Catholic Germany and Oberammergau Passion Play

These Oberammergau Passion Play suggested itineraries are available to groups of 10 + guests.

Specific inclusions may vary depending on your specific chosen travel dates/day of the week and availability of attractions/special events.

TENTATIVE SUGGESTED ITINERARY

Depart home for your overnight flight to Munich

Arrive Munich

Arrival today in the capital of Bavaria, the inimitable city of Munich, with architecture built in the classical style by King Ludwig II who admired the art and grandeur of ancient Greece and Rome. We have a guided orientation tour of the city taking in the beautiful Gothic ‘Frauenkirche’, the Church of Our Lady with its famous onion domes, the Marienplatz with its town hall and famous Glockenspiel, the Olympic Stadium built for the games in 1972.

Overnight Munich

Munich (Altotting & Markt Am Inn, birthplace of the Pope)

 We drive out of Munich to visit the picturesque pilgrim town of Altötting, in the heart of Bavaria on the Inn River .For more than 500 years, visitors have come to see the world-famous early Gothic statue of the Madonna in the pilgrim's chapel, as well as those of the "Silver Prince", Max III Joseph, Holy Brother Conrad von Parzham, and the late Gothic miracle tablets. Celebrate Mass today in this holy site.

We also see the Papal Linden Tree planted by Pope John Paul II before following in the footsteps of our Pope to Marktl am Inn where on April 16, 1927 Josef Ratzinger was born, becoming Pope Benedict XVI many years later. Return to Munich . Evening dinner at the famous traditional Hofbrauhaus.

Overnight Munich

Munich /Oberammergau

We enjoy a scenic journey today southwards out of Munich through scenes of pastoral beauty as we drive through meadows dotted with wooden farmsteads, forests and undulating hills. On the way to Oberammergau we make a stop at Linderhof, one of King Ludwig’s fantasy castles, an amazing Baroque spectacle. We also visit Ettal Abbey, a magnificent Baroque Benedictine Abbey. Mass celebrated here today.

Continue to our hotel in the Oberammergau area, in the delightful Bavarian region. (B,D)

Oberammergau

This morning transfer to the delightful village in the Ammergau Alps, famous for its wonderful Passion Play. The play has taken place every 10 years since 1634. Time to enjoy the beautiful frescoed houses and its amazing alpine setting. Enjoy the atmosphere in the village as you build up to this once in a lifetime experience – the 2020 Passion Play.

Lunch provided at hotel

2:30PM-5:00PM Afternoon Passion Play performance

5:00PM-8:00PM Time for dinner at your hotel

8:00PM-10:00PM Evening Passion Play performance

Overnight Oberammergau (B,L,D)

Oberammergau/Augsburg

A short drive away from this village, our pilgrimage continues as we visit Wieskirche, Pilgrimage Church of the Scourged Saviour. This world famous rococo jewel became famous in the 18^th century as a place of reverence for the Scourged Saviour. Out of the miracle of June 14, 1738, when tears were seen on the face of the Scourged Saviour, there rapidly developed a pilgrimage of huge proportions. Human tears were the spiritual building stones from which the church was created. Today the church lives from its spiritual and artistic richness. Celebrate Mass at Wies Kirche.

Continue our journey today to the famous UNESCO designated World Heritage Site – the fairytale castle at Neuschwanstein completed in 1886 as a private refuge from the world for King Ludwig II.

Return to Oberammergau to celebrate Mass.

Dinner and overnight at our hotel.

Oberammergau /Augsburg/ Regensburg

Leave Oberammergau this morning and drive northwards to the ancient city of Augsburg. Tour of the city. Pilgrims will be amazed by the unique combination of Romanesque and Gothic architecture when we visit St. Mary's Cathedral. Its great treasures feature windows from the 12th Century displaying the prophets, as well as the paintings and sculptures of the late Middle Ages in the Diocesan Museum next door. Also visit St. Ulrich's Church, a richly furnished late Gothic basilica, housing the tombs of the great diocesan saints Afra, Ulrich and Simpert. This afternoon continue our journey to Regensburg.

