Following Luther’s Footsteps
Germany, 12 Days
Day 1 Arrival in Germany, visit of Berlin
After arrival at Berlin airport, you meet your tour escort and embark on your journey. Go on a sightseeing tour of all the highlights Berlin has to offer. Visit the grand Brandenburg Gate, a symbol of union and peace, as well as the magnificent “Reichstag”, where most important decisions are being made by the German government. If available, explore this politically essential building with a guide and take a walk around the spacious glass-dome, enjoying a fantastic view of the city. Stroll down the lovely boulevard “Unter den Linden” and visit the picturesque Museum Island, which marks Berlin’s historical center. Located here is one of the capital’s most famous buildings, the Berlin cathedral. It took a while, but by now Protestantism is well and truly rooted in Berlin. The vivid church life of the cathedral’s congregation and in the twin city Berlin-Cölln demonstrate this perfectly. Today’s final stop is the city’s most beautiful plaza, the Gendarmenmarkt, gorgeously framed by the German and French cathedrals. This evening enjoy a delicious welcome dinner at a lovely local restaurant. Overnight in Berlin.
Day 2 Wittenberg, Torgau
After an early breakfast, you depart for Lutherstadt Wittenberg.
When it comes to Luther, there is almost no city more important than this one. The legend of the 95 theses nailed to the door of the Castle Church, though not accurate, still gets told across the world. Visit this famous door, as well as the Luther House, the town hall, the historic center and the Town and Parish Church St. Marien, the oldest building in Wittenberg. In the afternoon proceed to Torgau, most famous for the Hartenfels Castle. Explore the charming castle itself, visit the Castle Church, stroll across the old marketplace, take a look at the oldest pharmacy and toyshop in Germany, see the death house of Katharina Luther and stop by the town Church of St. Mary’s, where Luther used to preach on a regular basis. Overnight in Torgau.
Day 3 Leipzig, Eisleben, Erfurt
In the morning you head to Leipzig and tour the city. Get to know all the important sights, such as the Gewandhaus Concert Hall, the Opera House, the Moritzbastei, the Goethe Memorial, the Naschmarkt, the St. Nicolaus Church and the St. Thomas Church. Later proceed to
Eisleben, where Luther was born and died. Discover the houses, where he took his first and his last breaths. Other sights include the Church of St. Peter and Paul, St. Andrew’s Church, St. Anne’s Church and the Old Town with its charming historical houses. In the late afternoon
continue to Erfurt. Overnight in Erfurt.
Day 4 Buchenwald, Weimar, Erfurt
After breakfast a short drive takes you to Buchenwald, one of the first and largest of the Nazi concentration camps in Germany. Here you learn about the tragic stories of the imprisoned and the horrors of the Holocaust. Following the visit to the camp, you continue to Weimar. After the heavy start to the day a relaxing stroll through the pretty town is just what you need. Luther visited Weimar at least 12 times and preached in the town Church St. Peter and Paul, where you can still find the pulpit on which he declared his theses. In the evening you return to Erfurt. Overnight in Erfurt.
Day 5 Erfurt, Eisenach
Start the day with a guided walk of the historic center of Erfurt. Marvel at the Merchants’ Bridge – the longest continuous bridge with inhabited buildings in Europe -, the Luther Memorial, the Town Hall and the Merchants’ Church. Explore the Fish Market, St. Mary’s Cathedral and the ‘Anger’, the city’s central square. It was here, in this beautiful city, that Luther decided to become a monk. Visit the Augustinian Monastery, a place that shaped and taught the young Reformer for six years. Take a glimpse at the small “cell”, where Luther lived during his stay in the monastery. Then leave Erfurt behind and travel to Eisenach. Visit the UNESCO World Heritage site Wartburg Castle. Here Luther found refuge during his exile and translated the New Testament from Greek into German. Take a look at the spartan room he lived and worked in. Overnight in Eisenach.
