OBERAMMERGAU PASSION PLAY 2010

13-DAY REFORMATION HERITAGE

including sites of - Jan Hus – John Knox and John Calvin

See Departure Dates and Rates

• DAY 1—USA/EN ROUTE

  Depart early evening flight to Europe during which we will sit back and relax and enjoy a sumptuous meal.

• DAY 2—BERLIN

  Arrive at the Berlin Airport. Meet your representative and transfer to your hotel. Enjoy a panoramic tour the major sights of unified Berlin, capital of Germany. Dinner and overnight in Berlin. (D)

• DAY 3—BERLIN

  Visit the Brandenburg gate, Reichstag, the Berlin cathedral, Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church, Check Point Charlie, and Alexander Platz. Visit the Bonhoeffer House (Bonhoeffer's parents). Hidden here were the analysis of the German resistance and on April 5, 1943, Dietrich Bonhoeffer was arrested in this building. This afternoon tour the extraordinary Pergamum museum. It includes the Ishtaar gates and Zeus Altar ("The Throne Satan"—Revelation). Return to your hotel. Dinner and overnight in Berlin. (B, D)

• DAY 4—WITTENBERG/TORGAU/LEIPZIG

  Depart Berlin via the former East Germany to Luther's city, Wittenberg. In 1502 the University of Wittenberg was founded, and in 1508 Luther received his Professorship. In 1517 he posted his 95 theses on the door of the Castle Church. Wittenberg was his home for over 30 years. Visit the Luther House, the Melanchton House, and the Castle Church (Luther's burial site). Also visit Cranach House, home of Lucas the painter. A self-host lunch will be at the city market place. Depart for Torgau. It was in Torgau, 1530 that Luther, Melanchton, Jonas and Bugenhagen drew up the Torgau Articles, part of the great Augsburg Confession. Katherine, Luther's wife, is buried at the Pastor Church. Visit the Church and depart for Leipzig to visit St. Thomas Church. Johan Sebastian Bach served as Cantor and Choirmaster for Over 25 years. Bach's tomb is at the church. Dinner and overnight in Leipzig. (B, D)

• DAY 5—LEIPZIG/DRESDEN/PRAGUE

  Visit St. Nicholas Church (oldest church in Leipzig—12th Century). Demonstrations that initiated the peaceful political change emanated from here. Depart for Dresden. Pass by the Zwinger Palace, the Semper Opera House, and visit Furstenzug to view the Procession of the Princes (an enormous porcelain mural). Visit the newly restored St. Mary's Church. Depart for Prague. Dinner and overnight in Prague. (B, D)

• DAY 6—PRAGUE

  The Prague tour includes a visit to St. Vitus Cathedral (interiors included), Royal Castle, St George, and Mala Strana. Pass by St Nicolas the lesser. After lunch cross the Charles Bridge, visit the Old Town, and view the Astronomical Clock. Include Our Lady Before Tyn and the monument of the reformist Jan Hus. Dinner and overnight in Prague. (B, D)

• DAY 7—PRAGUE

  Visit the Bethlehem chapel, where Jan Hus would have preached. Continue into the Jewish Quarter (Josefov Quarter). Visit the Stare Novy (old and new) Synagogue and Ghetto area. The afternoon is at leisure. Dinner tonight is at a local restaurant that includes a Folklore Show. Dinner and overnight in Prague. (B, D)

• DAY 8—NEUSCHWANSTEIN/OBERAMMERGAU

  Depart Prague traveling by Tabor, a refuge place of the Hussites—where they believed that the Messiah would return to, hence is the name Tabor. Continue the legendary Neuschwanstein Castle. The visit will be very time consuming because of crowds. Continue to Oberammergau. Dinner and overnight in Oberammergau or vicinity. (B, D)

• DAY 9—PASSION PLAY

  The entire day is devoted to attending a performance of the world famous Passion Play which is held once every ten years in this charming small Bavarian village. Dinner and overnight in Oberammergau or vicinity. (B, L, D)

• DAY 10—BLACK FOREST/ZURICH

  This morning, enter the legendary Black Forest region of Germany into Switzerland. At Lake Constance view the Schaffhausen Waterfalls (Europe's highest) roaring into the mighty Rhine River. Continue to Constance to learn the story of Czech Reformer John Hus. The Constance Cathedral, site of the Council of Constance in 1415, is where Hus was sentenced to death for his alleged heresy. View the Hussenstein, the stone that marks the very spot where Hus was burned at the stake. Continue to Zurich. Meet your local guide who will reveal much more about Zwingli on a tour of the key Reformation sites of Zurich. Visit Zwingli's church, Grossmünster, containing the world famous Chagall stained glass windows, and the Zwingli Statue. Walk in the historic Auld Stadt (old city) enjoying the Swiss heritage and the Helferei (Zwingli's home). Tour the Guild Hall and Museum that displays art from the Swiss Reformation. End the tour with a visit to Fraumunster, Zurich's famous Catholic Cathedral. Dinner and overnight in Zurich. (B, D)

• DAY 11—LUCERNE/GENEVA

  Depart for the charming Swiss town of Lucerne. Tour Lucerne with a brief walking tour to view the City Walls and its famous covered wooden bridges. The Kapellbrucke (Chapel Bridge) is a symbol of Lucerne that dates back to the 14th century. Close by is the Spreurerbrucke (Spreuer Bridge, 1408). View the ornate patrician houses along the cobbled streets. Lunch is self-host today. Optional: take the cogwheel to the spectacular Mt Pilatus. This afternoon motor through spectacular scenery to Geneva. Dinner and overnight in Geneva. (B, D)

• DAY 12—GENEVA

  In Geneva, John Calvin and John Knox brought Christ's teachings to eager listeners. Tour the waterfront, famous for its Flower Clock and English Gardens. Continue to the old town area to Cathedral St. Pierre (St. Peter's Cathedral). Here John Calvin preached and stoked the fires of the Reformation in Geneva. It's only 157 steps up to the top of the North Tower for the view. Under the Cathedral are the ruins of a Roman sanctuary, a 4th century basilica, and a 6th century church. Continue to the Auditoire de Calvin (Calvin's Academy, The Protestant Lecture Hall), where the Calvin taught. John Knox also taught here for three years. Visit the impressive Reformation Monument; four statues of four Reformation leaders stand here. The afternoon is at leisure. Dinner and overnight in Geneva. (B, D)

• DAY 13—GENEVA/DEPARTURE

  After breakfast, transfer to the airport for return flights home. (B)

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