Retrace the Reformation - Itinerary
See some of Berlin’s famous sites – Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church, the Olympic Stadium, the Reichstag, the Brandenburg Gate, and the Soviet War Memorial – before continuing on to Wittenberg, the birthplace of the Reformation. Martin Luther lived here from 1508 until his death. Visit the historic All Saints Castle Church where he nailed his 95 theses and which contains the graves of Luther and Melanchton. Tour the Luther House, the world’s largest and greatest museum of Reformation history. Take an excursion to Eisleben where Luther was born in 1483 and died in 1546.
Drive high into the Thuringian Mountains to Wartburg Castle, where Luther spent 10 months in protective custody and completed his translation of the New Testament into German. Visit Heidelberg, stronghold of German Reformed Protestants in the last half of the 16th century; Worms, where Luther challenged the church establishment by refusing to recant the great doctrines of Protestantism; and Mainz, home of the Gutenberg Museum. Tour Zurich, city of the Swiss Reformation’s most influential figure – Zwingli. In Geneva, see St. Peter’s Cathedral where John Calvin presided and taught, and increase your understanding of this remarkable period of religious history at the Reformation Museum.
The sequence of touring and days may be altered to adjust to religious holidays, special closings of sites, air schedule changes, etc. Hotels listed subject to availability. Meal inclusions may vary by departure.
DAY 1 - USA/BERLIN
We depart from our hometown and travel to our gateway city, where we board our transatlantic jet bound for Berlin. (meals aloft)
DAY 2 - BERLIN/WITTENBERG
Upon arrival in Berlin, we tour this once-divided city. We see the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church, Tiergarden and the Olympic Stadium, the Reichstag, the Brandenburg Gate, St. Hedwig’s Cathedral, the Soviet War Memorial, St. Mary’s Church, the restored Opera House, the famous 300-foot-wide boulevard “Unter den Linden” and the Marienkirche. We then proceed to Wittenberg for dinner and overnight at Stadtpalais Wittenberg. (meals aloft,D)
DAY 3 - WITTENBERG/HALLE/EISLEBEN/ERFURT
Today we tour Wittenberg, birthplace of the Reformation and city of Frederick the Wise who was patron and protector of Martin Luther. Luther lived here from 1508 until his death. We visit the historic All Saints Castle Church and its famous door where he nailed his 95 Theses and which contains the graves of Luther and Melanchton. We see the University and visit Melanchton’s House and the Stadtkirche as well as the Luther House, which is the largest and greatest museum of Reformation history in the world. We see the Luther monument and the renaissance Town Hall. We continue to Halle, where the University of Halle is situated, famous for its role in the history of missions. We visit Eisleben where Luther was born in 1483 and died in 1546. We see St. Andrew’s Church, where Luther preached his last sermon, and we view the Luther Monument. Then we go to Erfurt where we visit Erfurt Cathedral and the Augustinian Monastery where Luther studied to become a monk and where he was ordained in 1507. We also visit the small cell where as a novice Luther struggled to find peace with God. Dinner and overnight are in Erfurt at the Sorat Hotel. (B,D)
DAY 4 - EISENACH/ERFURT
We travel to Eisenach, birthplace of Johann Sebastian Bach, and visit his house. Eisenach is also where Luther attended Latin school for three years. After our visit here, we go to visit Wartburg Castle, set high in the Thuringian Mountains. It was here in 1521 that Luther was put into protective custody for ten months, after the Emperor condemned him as an outlaw and heretic. During this time Luther completed his translation of the New Testament into German, a tremendous linguistic task that served as the basis for the New High German. Luther’s room is preserved in its original condition. We return to Erfurt for overnight. (B)
DAY 5 - WEIMAR/BAMBERG/ROTHENBURG