Day 6 Eisenach, Coburg
Today stroll the city of Eisenach and admire all its beautiful sights, such as the Luther House and St. Georg’s Church, where Luther preached while “on the run” and later, in 1685, Johann Sebastian Bach was baptized. Afterwards continue to Coburg. The Veste Coburg is one of the largest and most well-preserved medieval castle complexes in Germany. In 1530 Luther took refuge and lived here for six months. After exploring the fortress, take a walk through the charming
historical city. Overnight in Coburg.
Day 7 Speyer, Worms
The next stop on the tour is Speyer. This old and fascinating city has a lot to offer. Explore the Speyer Cathedral, the biggest Romanesque church of Europe. Admire the Luther Memorial. Visit the Mikvah, the oldest Jewish ritual bath in Europe, and the ruins of the Synagogue, built in the 12th Century. Progress to Worms, another one of the Luthercities and Germany’s oldest city by the Rhine. As Luther refused to take back his 95 theses the Imperial Diet in 1521 ended with the Edict of Worms, in which Martin Luther was branded a heretic. On a tour through town visit St. Peter’s Cathedral, one of three Imperial Cathedrals in Germany and one of the best examples of Romanesque architecture. See the Church of the Holy Trinity, the oldest Jewish Cemetery in Europe and the world’s largest Memorial to the Reformation. Overnight in Worms.
Day 8 Mainz, Rüdesheim
After breakfast you head to Mainz. Discover the third Imperial
Cathedral of Germany: St. Martin’s Cathedral. Admire the Old Town, the Roman Temple, the Royal Palace and the gothic Church St. Stephan’s with its blue stained-glass windows by Marc Chagall. A visit to the Gutenberg Museum brings you directly to the birthplace of printing. Heart of the museum’s exhibition are two copies of the world-famous 42-line Gutenberg Bible, which are displayed in a special vault. Next enjoy a guided tour, that takes you past all the highlights that Bingen and Rüdesheim have to offer. Along the way you learn about the wine production in this region, as well as the legends and mysteries that surround the age-old river and the entire Rhine valley. Further, you visit the Museum of Bingen and the Rhein-Nahe-Eck. In Rüdesheim take a stroll through the picturesque Drosselgasse. End the day in a relaxed atmosphere, with a glass of wine and a soft pretzel. Overnight in Rüdesheim.
Day 9 Loreley, Heidelberg, Bretten
You have such an exciting day ahead. First you get to embark on a cruise on the Rhine. Relish in the beauty of this striking landscape with its magical castles, ancient ruines, bold cliffs, steep vineyards, and quaint small towns. After arriving at the dangerous rock formation called the Loreley, leave the boat and continue by coach to Heidelberg, located by the river Neckar. The Heidelberg Mountain Railway takes you up to the Castle. There you can admire the castle itself, the Castle Garden, the Castle Church, the Pharmacy Museum and the Big Historical Barrel. Take a walk through this oldest university town in Germany. See the famous Stone Bridge over the river Neckar and the Church of the Holy Ghost. After a short drive you reach Bretten. Overnight in Bretten.
Day 10 Bretten, Augsburg, Munich
Start the morning with a quick visit to the Melanchthon House in Bretten before continuing to Augsburg. It was here in 1518 at St. Anna’s Church that Luther met the papal legate, Cardinal Cajetan, who demanded that Luther submit to the pope. The city was also site of the Diet of Augsburg in 1530, where the Augsburg confession was presented, in which Lutherans explained the nature and teachings of their confession. In the town hall, the Peace of Augsburg was signed in 1555, making the division of Christianity legal. A short drive finally brings you to Munich. Overnight in Munich.
Day 11 Munich
On a walking tour through Munich’s historic center enjoy the view of famous buildings and squares, including the Marienplatz with the town hall and its glockenspiel, as well as the “Frauenkirche” with its distinctive onion dome towers. Also discover the delicious shops that make up the Viktualienmarkt. In the afternoon you have some time to explore on your own and shop for souvenirs, before the farewell dinner this evening at the renowned Hofbräuhaus. Overnight in
Munich.
Day 12 Travel Day
Today it is time to say goodbye to Germany. We trust you will leave with a lot of great memories and fascinating experiences. Hopefully we will see you again soon.
Tour information
