Wednesday, September 8: DEPART THE UNITED STATES
Board the transatlantic flight to Europe.
Dinner and breakfast served aloft.
Thursday, September 9: WITTENBERG
Wilkommen in Deutschland! Welcome to Germany! After clearing customs, meet your trip director and board your luxury motorcoach for a visit to Lutherstadt Wittenberg. First mentioned as a forticifation in a document dating from 1180, Wittenberg was given City status in 1293. The favorable location of the town by the River Elbe, as well as the junction of two important trade routes, contributed to the development of the town. Visit the Lutherhaus, home to the world's largest collection of artifacts from the Reformation and former residence of Martin Luther and now open for tours. Just down the street is St. Mary's, also known as the Town Church, which was Luther's parish church. Marvel at the Cranach altar paintings and the grand pulpit. At the end of Collegienstrasse, the Castle Church was the venue for posting the 95 Theses and now serves as the final resting place of the Great Reformer and his counselor, Philip Melanchthon. In the late afternoon, continue on to Dresden where dinner awaits.
Breakfast. Dinner.
O/N Dresden
Friday, September 10: DRESDEN
After breakfast, tour the city of Dresden. Splendidly situated on a bend in the Elbe River, Dresden's rococo yellows and greens make it enormously appealing. After checking in to the hotel, enjoy a city tour of the capital of Saxony. View the broad Altmark which is surrounded by the 18th century Kreuzkirche, the reconstructed Rathaus, and the 18th century Landhaus. Stand before the glorious Lutheran Frauenkirche whose Saxon sandstone walls were so sturdily built that they withstood a three-day bombardment during the Seven Years' War only to fall victim to an overnight raid by the Allies in the closing days of World War II. The church has been painstakingly reconstructed and re-consecrated in time for Dresden's 800th birthday. Near the Frauenkirche is the famous Albertinum, Dresden's leading art museum. Impressive as the art gallery is, it is the Green Vault that draws the most attention, containing as exquisite collection of unique objects d'art fashioned from gold, silver, ivory, amber, and other precious and semi-precious materials. Here too, sits the drinking bowl of Ivan the Terrible. Nearby are the Cathedral of St. Trinitas, the largest church in Saxony, and the Semper Opera House, justifiably one of Germany's best-known (it seats 1,323), and the uninterrupted views and flawless acoustics are renowned. Finally, view the Zwinger Palace containing the Gallery of Old Masters, the porcelain collection, zoological museum, and the Mathematics and Physics Salon.
Breakfast.
O/N Dresden
Saturday, September 11: LEIPZIG
After checking out, travel to nearby Leipzig for a tour. Stand before the Nikolaikirche, where in 1989, thousands of East Germans stood to protest the totalitarian regime, spawning the collapse of worldwide Communism. Spend some reflective moments in the beautifully restored Tlhomaskirche, the Gothic Church where Johann Sebastian Bach, master of the contrapuntal style, was choirmaster for 27 years and was laid to rest before the altar. It was here that Martin Luther preached on Whit Sunday, 1539, signaling the arrival of Protestantism in Leipzig. Bach's 12 children and the infant Richard Wagner were baptized in the church's early 17th Century font. In the afternoon, explore this vibrant university on your own. At the end of the day, continue on to Eisenach where dinner awaits.
Breakfast. Dinner.
O/N Eisenach
Sunday, September 12: EISENACH
Today, tour the remarkable town of Eisenach. Pass through the most impressive collection of Jugendstil villas dating from the turn of the century. Our destination is the mythical Wartburg Castle, the site of national and cultural events of monumental significance. Count the steps leading to the drawbridge and imagine Bach, Liszt, Luther, Goeth climbing this rocky precipice. Built in the 12th Century, the Warburg became known around the Western world in 1521 when Luther accomplished the tremendous linguistic feat of translating the New Testament of the Bible from Greek in German. Legend has it that Luther also encountered the devil incarnate here as cast an inkwell at Lucifer. Visit the apartments of St. Elizabeth and the Grand Concert Hall which served as the model for the hall in Neuschwanstein. In the afternoon, join the private guide for the visit of the old town. J.S. Bach was born here and his parents died in Eisenach. At the St. Georges' Church stand before the baptismal font where Johann Sebastian was christened. Hear the organ and imagine how the mighty Reformer preached to the Eisenachers in 1521 on his way to the Imperial Diet in Worms. Take time to visit the stall in the colorful town marketplace adjoining the Church as it has since the Dark Ages. The curator of the Bachhaus, Germany's only museum devoted to the genius of the Bach Family will be expecting us. You are invited to a private demonstration of the Baroque instruments played by a master musician. Visit the original house where Luther lived during his formative years.
Breakfast.
O/N Eisenach
Monday, September 13: ROTHENBURG & THE ROMANTIC ROAD
After checking out, board the motorcoach for the drive to lovely Rothenburg. Tucked along the eastern bank of the Tauber River and preserved inside the stout city wall Rothenburg is quite simply the most impressive medieval citadel anywhere. Take time to see the inner city with not one modern building in the entire Alstadt. It's never too early to bring back authentic, hard-to-find Christmas fits from one of the town's many shops. Wander about this medieval town that is almost too good to be true, with gingerbread architecture galore and a wealth of fountains and flowers against a backdrop of towers and turrets. In the afternoon, continue down the Romantic Road to the Alps. This evening dinner awaits in the village of Graswang near Oberammergau.
Breakfast.
O/N Graswang-Oberammergau
Tuesday, September 14: PASSION PLAY
This morning, relax in the bucolic alpine surroundings or spend the morning in Oberammergau visiting the lovely shops. Lunch will be served. In the afternoon, the highlight of the tour begins: the Passion Play. You will be transported to the streets of Jerusalem and to Calvary to witness this spectacle that dates back to 1634. Dinner is served during the Play's intermission. In the evening, a comfortable featherbed awaits.
Breakfast. Lunch. Dinner.
O/N Graswang-Oberammergau
Wednesday, September 15: RETURN DAY
This morning transfer to the airport for the return flight to the UNITED STATES. |