Regensburg

Regensburg is the best preserved medieval city in Germany. The delightful medieval townscape is characterised by red roofs, churches, towers, turrets and townhouses from the 12th to 14th centuries. We see the oldest stone bridge in Germany, and we will visit the beautiful Rococo church "Zu unserer lieben Frau" (Church of Our Dear Lady). Also as part of our orientation tour of the town we visit St. Peter's Cathedral - testimony to the grandeur of the medieval era with its beautiful 14th century stained glass windows . Celebrate Mass at Niedermunster Church today in Regensburg.

Wurzburg

Awake in Wurzburg, a historic city with many key sites for Catholic pilgrims. Our tour this morning will take in the Prince-bishops' Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage site, with its sumptuous Baroque design by Balthasar Neumann. It also houses the world's largest painting by the Venetian painter, Tiepolo. Visit also the Cathedral (Dom),St. Kilian, the fourth largest Romanesque church in Germany, and The Neumünster Church, built on the sacred gravesite of three Franconian martyrs. On the charming market square, also see the late Gothic Chapel of St. Mary (Marienkapelle) with its rich ornamental sculptures, of which the statues of Adam and Eve and the "Beautiful Madonna" are especially noteworthy.

Wurzburg /Rothenburg /Heidelberg/Trier

This morning leave Wurzburg and enjoy a full day’s journey to Trier, visiting on the way two extremely beautiful and atmospheric locations. Our first stop is the beautiful walled medieval village of Rothenburg Ober Der Tauber famous also for its year-round Christmas shop! Upon arrival we will have a brief visit with time to walk through the medieval streets and visit the famous St Jakob’s Kirche. Afterwards we continue our journey (2 hours approximately) to Heidelberg – a beautiful university town in a glorious setting overlooking the river Neckar. Our tour manager will orientate us and we will have time to explore this lovely atmospheric town. Continue late afternoon to Trier. Arrival this evening in the wonderful Roman city of Trier – an inspiring opportunity for Catholic pilgrims.

Dinner and overnight Trier

Trier

This morning we will have a guided tour of Trier, Germany’s oldest city. We visit the Basilika, Constantin’s Throne room, the largest surviving single-room structure from Roman times, and a UNESCO world-heritage site. We also visit the other key Roman sites of the city including the Roman Amphitheatre, Porta Nigra the Roman gateway to the city built in AD 160 and the Imperial Baths. We will celebrate Mass at the great Cathedral which stands on top of a former Constantinian palace in the heart of the city and visit the Bishop's museum, with its collection of Christian art.

This afternoon we take some time to wander around the cathedral city centre. Afterwards we visit the 13^th century Church of Our Lady, the oldest gothic church in Germany, whose crucifix floor plan resembles a twelve petalled rose, a symbol of the Virgin Mary, the rosa mystica, and reminiscent of the twelve tribes of Israel and the Twelve Apostles. The apostles as well as the twelve articles of the Apostle's Creed are painted on the twelve supporting columns, completely visible only from one spot marked by a black stone. Dinner and overnight.

Trier/Cologne/Rhineland

We leave Trier this morning and journey to Cologne to visit the outstanding Catholic pilgrimage site of Cologne Cathedral, the Gothic cathedral St Peter & Mary, a world heritage site since 1998, and location of Catholic World Youth Day in 2004. We visit this great cathedral in the heart of the city, which houses the Shrine of the Three Magi, the first monumental crucifix in Northern Europe (before 1000) and spectacular medieval stained glass windows. We have a guided tour of the cathedral with an official guide. After some free time for lunch we journey into the heart of the Rhine Valley a short cruise along the river Rhine’s mostlovely stretch from Boppard to St Goar taking in views of vineyards and castles and the famous Lorelei Rock.

Overnight and farewell dinner in the Rhine region.

After breakfast, group transfer to Frankfurt airport for your flight home or extend your stay in Europe independently.