12 day Oberammergau Passion Play Reformation Tour

Fly to Berlin

Our journey to explore the sites and heroes of the Reformation begins with an overnight flight to Berlin. Early arrivals are welcome to join Frank for an optional dinner at a local restaurant. (IF)

Berlin, Wittenberg

Welcome to Germany! On arrival in Berlin, travelers will take a taxi to the centrally-located hotel. After time to explore the nearby Kaiser Wilhelm Church, purchase lunch, and shop, we will gather back at the hotel to begin the tour. Our afternoon bus orientation tour will include a stop at the famous Brandenburg Gate for photos We’ll then go back to the time of Luther as we visit Lutherstadt-Wittenberg, the birthplace of the Reformation. This evening we’ll enjoy a welcome dinner, and spend our first night in Wittenberg. (IF/D)

Wittenberg

This morning our local guide will take us on a tour of Lutherstadt Wittenberg. It was here in 1517 that Martin Luther nailed his famous 95 Theses to the door of Castle Church (Schlosskirche). Although the original doors were destroyed in the Seven Years War, we can see Luther’s texts cast in bronze on the new doors. We will visit St. Mary’s Church where Luther regularly preached and visit the Old Latin School next door. Luther’s former home, the Lutherhalle, is now a Reformation Museum and we will see where he lived with his family, as well as some of Luther’s very own personal library, rare manuscripts, and early Bibles. The rest of the day is free to explore independently. (B)

Eisleben, Erfurt

This morning we will visit Eisleben, one of Luther’s favorite towns. This is where he was born and also where he died, so it is sometimes referred to as his Bethlehem and Jerusalem. We’ll visit both these homes with our guide, as well as St. Anne’s, an old miner’s church famous for the Biblical Scenes hewn in stone. We will also visit St. Peter and St. Paul Church where Luther was baptized. We will then continue to Erfurt and dine in our hotel. (B/D)

Eisenach, Erfurt

Today’s full-day excursion is to Eisenach. In 1521, while fleeing from the wrath of the Pope, Luther took refuge in the Wartburg Castle after a fake kidnapping staged by his friend and protector, Frederick the Wise. We will tour the Wartburg and see where Luther finished translating the New Testament into German in just eleven weeks. Luther spent time in the nearby town of Eisenach at as school boy and sang in the choir of St. George’s Church, where the Bach family also worshiped. The afternoon is free to explore the town or tour the Bach Museum and Luther House Museum. The bus will then take us back to Erfurt and the rest of the day is at leisure. (B)

Erfurt, Rudesheim

Our local guide will take us on a tour including viewing St. Mary’s Cathedral, St. Severin’s Church and the famous Merchant’s Bridge. We will end our tour at the Augustinian Monastery where Luther became a monk on July 17, 1505. We will be able to see his monastic quarters, including one cell furnished to look as it would have done when he lived there. At the end of the tour we will have a group worship service in the chapel. On our way to the Rhine River, we will watch a Reformation DVD. We will stay overnight in Rudesheim and enjoy a meal in a local restaurant this evening. (B/D)

Rhine Cruise, Worms, Heidelberg

What better way to start the day than with a Rhine cruise! We’ll board the boat and sail past magnificent castles and the famous Loreley rock to St. Goar. Every bend in the river brings more stunning scenery, ships pass left & right, and numerous trains roar up and down the Rhine River valley. From there we will drive to Worms, where we will tour the Cathedral, followed by the site of Luther’s Worms Debates (Diet of Worms), now a park, with a plaque commemorating Luther’s brave stand for faith and truth in 1521. We’ll have a photo stop at the stunning Reformation Monument, followed by a visit to the Church of the Holy Trinity. Tonight’s dinner is in a winery, then we will check-in to our hotel in Heidelberg. (B/D)

Heidelberg, Rothenburg

We have a leisurely morning today. We can either attend church, relax, or visit Heidelberg Castle which boasts the world’s largest wine barrel, a fascinating history and a stunning view. We will then drive to Rothenburg, the most picturesque and well-preserved of the towns along the famous “Romantic Road”. It’s one of Germany’s very best walled medieval cities, most of the buildings were built by 1400. We will begin with a walk along the city wall. Inside St. Jacob’s Church we will see the famous carved “Holy Blood Altar” by Tilman Riemenschneider. We will continue through the lower town gate into the area where the castle once stood. We will dine in our hotel this evening. (B/D)

Wieskirche, Oberammergau

We’ll have some time this morning to shop at the famous Käthe Wohlfahrt store. We will travel south today using the fabled “Romantic Road,” Germany’s most famous and popular tourist route which runs for 350 romantic kilometres across a rich and varied cultural landscape along the river Main and through the Franconian wine country to the Alps. We’ll pass small historic villages full of their original charm, including the small village of Wies. This is home to the famous rococo Wieskirche and we will have a tour of this beautiful baroque church. We will end our day in our 4-star hotel in the Oberammergau area. (B/D)

Oberammergau Passion Play

We will transfer to Oberammergau this morning and have time to shop or explore locally on our own. We will eat lunch together before Part One of the Play, which begins at 2:30 PM. There is a break for dinner from 5:00 Pm to 8:00 PM and we will dine together in a restaurant in Oberammergau. Part Two ends at 10:30 PM and then we will board our bus to return to our hotel. (B/L/D)

Munich

After a leisurely breakfast, we will spend some time by the gorgeous Lake Starnberg with lunch in Tutzing. In the afternoon we will have a walking tour of Munich, including the Cathedral, the Marienplatz, and the Old Town. This evening we finish our fun tour with a farewell Bavarian meal in a beer garden. We will overnight in Munich. (B/L/D)

Fly home

We will provide transfers for morning flights back to the USA. Post-tour nights in Munich are available on request. (B)

Please note this itinerary is copyrighted to Reformation Tours. Special Group Tours acts as a travel agent on their behalf, sold with permission.

What are accommodations like? Our hotels are chosen for their quality, amenities and proximity to areas of interest. Whenever possible, we choose hotels in town centers, so that you are able to go off and explore in your free time. It may be necessary for us to substitute hotels for others of equal quality. You will be fully informed of any changes that affect you. Enjoy your stay!

Optional Pre-tour hotel in Berlin, Germany
June 7-8, 2020
Hotel Movenpick
Schoneberger Strasse 3
10963 Berlin

Wittenberg, Germany
June 8-10, 2020
Best Western Stadt Palais
Collegianstrasse 56-57
06886 Wittenberg

Erfurt, Germany
June 10-12, 2020
Augustinian Monastery
Augustinerstrase 10
99084 Erfurt

Rudesheim, Germany
June 12-13, 2020
Central Hotel
Kirchstr. 6
65385 Rüdesheim am Rhein

Heidelberg, Germany
June 13-14, 2020
Qube Heidelberg
Bergheimer Str. 74
69115 Heidelberg

Rothenburg, Germany
June 14-15, 2020
Hotel Schranne
Schrannenplatz 6
D-91541 Rothenburg ob der Tauber

Oberammergau, Germany
June 15-17, 2020
Hotel is part of the Oberammergau package and will be assigned at the end of 2019.

Munich, Germany
June 17-18, 2020
Maritim Hotel Munchen
Goethestraße 7
80336 Munich

Group flights will be available for this tour for groups of 10+. If you would like to make your own arrangements, please arrange to be in Berlin on the morning of June 7, 2020. If you would prefer to arrive earlier, we can arrange a pre-tour hotel night in Berlin. We can either assist you with flights, or you can book your own. Please ensure we have a copy of your flight itinerary for our records as soon as you have booked it.