We travel to Weimar, home of the Stadtkirche St. Peter and Paul, where the famous Lucas Cranach masterpieces of Luther are located. Then on to Bamberg for a walking tour of the city, before driving on to Rothenburg, a medieval village that is encircled by massive walls. The 16th century walls, with turrets and cobblestone lanes, have been left almost untouched by the passing centuries. Of special note are the Town Hall, the Protestant church, St. Jokobskirche and the Spitalor, which is the Hospital Gate. Also in Rothenburg is Kathe’s (pronounced “Katie’s”), one of the most fascinating Christmas stores you will ever see. Dinner and overnight are at the Altes Brauhuas. (B,D)
DAY 6 - HEIDELBERG/WORMS/MAINZ/ROTHENBURG
Today we travel to Heidelberg, stronghold of German Reformed Protestants in the last half of the 16th century where the Heidelberg Catechism was produced in 1563. Heidelberg is also home to one of Germany’s oldest universities. We continue on to Worms, where in 1521 Luther challenged the church establishment by refusing to recant the great doctrines of Protestantism. It was also here that William Tyndale completed the printing of his New Testament in 1525. We visit St. Peter’s Church and Luther Memorial before continuing to Mainz to visit the Gutenberg Museum. We return to Rothenburg for overnight. (B)
DAY 7 - AUGSBURG/CONSTANCE/LUCERNE
We drive to Augsburg, with its cathedral dating from 994, its Renaissance-style Town Hall, and St. Anne’s Church where Luther met the papal legate in 1518. In 1530, Augsburg was the site of an important Imperial Dict where Protestants presented the Augsburg Confession, the foremost doctrinal statement of the Lutheran Church. In the Fugger Memorial Chapel, the Peace of Augsburg was signed in 1555 bringing peace for a period between Protestants and Catholics. Traveling westward brings us to Constance, a resort town on the border of Germany and Switzerland. It was here in 1415 where John Hus was executed that many historians date the beginning of the Reformation. Continuing on into Switzerland, we travel to Lucerne to the Astoria Hotel for dinner and overnight. (B,D)
DAY 8 - LUCERNE/ZURICH
After breakfast at the hotel we have a guided visit of the city. Lucerne, an all-time favorite of Americans, is beautifully situated on Lake Lucerne with splendid views of Mount Pilatus and Mount Rigi. We see the Chapel Bridge, the Lion Monument, the Old Towne, and the Spreuer Bridge. We travel to Zurich, Switzerland’s largest city and one of the world’s most important financial capitals. Zurich was the city of Zwingli, the most influential figure in the Swiss Reformation. It served as the refuge for many English Protestants banished during the reign of Queen Mary. Here it is believed Miles Coverdale’s first entire translation of the Bible and Apocrypha was published in 1535. We will see the Gross-Muenster Cathedral (Zwingli’s Church); Zwingli’s home and study; the home of Conrad Grebel; the site of Felix Manz’ execution by drowning in the Limmat River; and Zollikon, where the first public baptisms among the Anabaptists took place. We return to Lucerne for overnight. (B)
DAY 9 - LUCERNE/INTERLAKEN/BERNE/MONTREUX/GENEVA
This morning we travel to Berne by way of Interlaken, a scenic route that takes us over an Alpine pass and in the shadow of the towering Jungfrau mountain. In Berne we will see the ancient arcaded streets, medieval painted fountains and the Gothic Minster Cathedral, as well as the Bear Pit where the bears have amused visitors since 1441. We stop in Montreux to absorb the spectacular panorama of the Dents-du-Midi peaks across the lake and view the impressive medieval Chateau de Chillon, a controlling presence on the road over the Alps. We continue on to Geneva for overnight at the Warwick Hotel. (B)
DAY 10 - GENEVA
Today we tour Geneva, a delightful city situated on the banks of Lake Geneva and surrounded by alpine peaks and the slopes of the Jura Mountains. It is also called the Peace Capital of the World. We visit St. Peter’s Cathedral, where John Calvin presided and taught, as well as Calvin’s Academy. The winding cobbled streets of Rue Calvin are lined with 16th century patrician homes, including the residence of John Calvin. The city attracts many scholars and students with its great libraries and its 400-year-old University. We see the Reformation Monument, which pays tribute to the great religious movement and visit the Reformation Museum. We enjoy dinner at a local restaurant and return to our hotel for overnight. (B,D)
DAY 11 - GENEVA/USA
After breakfast we transfer to the airport for our return flight to the States. (B,meals aloft)
