Magical Germany with 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 Frankfurt

Arrive Frankfurt / Mainz

Arrival into Frankfurt airport this morning where you will be met by your tour manager and private luxury motor coach. We have a short tour of the main Frankfurt metropolis. This handsome city is a harmonious blend of modern architecture and great historic sites. Our tour takes in the city's main places of interest including the Museum Embankment, the cobbled streets of Old Sachsenhausen and the Appel wine district, the Bankenviertel or Banking District including The Stock Exchange and the Old Opera House. During a walking tour we stroll across the Römerberg , the old town square with its ornately gabled half-timbered buildings and see St. Paul's Church, Frankfurt Cathedral and 15th century Römer Town Hall. Afterwards we drive to the one of Germany’s grand old cities, the city of Mainz, where we will check in to our hotel.

Gather together for our welcome dinner & overnight Mainz

Mainz (Rhine Valley including Rhine cruise)  

This morning we will visit the Mainz Gutenberg Museum home to the incredible Gutenberg Bible and the first printing press invented by Johannes Gutenberg. We then embark on a beautiful journey through the Rhine Valley and visit the picturesque riverside village of Rudesheim. We will board our Rhine Cruise to Sankt Goarshausen which takes us along the mighty river Rhine famous for its wonderful scenery of hills and valleys dotted with ancient castles and pretty medieval villages. We will see the famous Loreley rock and the 13^th century Rheinfels Castle, the strongest fortress on the Rhine until it fell to the French in 1794 as well as numerous other castle ruins. This portion of the Rhine Valley has justly been listed by UNESCO as a world heritage site and has long been a source of inspiration for many writers, artists and composers.

We return to our hotel to enjoy dinner and overnight.

Mainz - Worms - Heidelberg - Rothenburg

This morning we visit the important historic city of Worms situated on the west bank of the River Rhine. This amazing city has pre Roman foundations and retains an interesting historical centre. We will visit the spectacular Imperial cathedral of Worms, the finest example of Romanesque architecture in Germany. We will then see the world’s largest Reformation monument designed by Ernst Rietschel and inaugurated in 1868. The design is based on the Lutheran hymn ‘A Mighty Fortress is our God’ and keeps alive the memory of the Protestant reformer Dr Martin Luther and of the Reformation. It commemorates his visit to Worms in 1521 when he was summoned to appear before Emperor Charles V at the Diet of Worms.

Afterwards we have a short drive to the romantic city of Heidelberg in its wonderful setting on the river Neckar. The city is dominated by its beautiful redbrick Renaissance castle with the old town streets strewn along the bank of the river. We have a guided tour of the old town and time at leisure to have lunch. Afterwards we drive eastwards towards to the outstanding medieval town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber. Walking around this charming old town is like stepping back into the 16^th century – with its paved streets, old houses, fountains and old street signs. The town commands views of the river Tauber and is protected by its ancient ramparts. The old town is hugely picturesque with wonderful artisanal and craft shops, traditional cafes and wooden beamed houses. It feels like the setting for a fairy tale and is home to the best Christmas shop in Europe. We will have a guided walking tour and see the city walls, towers and ramparts and visit the ancient St Jakob’s kirche.

Overnight with dinner in Rothenburg.

Rothenburg ob der Tauber - Romantik Road - Augsburg

We leave Rothenburg this morning driving southwards along the famous route along the picturesque Romantik Road. Along the way we stop to visit the delightful villages of Dinkelsbhul and Nordlingern. We continue to the outstanding city of Augsburg, the third oldest city in Germany with origins going back to 15BC. The simply beautiful historical old town has lots to explore with its beautiful setting on the canals of the river Lech and an outstanding Renaissance center. We will have a guided tour which includes the medieval guild houses, the 11^th century St Mary’s cathedral, the onion domed Sankt Ulrich & Afra. We also see the key Renaissance buildings such as the Augsburger Town Hall with its Golden Hall, Maximillian strasse, the magnificent fountains and the Fuggerei houses.

