Germany

Depart via scheduled air service. The destination is Berlin, Germany.

Arrive in Berlin. Meet your Faith Journeys Tour Manager who will assist the group to 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 which 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, childhood home of Martin Luther and 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 Markplatz and visit the Georgenkirche, where Bach was baptized. Continue to Mainz for evening dinner and overnight.

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.

Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to Frankfurt’s airport for return flight.