The Reformation Tour of Germany and Switzerland

Day 1

Leave the US for Frankfurt, Germany.

Day 2

Arrive in Frankfurt, Germany: Worms - Mainz - Marburg. The town of Worms is where Martin Luther was tried for heresy in 1521. Luther thought he was being brought to the Diet of Worms to debate, but when he arrived he was expected to recant. We will visit the cathedrals and monuments erected in memory of Martin Luther. Mainz: It is thought to be the place that Johannes Gutenberg invented the principal of movable type. In 1450 his first printed book was the Latin Bible named the Gutenberg Bible. This made it possible to spread the teachings of Luther much faster thereby spreading the Reformation throughout Europe. Marburg: This is the place where the first Protestant University is located. In addition to the university there is a castle where Luther and Zwingli met at the Colloquy of Marburg. It is here they debated over the presence of the Lord at the Lord's Supper and left the meeting without agreement.
Overnight in Marburg: Dinner included

Day 3

Marburg - Eisenach/Wartburg -Erfurt: Eisenach/Wartburg: This morning we will drive to Eisenach for a guided tour of the Wartburg Castle where Luther translated the Bible into German. We will also visit Luther's house, St. George Church, the Luther Memorial, as well as the Bach family home and museum. Erfurt: We will then board the bus for the trip to Erfurt where Luther lived as an Augustinian monk. We will also visit the Franciscan Church where Luther preached in 1529 and St. Mary's Church where he was ordained as a priest.
Overnight in Erfurt: Breakfast and Dinner included

Day 4

Erfurt - Weimar - Eisleben - Leipzig: After breakfast we will travel to Weimar where the Franciscan Monastery is located and is now the Franz Liszt Academy of Music. This is the church that Luther stayed at on his way to Augsburg for interrogation by Cardinal Cajetan. We will also make a visit to the Municipal Palace. Our next stop is the town of Eisleben where Luther was born and baptized and died in 1546. We will continue on to Leipzig and overnight in our hotel.
Overnight in Leipzig: Breakfast and Dinner included

Day 5

Leipzig - Wittenberg - Torgau - Leipzig: In the morning we will see the sights of Leipzig including St. Thomas Church where Johan Sebastian Bach served as organist and choirmaster, St. Nicholas Church and the town hall. In the afternoon we will drive to Wittenberg where Luther was a professor at the university and lived 36 years of his life. It was here on the door of the Castle Church that Martin Luther nailed the 95 Theses. In the Castle Church are the tombs of Luther and Melancthon. We will also visit the home of Luther and his wife Katharina von Bora. We will then take a short drive to Torgau a town noted for the first Presbyterian Church consecrated by Luther in 1544. In this town Luther's wife died and is buried here. Before driving back to Leipzig we will tour the Municipal Church of St. Mary with it's alter table by Lucas Cranach.
Overnight in Leipzig: Breakfast and Dinner included

Day 6

Leipzig - Coburg - Würzburg: Leaving Leipzig in the morning we will drive to Coburg. Luther lived in Coburg for 6 months in the fortress and followed the instructions of the Imperial Diet in Augsburg. Here you will visit Luther's room and the Luther Chapel. From Coburg we will travel to the beautiful town of Würzburg and check in to our hotel.
Overnight in Würzburg: Breakfast and Dinner included

Day 7

Würzburg - Nuremberg - Munich: After breakfast we will depart for Nuremberg which was the first town in the Empire that was touched by the Reformation in 1525. We will see the Beautiful Fountain built in the 14th century, the Imperial Castle and Museum. Next we will visit the Albrecht Duer Home Museum and the site of the post WWII war crimes trials. On the way to Munich our bus will pass through the picturesque towns of Dinkelsbuhl and Nordlingen. In the afternoon after we arrive in Munich we will check into our hotel.
Overnight in Munich: Breakfast and Dinner included

Day 8

Munich - Zurich: In Munich our stops for the day will include the Cathedral Church of Our Lady, the Peterskirche, the Theatinerkirche St. Kajetan, Asam Church, and the Marienplatz Opera house. We will say good-bye to Germany and drive through the beautiful countryside crossing over the border traveling to the beautiful Swiss city of Zurich.
Overnight in Zurich: Breakfast and Dinner included

Day 9

Zurich: Zurich was Ulrich Zwingli's city. Zurich is a combination of both the old and the new. Much of our time will be spent exploring the sites connected with Zwingli and also the sites of the Anabaptist movement. We will visit the church where Zwingli pastored, the Guild Hall and Museum. Next we will visit the Fraumunster Church with its famous Chagall windows. In the afternoon we will shop and get ready for our drive to Geneva.
Overnight in Zurich: Breakfast and Dinner included

Day 10

Lucerne - Geneva: While in Lucerne we will see the impressive city walls, the beautiful covered bridges and Thorwaldsen's masterful Lion's Monument. In the early afternoon settle back and enjoy the countryside as we travel to the city of John Calvin, Geneva.
Overnight Geneva: Breakfast and Dinner included

Day 11

Geneva: This was the center of the Swiss Reformation movement with John Calvin as its chief theologian. Geneva adopted the Reformation doctrine in the year 1536 and immediately became a major Protestant city. We will begin the day by visiting St. Peter's Cathedral where Calvin taught the Reformed doctrine that made him famous throughout all of Protestant Christendom. Other sites will include Calvin's Academy, Reformation Monument and the Reformation Museum. The rest of the afternoon will be spent walking through the flower gardens and shopping before the afternoon meal.
Overnight Geneva: Breakfast and Dinner included

Day 12

Geneva - USA: We board our airliner for the flight home.

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