg
We will begin with an orientation tour of Berlin, with photo
stops. We’ll also tour the Bonhoeffer Museum and see a
film about his life. In the afternoon we will drive to Leipzig
to attend the 3pm Bach cantata concert in St. Thomas’s
Church followed by a meal at Auerbachs Keller. We’ll end
the day in Lutherstadt-Wittenberg, where we will be based for
two nights. B/D
Day
4: Sunday, October 5, 2008: Wittenberg
We’ll
have a full day today in Wittenberg, where the Reformation officially
began in 1517. We’ll attend a church service this morning
in this historic city. Our guided tour of Lutherstadt-Wittenberg
will begin with visiting the church where Luther posted his
95 Theses. Although the original door was destroyed in a fire,
the replica has all 95 Theses in bronze, which is magnificent.
Next we'll tour the Lutherhalle (Luther House) Museum. In 1508,
when Martin Luther came to Wittenberg, he lived here with other
Augustinian Monks. Later, Luther and his wife, Katharina von
Bora, raised six children here. We’ll have a special Luther
meal this evening at a local restaurant. Second night in Lutherstadt-Wittenberg.
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Day 5: Monday, October 6, 2008:
Eisleben, Erfurt
On
the way to Erfurt, we’ll make a stop in Eisleben, where
Luther was born and also where he died. It’s often referred
to as his Bethlehem and Jerusalem. We’ll visit both these
homes, as well as St. Anne’s, an old miner's church famous
for the Biblical Scenes hewn in stone. We’ll then drive
through the Thuringian countryside to Erfurt where we tour the
Augustinian Monastery in which Luther lived six years as a monk.
We will have time to stroll through the narrow streets of the
old town, and walk across the famous Krämer Bridge. We
will stay tonight in Erfurt this evening and soak up the atmosphere
of this historic city. B/D
Day
6: Tuesday, October 7, 2008: Eisenach, Erfurt
This
morning we’ll take a day-trip to nearby Eisenach for a
tour of the Wartburg Castle, where Luther translated the New
Testament into German. We then drive to the city center and
have a special communion service in St. George's Church (to
be confirmed) where Luther sang and worshipped as a teenager
and where J.S. Bach was baptized. We’ll also enjoy hearing
authentic instruments in the Bach Museum. In the afternoon we’ll
return to Erfurt for some free time. We’ll have the opportunity
to dine independently at a restaurant of our choice this evening.
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Day
7: Wednesday, October 8, 2008: Coburg, Rothenburg
This
morning we head south to the lovely city of Coburg to visit
the famous Veste Coburg, the fortress where Luther took refuge
and lived during the writing of the Augsburg Confession. Visitors
to the castle nowadays will be able to see the Luther Room,
the art treasures in the various collections and the royal building
with the Luther Chapel. We’ll end the day in Rothenburg,
a well-preserved medieval city, with ramparts, a city gate and
town hall. Perhaps the most famous town on the “Romantic
Road”, Rothenburg is indeed a jewel. It is a nearly intact
medieval walled-city without a single modern building within.
We’ll enjoy a meal at our hotel in this wonderful city,
followed by the Night Watchman’s tour. B/D
Day
8: Thursday, October 9, 2008: Romantic Road, Oberammergau
We’ll being the day with a guided tour of this storybook
town, then we’ll board the coach and drive the Romantic
Road past the medieval towns of Dinkelsbühl and Noerdlingen
and on to the beautiful Bavarian village of Oberammergau. The
Thirty Years’ War and the plague of 1632 threatened to
wipe out the local population. The survivors made a pledge that
they would perform a passion play every 10 years and no further
deaths occurred. The next performance is in 2010. We’ll
be based in this delightful village for two nights. B/D Back
to top
Day
9: Friday, October 10, 2008: Bavarian Alps and Castles, Oberammergau
This morning we’ll visit King Ludwig’s spectacular
Neuschwanstein Castle, nestled in the Bavarian Alps. This afternoon
we’ll visit Linderhof Palace and Wieskirche, before returning
to Oberammergau for our evening meal. B/D
Day
10: Saturday, October 11, 2008: Munich
Today we will travel to Munich, the capital of Bavaria. Upon
arrival in Munich, we’ll take and orientation tour of
the main sights of Munich. We’ll drive by the Olympic
Stadium, Nymphenburg Castle, the New and Old Pinakothek, Deutsches
Museum and we’ll take a walk to Frauenkirche, the New
City Hall, Marienplatz and the famous “Glockenspiel”.
We’ll have lunch at a local restaurant. This afternoon,
we can either visit Dachau or have free time for shopping. Tonight
we celebrate the conclusion of our tour with a traditional Farewell
Dinner at the famous “Hofbrauhaus”. Time to reminisce
about the places visited and the new friends we’ve made
along the way. Our final overnight is in Munich. B/D
Day
11: Sunday, October 12, 2008: Departure
Our motor coach takes us to Munich airport for our return flight
home. Back to
top
Optional
Austrian extension
(additional $899 per person double occupancy + $100 extra air)
Day
11: Sunday, October 12, 2008: Salzburg
This morning we will board the train from Munich to Salzburg,
where our local guide will meet us at the station and we’ll
transfer to our centrally-located hotel. Our guide will then
take us on a walking tour of the city, followed by free time.
We will dine at the restaurant of our choice this evening. B
Day
12: Monday, October 13, 2008: Salzburg
Today
is a free day in Salzburg. You might consider the following:
• An
excursion to Hitler’s Eagles Nest: 4 hour tour at
9 am. $78 per person
• Bavarian
Mountains and Saltmine Tour: 4 hour tour at 9 am or 2 pm.
$71 per person.
• The
Sound of Music Tour: 4 hour tour at 9:30 am or 2 pm. $58
per person
• Austrian
Lakes and Mountain Tour: 4 hour tour at 2 pm. $58 per person.
• Mozart
concert and dinner: 2 hour meal at 8 pm. $85 per person
•
On
the Traces of Mozart: 21/2 hour tour at various times. $38
per person.
• Simply shopping and enjoying the historical city center.
Click
here for more tour options. Please note that prices are
approximate.
Day
13: Tuesday, October 14, 2008: Vienna
This morning we will board the train to Vienna where our local
guide will meet us at the station and we’ll transfer to
our centrally-located hotel. Our guide will then take us on
a walking tour of the city, followed by free time. B Back
to top
Day
14: Wednesday, October 15, 2008: Vienna
Today we will have free time to either explore the city on our
own or take a guided tour. Options include:
• An
Evening in Schonbrunn Palace: Concert: 3 hour concert at
8pm. $61 per person
• Romantic
Danube Valley Day Tour: 8 hour tour at 9:45 am. $96 per
person
• Viennese
Wine Tavern Serenade Evening with Giant Ferris Wheel Ride:
3 1/2 hour tour at 7:15pm.
• Vienna
Woods and Mayerling Tour: 4 hour tour at 9:45 am or 2:45
pm. $68 per person
• Vienna
Hop On Hop Off Tour: Valid for 24 hours. $32 per person.
• Simply shopping and enjoying the historical city center.
Click
here for more tour options. Please note that prices are
approximate.