ITINERARY
Day 1: Departure
Our journey back in time
begins with an overnight flight from the US. (IF/D)
Day 2: 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 then go back to the time of Luther as we visit Wittenberg,
birthplace of the Reformation. This evening we enjoy a welcome dinner. (IF/D)
Day 3: Wittenberg
After breakfast, we'll tour the main Luther
sites in Wittenberg, including the Schlosskirche (Castle Church)
where the 95 Theses are commemorated in cast in bronze doors. Next
we'll tour the Lutherhalle (Luther House) Museum, the very site where
Luther burned Rome’s Papal Bull condemning him as a heretic and Stadtkirche
St. Marien (St. Mary's church). The afternoon will be free to enjoy
Wittenberg. We’ll meet up again for a shared meal with a guest
speaker. (B/D)
Day 4: Eisleben, Erfurt
This morning we’ll take
an excursion to Eisleben, one of Luther’s favorite towns. We’ll
tour the house where Luther was born and the house where he died. We
also visit the Church of St. Peter and St. Paul, St. Andrew's Church
and St. Anne’s, an old miner's church famous for the Biblical
Scenes hewn in stone. In Erfurt we have a guided walking tour of the
Augustinian Monastery. We will also see where Letters of Indulgence
were printed, walk across the famous Krämer Bridge and tour the impressive St. Mary's Cathedral and St. Severin's
Church. (B/D)
Day 5: Eisenach, Rudesheim
This morning we will head
for fascinating Eisenach. In 1521, while fleeing from the wrath of
the Pope, Luther took refuge in the Wartburg Castle after a fake kidnapping
staged by his friend and protector, Frederick the Wise. We’ll
tour the castle and stand in the very room where Luther translated
Jerome’s Vulgate into the German New Testament. We will then
tour the Luther House Museum, and the Bach House Museum, where we'll
hear period musical instruments played and hear more about the fascinating
Christian musician, J.S. Bach. If time permits, we’ll tour medieval
St George's (Georgenkirche) Church connected with both Martin Luther
and Johann Sebastian Bach. Now we are off for the alluring Rhine River,
and to check into our comfortable hotel in Rudesheim for two nights. (B/D) |
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Day 6: Rhine Cruise, Mainz, Worms
What better way to start the
day than with a Rhine cruise! We’ll board the boat and sail past
magnificent castles and the famous Loreley rock to St. Goar. In Mainz
we'll focus on Bible printing history & the contribution of Johann
Gutenberg, who developed moveable type. We'll also view Mainz Cathedral,
dating back to 975. In Worms we’ll have 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, the Reformation Monument,
St. Peters, and the Church of the Holy Trinity. Our guide will also
share about another Reformer, William Tyndale, who finished his printing
of the English Bible in Worms, escaping persecution in England. (B/D)
Day 7: Heidelberg, Rothenburg Heidelberg is a gorgeous town on the
Neckar River. We’ll have a walking tour of the old town, stroll on the famous Stone Bridge over the Neckar River. We'll tour
Heidelberg Castle which boasts a fascinating history and a stunning
view. Here we’ll hear about the Heidelberg Confession, written
in 1562. We will continue to Rothenburg ob der Tauber, one of Germany’s
very best walled medieval cities. This town is particularly noted for
the Christmas shop and museum. This evening we have leisure time to
stroll and explore the views atop the city ramparts. (B/D)
Day 8: “The
Romantic Road”, Augsburg, Wieskirche, Oberammergau
This morning
we will travel the fabled “Romantic Road.” This is Germany's
most famous and popular tourist route. We’ll pass small historic
villages full of their original charm, on our way to Augsburg, another
Germany Reformation city. We’ll learn from our expert guide about
the Augsburg Confession, the 1555 Peace of Augsburg, while we tour
St. Anne’s Church. After a walking tour of key sites, we’ll
journey on to Bavaria, to tour the Wieskirche, a UNESCO World Heritage
site with incredible Rococo art. We'll finish our exciting day with
our arrival in Oberammergau, home to the world famous Passion Play.
We’ll check into our hotel and have a delicious dinner, followed
by a stroll through the village. (B/D) |
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Day 9: Oberammergau
The morning
is free for exploring Oberammergau. After lunch we will attend the
Passion Play, the highlight of the tour. There will be an intermission
for dinner and then return to the Passion Play Theater for the rest
of the production. (B/L/D)
Day 10: Munich
This morning we will enjoy
a guided tour of Neuschwanstein Castle before we leave for Munich,
Bavaria’s fun loving capital. This afternoon we enjoy the festive
atmosphere of the Oktoberfest, where we’ll dine tonight. B/D
Day 11: Return
Today we transfer to the Munich airport for our return
flight home. (B)
PRICE – LAND ONLY
• $3,850 double occupancy
(per person)
• $665 single supplement
INCLUDED
• Deluxe
coach
• Oberammergau tickets
• Meals as indicated
• Accommodations
in 3 and 4-star hotels
• Admissions to all activities mentioned
in itinerary
• Professional tour director and local guides
• All
gratuities
• Travel insurance
• Travel bag, neck wallet,
tour diary
NOT INCLUDED
• Flights from Washington D.C. (will
be added in 2009)
• Meals not indicated
• Beverages other
than with breakfast
• Items of a personal nature, such as passport
fees
B = Breakfast, L = Lunch,
D = Dinner,
IF = In Flight
TO BOOK
Contact Sue Mitchell
from Omega World Travel at 800 582-1048 or smitchell@owt.net |
