Milestones of Catholic Heritage since the Early Days of Christianity Tour of (10 days/8 nights) Sample Itinerary

Day 1 Departure US Overnight flights to Munich, Germany.

Day 2 Arrival/Munich “Guten Tag” and welcome to Germany! Meet your tour escort and transfer to the center of the city for an orientation tour. Truly multicultural, Munich is Germany’s third largest city and serves as the regional capital of . Traditional yet modern, with cutting-edge industries in media, the Internet, and technology fields, Munich’s motto is “Laptop und Lederhosen.” Munich is a colorful, youthful and energetic city and is steeped in history. Your orientation tour includes the Marienplatz, the Neues Rathaus (New Town Hall), where the copper figurines in its mechanical clock perform a medieval tournament daily at noon; and the Altes Rathaus (Old Town Hall). Visit the Frauenkirche (Church of Our Lady), whose onion-shaped domes are iconic symbols of Munich. Check in to your hotel and free time. Bavarian-style group dinner. Overnight in Munich

Day 3 Munich Start your day with a visit to Neuschwanstein castle, the “fairy tale castle” built by King Ludwig II of Bavaria in honor of the composer Richard Wagner. Continue on the to Oberammergau, with an in- route stop at the of Wies (Wieskirche), a masterpiece of Bavarian architecture and part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. Spend the afternoon in Oberammergau, a village in the Bavarian where every 10 years (next time in 2020) the Passion Play is performed. Discover beautifully painted houses as well as woodworkers’ workshops. Overnight in Munich

Day 4 Munich In the morning, guided visit of Dachau Concentration Camp, one of the first concentration camps established by the Nazis. Many clerical prisoners were detained in Dachau’s so-called priest barrack. Overnight to Munich

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Day 5 Eidelberg Today travel to Heidelberg. On the way you will stop in Ulm to see the Ulm Minster, one of the tallest structures built before the 20th century and the medieval (UNESCO World Heritage). Continue to Heidelberg and walking tour of the Old Town. Dinner and overnight in Heidelberg.

Day 6 Tarnsfer to Trier, considered to be the oldest city in Germany, was founded in 16 BC during the reign of the Roman emperor Augustus Caesar. Guided tour of the Roman Heritage including the 4th century Konstantin basilica, the Porta Nigra, the amphitheater and the famous Imperial Thermal Baths. Also visit the medieval cathedral (Dom St. Peter), the oldest in Germany, where the Holy Robe is kept. In the Middle Ages, the Archbishop of Trier was an important ecclesiastical prince, controlling land from the French border to the Rhine. He was also one of the seven electors of the Holy Roman Empire. Dinner and overnight in Trier.

Day 7 Cologne Travel towards Cologne down the scenic valley of the Moselle river and visit Burg Eltz, a medieval castle nestled in the hills high above the river built 800 years ago by the Eltz family who still own, maintain and live in the castle today. Arrival in Cologne and orientation tour before check in to your hotel. Brewery dinner and overnight in Cologne.

Day 8 Cologne Spend the day touring the area. The first stop will be Kevelaer, which has been a place of pilgrimage since 1642 to worship the Virgin Mary in the Chapel of Glory. After lunch, your tour will take you to Aachen, Aix-la-Chapelle, on the German-Dutch border. Visit the cathedral, the final resting place of Charlemagne, and where German emperors were crowned for 600 years. Charlemagne's ambition was to create a new Rome when he made Aachen the center of his empire around the year 800. The imperial palace's chapel – the oldest part of the cathedral today – was to be the religious center. Return to Cologne for dinner and overnight.

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Day 9 Cologne Discover more hidden gems in Cologne. Germany’s 4th largest city and founded by the Romans in 38 BC, it grew into a major trading center, a tradition it solidified in the Middle Ages and continues to uphold today. Your guided tour will include a visit to the . If you are not afraid of heights, climb the 500+ steps up to the south tower for great view of the city. Overnight in Cologne.

Day 10 Frankfurt On your last day of the tour, take a short Rhine cruise passing Loreley Rock, the rock that produces an echo and is associated with the legend of a beautiful maiden who threw herself into the Rhine in despair over a faithless lover and was transformed into a siren who lured fishermen to destruction. Visit Ruedesheim for lunch time followed by a wine tasting. Located in the Rhine River gorge, Rüdesheim am Rhein is a picturesque German winemaking town, complete with narrow cobblestone alleys and timber-framed taverns. In the afternoon visit the Benedictine Abbey St. Hildegard and learn about the life and merits of Hildegard of Bingen (Saint Hildegard), scientist, philosopher, theologian, and composer of the 12th century. Continue to Frankfurt. Festive farewell dinner in the Frankfurt apple wine district. Overnight in Frankfurt.

Day 11 Return US Transfer to the airport for your return flight(s) to the U.S. Welcome home!

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