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13 Day
Switzerland & Germany
Reformation Tour
August 2-14, 2010
Day 1: Depart USA
Overnight flight to Europe.
Day 2:
Arrive Switzerland
Transfer to your hotel in Zurich with the remainder of the day free.
Day 3:
Zwingli's Zurich, Lake Lucerne
Zurich is definitely a combination of the old and the new. It is divided
(as are many European cities) into the modern cosmopolitan district and
the Auld Stadt (old city). Most of the time during your stay will be
spent seeing the sights connected with Ulrich Zwingli. It was in Zurich
where the Reformed branch of the Reformation got its start under his
leadership beginning in 1520. Today you will see his monument, the
church where he was pastor (the Grossmunster), and the Guild Hall and
Museum in which you will find artifacts and works of art associated with
the Reformation. Zurich is also the origin of the Swiss Brethren
Anabaptist Movement. It had its start in the home of Felix Manz in 1525.
Its location is a few blocks from Zwingli's church. This afternoon you
are free for some independent shopping before dinner.
Day 4: Day Trip
to Lucerne
This morning we travel to lovely Lucerne for a fjord-like lake cruise
and free time in the historic cobblestone shopping district to shop for
watches. We also enjoy a brief walking tour of historic Lucerne
displaying medieval heritage every step of the way. See the impressive
city walls, the famous covered wooden bridge, ornate patrician houses
lining cobbled streets, and Thorwaldsen's masterful Lion Monument. We
have the remainder of the afternoon free to explore the main streets of
Lucerne before our drive back to Zurich. En-route we take a leisure
drive through picturesque landscapes before arriving for our final
overnight.
Day 5: Rhine Falls, Constance, Innsbruck
This morning we will stop near Schaffhausen
to view the Rhine Falls, the most powerful waterfalls in Germany. This
is definitely a "Kodak moment". From here we
travel eastward bringing us to a
resort town on the border of Germany and Switzerland, Constance. Some
historians suggest that it is here that the Reformation actually got
its start in 1415, with the execution of Bohemian reformer John Huss.
You will see the house in which he faced his accusers and the place just
outside the main town where he was burned at the stake.
We arrive in Innsbruck, capital of Austrian Tyrol. The remainder of the
day is free for shopping through the quaint medieval lanes and enjoying
dinner at our hotel.
Day 6: Innsbruck Walking Tour, Neuschwanstein, Oberammergau
A walking tour today will include the Triumphal Arch commemorating the
wedding of the Duke of Tuscany, Saint Anna’s Column and Swarovski
Kristallwelten, a wonderland of crystal works of art by artists past and
present. This afternoon we stop at the Rococo-style chapel in the Meadow
and Ludwig II’s most luxurious former residence, the Neuschwanstein
Castle. We continue to the charming town of Oberammergau, site of our
Passion Play tomorrow.
Day 7: Oberammergau
Performance
Your morning is free to enjoy the delightful village of Oberammergau with
outstanding opportunities for photos and shopping. Lunch is provided by
the Oberammergau Committee. This afternoon and evening we enjoy the
Passion Play production. The play depicts the story of Christ's Passion,
beginning with the entry into Jerusalem and ending with the resurrection
and transfiguration, a moving and spectacular experience. Each
performance starts at 2:30 pm and ends approximately 10:30 pm, with a
three-hour dinner break/intermission from 5:00 to 8:00 pm.
Day 8:
Augsburg, Romantic Road, Rothenburg, Wurzsburg
This morning, we travel north to the ancient city of Augsburg. It
was here in 1518 at St. Anne's Church that Luther met the papal legate,
Cardinal Cajetan, who demanded that Luther submit to the pope. Augsburg
was also the site of another Imperial Diet (1530).
