10-Day Journey to Germany, Cradle of the Reformation
$5,695
Number of Days: 10
Location: Germany
You will experience Germany’s rich reformation history and culture. Martin Luther was one of the big reformers who touched off something much larger than himself, namely, the Reformation—the sundering of the Church and a fundamental revision of its theology. Once he had divided the Church, it could not be healed. His reforms survived to breed other reforms, many of which he disapproved of. So, this trip is a way back to our Christian roots. On this unique tour, you will learn not just about the Reformation but also what happened prior and its aftermath. We will be involved in the process of the Reformation and throughout the must-see Reformation sights with Germany’s finest cities & towns.
Daily Itinerary
Day 1
BEGINNING OF OUR TOUR
Depart USA for Berlin, Germany
Day 2
BERLIN
Arrive in Berlin. Explore the city and see famous sites such as Brandenburg Gate, Reichstag, Unter den Linder, Checkpoint Charlie, and Charlottenburg. Dinner Hofbräuhaus Berlin and Overnight in Berlin.
Day 3
BERLIN - LUTHERSTADT WITTENBERG
After breakfast, drive to Lutherstadt Wittenberg, known as the cradle of the Reformation. Enjoy a walking tour, visiting the most historic sites of Luther’s life and work. Begin at the inspiring Castle Church and marvel at the door where Luther nailed the 95 Theses. Visit the beautiful St. Mary’s Church, where Luther preached and where his children were baptized. Continue to the Luther House Museum, home to the largest collection of Reformation artifacts in the world. After lunch, visit the Melanchthon house. Melanchthon was Luther’s advisor and helped establish the German educational system. His final resting place is in the Castle Church beside his companion, Martin Luther. Dinner and overnight in Lutherstadt Wittenberg.
Day 4
EISLEBEN - ERFURT
In the morning, travel to Eisleben, the city where Martin Luther was born, baptized, and died. Take a short walking tour of the historic old town. Visit two award-winning museums - Martin Luther’s Birth House and his Death House. Continue to Erfurt, where Martin Luther was ordained as a priest and studied theology. Experience a guided tour of Erfurt’s Luther Trail in the picturesque old town. Enjoy sites such as the Augustinian Monastery, where Luther served as a monk, the Luther Memorial, and the Collegium Maius, where Luther lived as a student. Dinner and overnight in Erfurt.
Day 5
EISENACH
Begin the day at the world-famous UNESCO World Heritage site, Wartburg Castle. See the place where Martin Luther took refuge from 1521-1522 after his excommunication. Stand in awe of Luther’s study, where he first translated the New Testament into the German language. Next, take a guided tour of Eisenach. Visit St. George’s Church, where Luther sang as a boy and where Johan Sebastian Bach was baptized. In the evening, visit the birthplace of the most important figure in Protestant Church music—Johann Sebastian Bach. Today, the Bachhaus is one of the largest musician's museums in Germany. Experience a short, memorable concert on five Baroque keyboard instruments. Return to Erfurt for dinner and overnight.
Day 6
COBURG - ROTHENBURG OB DER TAUBER - HEIDELBERG
Enjoy an enchanting, early-morning drive through the Thuringian Forest to Franconia. We drive to the tiny city Rothenburg ob der Tauber, the most famous town on the “Romantik Road.” Ramble through this impeccable, medieval, walled city without a single modern building. Step inside St. Jakob’s Church for a view of the intricate altarpiece carved by Tilman Riemenschneider. Continue to Heidelberg for dinner and overnight.
Day 7
HEIDELBERG - SPEYER - ULM
Spend the morning in the romantic university town of Heidelberg with its spellbinding castle and narrow roads. Continue to Speyer to explore the Speyer Cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the largest remaining Romanesque church in the world. See the famous “Gedächtniskirche der Protestation” (Memorial Church), a United Protestant church of both Lutheran and Reformed confessions. Next, drive to Ulm, the birthplace of Albert Einstein. Gaze at the Ulm Minster, the tallest church spire in the world, stretching 405 ft in the air. Continue to Augsburg for dinner and overnight.
Day 8
AUGSBURG- DACHAU
Journey to Augsburg, one of Germany’s most historically significant cities. Visit St. Annes Church, constructed as a monastery in 1321, known for its elaborate interior. Learn about the “Augsburg Confession,” the primary confession of faith of the Lutheran Church and one of the most important documents of the Protestant Reformation. Proceed to Dachau, the location of the first concentration camp built by Nazi Germany. Visit the poignant site and hear the dark history of the longest-running concentration camp of WWII. Proceed to Munich, the capital of Bavaria. Dinner and overnight in Kufstein Austria.
Day 9
KUFSTEIN - HOHENSCHWANGAU - NEUSCHWANSTEIN
Spend a day dedicated to the most famous castles of Bavaria. See Hohenschwangau Castle and Neuschwanstein Castle. Neuschwanstein is the most visited castle in Germany, perched high upon a mountain in the beautiful Alps. The shimmering white towers of the castle among the clouds are instantly recognizable to many as the inspiration for Disney’s Sleeping Beauty Castle. Return to Kufstein via Innsbruck in Austria to Kufstein. Dinner and overnight.
Day 10
KUFSTEIN - MUNICH - USA
Transfer to Munich Airport for your return flight home with your luggage packed with keepsakes and your heart full of memories!