Tour Itinerary
Day 1
Depart via scheduled air service. The destination is Berlin, Germany
Day 2: Berlin
Arrive in Berlin
Meet your Faith Journeys Tour Manager who will assist the group to an awaiting chartered motorcoach for a transfer to the hotel
Enjoy a 1-hr orientation cruise along the Spree River
Late-afternoon hotel check-in
Evening Welcome Dinner and overnight
Day 3: Berlin
Breakfast at the hotel
Visit East Berlin to stroll along its famous Unter den Linden Strasse (an iconic boulevard which once led to the palace of the Prussian monarchs), the Russian War Memorial, the Brandenburg Gate, and German Historical Museum
Lunch, on own
See what remains of “the Wall” and Checkpoint Charlie as we pass into the western sector to experience Kurfurstendamm Strasse, home to some of Berlin’s most luxurious stores. Visit Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church and enjoy some time at leisure for shopping or additional sightseeing
Evening dinner and overnight
Day 4: Juterbog / Wittenberg
Breakfast at the hotel
Transfer to Wittenberg via Juterbog to visit Nikolaikirche (St. Nicholas’ Church from the 14th century), remarkable for its three fine aisles and well-preserved coffer of Johann Tetzel
Continue to Wittenberg
Visit Schlosskirche (Castle Church) where Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses, sparking the reformation. Also visit City Church (a twin-towered Gothic church in which Luther preached during the Reformation, was married, and baptized his six children
Lunch, on own
Explore Luther’s well-preserved house where he and his family lived (it contains many Reformation relics, including Luther’s desk, his pulpit, and first editions of his books) and the Renaissance mansion of Philip Melanchthon
Evening dinner and overnight
Day 5: Torgau / Leipzig
Breakfast at the hotel
Transfer to Leipzig via Torgau, a town on the banks of the Elbe, and visit the early Renaissance Hartenfels Castle which dominates the town. Torgau’s chapel was built in 1544 and consecrated by Martin Luther. Also visit St. Mary’s Church, where Katharina von Bora, Luther’s beloved wife is buried
Lunch, on own
Continue to Leipzig where we can see Altes Rathaus and visit St. Nicholas Church and St. Thomas Church where Martin Luther preached. Bach’s 12 children and infant Richard Wagner were baptized in St. Thomas Church, and both Mozart and Mendelssohn performed here
Visit the Bach Museum
Evening dinner and overnight
Day 6: Eisleben
Breakfast at the hotel
Enjoy and Excursion to Eisleben. Martin Luther was born and died in the small city of Eisleben (Luther had a special affection for this city now officially known as “Luther-City Eisleben” Lutherstadt Eisleben). During our tour, we’ll have the honor of visiting Luther’s birth house which is now a well-preserved museum
Lunch, on own
Visit the Church of St. Peter and Paul (also known as the Taufkirche or “baptism church”), where Martin Luther was baptized. The remains of the original baptismal font can still be seen inside the church. Also visit St. Andrew’s Church, where Luther preached his last sermon
Visit Halle, where we will visit the Bible Institution of Castein (subject to availability), known as the authority for revision of Luther’s Bibles, or the Market Church, including the Marian Library.
Return to Leipzig for evening dinner and overnight
Day 7: Erfurt
Breakfast at the hotel
Transfer to Erfurt, nicknamed “Thuringian Rome” because of its many churches, chapels, and monasteries
Enjoy a walking tour through this richly beautiful, medieval city, to explore the Augustinian Monastery and see a Luther Exhibition showing restored monastic cells as they might have looked in Luther’s time
Lunch, on own
See where Luther was ordained at St. Mary’s Cathedral, an impressive Gothic cathedral perched on a hillside and containing some art masterpieces including the world’s largest medieval free-swinging bell and a small altar of The Madonna and Child with Saints Catherine and Barbara by Lucas Cranach
Evening dinner and overnight
Day 8: Eisenach / Wartburg Castle
Breakfast at the hotel
Transfer to Mainz via Eisenach and Wartburg Castle
Visit one of the best-preserved medieval castles in Germany, Wartburg Castle, which looms over the city of Eisenach and is the site where Martin Luther translated the New Testament into German. At the castle, visit a museum that contains Reformation artifacts, including paintings, sculptures, furniture, and tapestries. A private worship service may be organized in the chapel of Wartburg Castle
Lunch, on own
Visit Eisenach, the childhood home of Martin Luther and the birthplace of Johann Sebastian Bach. We will visit the Bachhaus museum which is dedicated to Bach’s life and work. Also visit Lutherhaus, one of the oldest and picturesque
buildings remaining in Eisenach and now a museum. We will also have time
to explore the Marktplatz and visit the Georgenkirche, where Bach was baptized.
Continue to Mainz for evening dinner and overnight
Day 9: Mainz / Worms
Breakfast at the hotel
Visit the Gutenberg Museum, one of the oldest museums of printing in the world and located opposite the Cathedral of Mainz, a 1000-year-old Roman Catholic Cathedral.
Lunch, on own
Travel a short distance to Worms, an ancient city whose roots trace back to one of the earliest civilizations in the area. Here Martin Luther arrived when he was called to appear before the Imperial Diet. After refusing to retract his views, Luther was declared an outlaw. See the large monument to Luther and other giants of the Reformation in the city. We will also see the majestically Romanesque St. Peter’s Cathedral, which for nearly 100 years, has towered above all the other ancient buildings in the
city. We will also visit the Church of the Holy Trinity to commemorate the Lutheran Reformation.
Return to Mainz for Farewell Dinner and overnight
Day 10 Depart for home
Breakfast at the hotel
Transfer to Frankfurt’s airport for return flight