Early
this afternoon we stop along the panoramic "Romantic Road" and visit
the best preserved medieval town in all of Europe, Rothenburg. We
include the quaint Rathaus (town
hall) with its tower, the Kriminal-museum, housing all manner of
Medieval instruments of torture and especially for the ladies, one of
the most fascinating Christmas stores you will ever see - Kathe's
(pronounced Katie's). After free time, our trek north through the
fertile countryside brings us to Wurzburg, for dinner and overnight
Day 9: Heidelberg, Worms,
Frankfurt
This morning we travel on to one of the most charming cities in all of
the world - Heidelberg, ancient capital of the Palatinate and home of
Germany's oldest university. But most importantly, it was a stronghold
of German Reformed Protestants beginning in 1560. One of the great
confessional statements of the Reformation, the Heidelberg Catechism was
produced here in 1563. Heidelberg Castle, a most impressive historic
landmark of Germany, stands majestically overlooking the Neckar River.
The structure, now largely in ruins, preserves numerous examples of
Medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque German architecture. Our next stop is
in Worms. It was here, during the
Imperial Diet
in 1521, that Martin Luther challenged the entire Roman Catholic
establishment by his refusal to recant the great doctrines of
Protestantism. It was also here that
William Tyndale
completed the printing of his English version of the New Testament in
1525 which he had begun in Cologne. After seeing St. Peter's Church and
the symbolic Luther memorial near the town square, we transfer to our
lodging and dinner in nearby Frankfurt.
Day 10: Coburg, Eisenach, Erfurt
Wasting no time today we immediately set out through scenic Thuringer
Wald to view the fortress of Coburg know as Veste, the place of Luther's
imprisonment in 1530. Next we visit Eisenach, birthplace of Johann
Sebastian Bach. It was here at the formidable Wartburg Castle that
Luther, under "house arrest", translated the New Testament into the
German language in 1523. We end out day in Erfurt for dinner and
overnight
Day 11: Erfurt, Eiselben,
Berlin
This morning we spend time in Erfurt, where Luther attended the
university. A highlight will be the Augustinian Monastery where he spent
his early years as a monk. Leaving Erfurt we visit Eisenben which is
noted among the most significant in Luther's history; he was born here
in 1483 and died here in 1546 and old manuscripts indicate that he felt
a special affinity to Eisenben. We will see the house of his birth and
death, St. Andrews Church where he preached his last sermon, the Luther
Monument, and St. Anne's Church with the famous Biblical scenes hewn in
stone and many other sites. We continue to Berlin for dinner and
overnight.
Day 12: Wittenberg,
Leipzig
We continue the Reformation Trail today with a visit to Wittenberg where
Martin Luther
lived and taught for 36 years. You will see the
Castle Church
door where Luther posted his
95 Theses,
giving birth to the Reformation. This beautiful church is also the
burial site of Luther. We see the university where Luther taught and
the Luther House which is the greatest museum of Reformation History in
the world. This afternoon we tour the beautiful city of Leipzig,
Bach's city, including a visit to St. Thomas Church where Bach was choir
master and organist. We return to Berlin for dinner and overnight.
Day 13: Departure
We transfer to the airport for our flight home.
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Single Supplement - $550 (limited basis at some properties)
Call for availability.
Price Includes:
Tourist class and moderate first class accommodations,
breakfast daily, 7 dinners, Passion Play tickets (Including
play tickets, housing,
breakfast, lunch & dinner, admission ticket to the Oberammergau Museum, playbook),
luggage handling in hotels
(1 piece per person), expert guide throughout, entrances and transportation as appear on itinerary, modern
transportation.
Oberammergau Hotel Choices:
Hotels will be assigned on a space available basis. Special upgrade tickets may be available. Please contact Pilgrim Tours for details.
Hotel
Angerbrau, Murnau (Package Price)
www.angerbraeu.de/index.html
Dates still available: August 2
(Category
1 Seating)
Das
Johannesbad,
Bad Kohlgrub
($140
additional)
www.johannesbad-schober.de/
Dates still available: August 2
(Category
1A Seating)
Not Included:
Gratuities, airfare,
meals not listed, optional travel
insurance.
Special rates for airfare will be available 10-11 months
prior to departure.
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