Enjoy dinner tonight at your hotel.

Augsburg - Munich

This morning we will drive to Munich the glorious capital of Bavaria in Southern Germany. In the early 19^th century King Ludwig I aimed to make his capital one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. His passion for the arts and love of Greece and Italy is reflected in the style of the Pinakotheks, the University, the Glyptothek and the Propylean. Upon arrival we will have an orientation tour of the great landmarks of the city including the Olympic Stadium and a visit to Nymphenberg Palace, the main summer palace of the princes of Bavaria. We arrive into the old town or ‘altstadt’ for a walking tour where we enjoy the central square the Marienplatz with the famous Neues Rathaus (New town hall) with its popular glockenspiel show that chimes at midday from its tower. Also in the old town we see The Frauenkirche, the majestic Catholic Church which towers over the old town and whose nave can hold up to 20,000 worshippers! The day will end with some time at leisure. The famous English Garden is Munich’s largest park and is larger than Central Park with delightful woodland walks to explore and paddle boats to hire. This is a true emblem of Munich! Time at leisure perhaps to explore The English Garden or visit one of the art museums or the Residenz.

Dinner at a local restaurant in Munich included this evening.

Munich - Linderhof - Oberammergau

This morning we will commence our journey towards Oberammergau. We travel through the mellow undulating green hills and valleys, meadows and lush forests of Bavaria. We journey first to Wieskirche, ‘The White Church’ a UNESCO world heritage cultural site. The pilgrimage church of Wies is a uniquely beautiful oval Rococo church created in the 1740s to replace the humble wooden church that was the original place of pilgrimage. We will then continue our journey to one of King Ludwig II’s beautifully ornate palaces – his fine and magical Linderhof Palace at Ettal. We visit the castle whose highlight is the King’s lavish bedroom and also the fantastical gardens which were modelled on the gardens at Versailles. We also pause to visit the beautiful Benedictine Abbey at Ettal with its Baroque church and ornately frescoed dome. We then continue our journey to the pretty mountain village of Oberammergau. This delightful village is set in the Ammergau Alps and is famous for the Passion Play which takes place every decade and has done so since 1634.

Dinner and overnight.

The 2020 Passion Play - Oberammergau

This morning we enjoy exploring the village of Oberammergau enjoying the picturesque wooden houses with their colorful frescoes and the beautiful alpine setting. The atmosphere in the village builds as the time approaches for the start of the first part of the play in the afternoon, which continues after dinner in the evening at the atmospheric open-air Passion Play Theatre. Witness a unique and momentous occasion as you experience the Oberammergau 2020 Passion Play.The Oberammergau Passion Play is a play on an epic level and a truly once in a life time experience. No one can fail to be moved by this emotive production which tells the story of the Passion of the life of Jesus - the story of living, suffering, dying and the resurrection. Be blown away by the monumental stage with its moving and beautiful ‘tableux’ painted in pastel hues, the huge numbers of its chorus and the authentic costumes. Be moved by the beautiful music with full orchestra and choir, given an ethereal quality by the atmosphere of the stage, the stars above and the beauty of the stage sets.

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

5:00PM-8:00PM Included dinner

8:00PM-10:00PM The Passion Play performance continues this evening.

Overnight Oberammergau

Neuschwanstein, Hohenschwangau castles

Discovering Bavarian royalty at their fairytale castles of Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau will be the focus of the day. The fit may enjoy a walk around the castles through stunning woodlands. Here be surrounded by grand scenery and rural village life in the district around Fussen and Ruette. What journey to Germany is compete without seeing 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! Please note: Although we can include the mini bus ride up to Neuschwanstein castle, there are still 165 steps to climb up and 181 to climb down.

Later make the way into Innsbruck, where the group can have a farewell dinner together.

Overnight: Innsbruck

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