|
Daily
Tour Itinerary:
March 7 Friday - DEPARTURE
Today we depart for Germany
from Chicago's O'Hare Airport. Enjoy superb in-flight service and meals
on our flight across the Atlantic.
March 8 Saturday - MUNICH
Arrive at Munich airport.
Meet your guide, board your private motorcoach and transfer to your hotel.
Check into your hotel. In the afternoon, take a city tour of Munich. Visit
the Marienplatz, traditional center of the city, whose attractive architecture
dates from the Middle Ages with the New Town Hall where its hugh clock
presents the "Glockenspiel" during which redcoated figures dance
to a traditional melody. See the Church of the Lady, the Odeonsplatz,
the Residence, the market place with open air stalls, passing the former
Olympic grounds viewing the classical buildings and many other interesting
places as Royal Square (Konigsplatz), Ludwigstreet, the Universtiy, etc.
You also visit an 18th century Nymphenburg Palace. In the evening, celebrate
with a welcome dinner with a Bavarian Show. Dinner - out of hotel.
Overnight in Munich - (B,D)
March 9 Sunday - ROTHENBURG
Breakfast in hotel. After
breakfast a short drive to Augsburg - as old as the Christian era. Augsburg
was long one of the most powerful and richest cities of Germany. The Mozart
family originated in Augsburg. In 1530, the "Confessio Augustana"
was publicly proclaimed for the first time. Walking tour of Augsburg highlighting
Church of St. Anne (Luther stayed here in October 1518), the starting
point of the Reformation in Augsburg, with an original portrait of Luther
by Lucas Cranach the Elder. See Luther's "Da hinab", part of
the city wall where Luther secretly fled the city in 1518. Travel along
the Romantic Road to Rothenburg, the most perfectly preserved medieval
city in Germany. Here towers, walls and quaint narrow streets invite us
to return to a bygone era. Enjoy a walking tour through this village.
Visit St. James Church, featuring altar pieces by the painter Herling
and the famous woodcarver Tilman Riemenschneider. Dinner and overnight
- Rothenburg (B,D)
March 10 Monday - NUREMBURG
- COBURG
Breakfast in hotel. This morning we drive to Nuremberg, the first free
Imperial town to accept the reformation. Walking tour of Nuremberg which
was Germany's most important city at the center of philosophical and religious
developments. In the afternoon, we travel to Coburg, situated in Northern
Bavaria. In 1530, Luther stayed here for 6 months in Coburg Fortress in
order to follow the negotiations at the Imperial Diet in Augsburg. Visit
Coburg Fortress. Please note: No interior visit is possible because the
Coburg Fortress is closed on Monday. Dinner and overnight - Coburg
(B,D)
March 11 Tuesday - EISENACH
- ERFURT
Breakfast in hotel. We travel to Eisenach in the Thuringian Forest where
little has changed since the Middle Ages. Martin Luther had many connections
to the town of Eisenach. Visit the Luther House where Luther was educated
from 1498 - 1501. Continue to the Wartburg Castle, towering 560 feet above
the valley, where Luther disguised as a nobleman, took shelter from the
wrath of the Pope when he translated the New Testament from Greek to German
in 1521-22. Eisenach is also the birthplace of Bach-often called the Fifth
Evangelist. Next we travel to Erfurt, one of Germany's most picturesque
medieval cities. Erfurt is the spiritual home of Martin Luther. He studied
here from 1501-1505. As a result of his experience in a thunderstorm,
he entered the Augustinian Monastery. Dinner and overnight - Erfurt
(B,D)
March 12 Wednesday -
LEIPZIG
Breakfast in hotel. Erfurt
became the most important "Lutheran City". Morning walking tour
of Erfurt, the historical capital of Thuringia. See St.Mary's cathedral,
where Luther was ordained as a priest and visit the Augustinian Church
and Monastery. We continue to Leipzig, important as a trade and book center.
Leipzig, a
university town and the cradle of the peaceful revolution in 1989. Dinner
and overnight - Leipzig (B,D)
March 13 Thursday -
LEIPZIG - EISLEBEN
Breakfast in the hotel. This morning we visit St.Thomas' Church. Luther
preached here in order to introduce the Reformation into this part of
Saxony. J.S.Bach was cantor here and the famous St.Thomas' Church Choir
was and still is based here. See the Old Town Hall in the Market Square,
Maedler Passage with Auerbach's Cellar, new Town Hall, Church of St. Nicholas.
We depart for Luther sites in Eisleben. The Lutheran town of Eisleben
is situated in the countryside of the Harz mountains. Eisleben was first
documented in 994 and was first recognized as a town in the 12th century.
Luther was born and baptized in Eisleben and also found his last resting
place. Experience his dramatic faith and visit his house where he was
born and died. Dinner and overnight - Leipzig (B,D)
March 14 Friday - WITTENBERG
- CONCENTRATION CAMP - BERLIN
Breakfast in hotel. Continuing in the steps of Marin Luther, depart for
Wittenberg, the city city of Luther. During our walking tour, we visit
the Lutherhaus-his living and working quarters, the Castle Church, Marien
Church and the Wittenberg University, Germany's first Universtiy founded
in 1502. Enjoy free time in the Market Square. Next we continue to the
former Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp, located in a suburb of Berlin.
This camp for men was opened in 1936, where more than 200,000 people were
imprisoned between 1936 and 1945. Afterwards, we travel to Berlin, Germany's
capital. Dinner and overnight - Berlin (B,D)
March 15 Saturday - BERLIN
Breakfast in hotel. Berlin - a city where history can be experience first
hand. The appeal of Berlin lies in its contrasts: a historical city facing
an exciting future, a fascinating mixture which lives from its diversity
makes Berlin one of the most interesting city destinations. Morning tour
of Berlin to explore this fascinating city including the remains of the
Berlin Wall. Visit the Charlottenburg Palace, built in 1695-1713. Following
the city tour, enjoy a one hour boat cruise through the historic center
of the city. See the Museum Island, the Berlin Cathedral and Nikolai district.
Free time in the afternoon for last minute shopping. In the evening, enjoy
our Farewell Dinner in a local restaurant. Overnight - Berlin (B,D)
March 16 Sunday - BERLIN
- USA
Welcome home and thank your
for joining our tour...
|
