Footsteps of Luther and Oberammergau
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17 2020 DAYS Footsteps of Luther and Oberammergau 15 NIGHTS / 17 DAYS WED 29 JULY - FRI 14 AUG, 2020 Berlin (2) • Wittenberg (3) • Torgau • Eisleben • Erfurt (2) • Leipzig (3) • Dresden (2) • Munich (1) • Oberammergau (2) Accompanied by COMMENCES WEDNESDAY 29TH JULY 2020 Bishop Ross Nicholson Come Follow Me... Berlin Cathedral MEAL CODE streets with the rich timber framed buildings, Reformation, is waiting for us. We’ll tour the cross the merchant’s bridge, and take a (B) = Breakfast (L) = Lunch (D) = Dinner town where Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses look into the Old Synagogue. It’s the oldest to the door of the Schlosskirche on October 31, synagogue in Central Europe that has been DAY 1: WEDNESDAY 29TH JULY - DEPART 1517. In Luther’s time this was the University preserved up to its roof. The Museum displays AUSTRALIA FOR GERMANY Chapel and the doors were used as a bulletin the Erfurt Treasure and has the Erfurt Hebrew DAY 2: THURSDAY 30TH JULY – ARRIVAL board. Luther preached here and in the City Manuscripts as its central theme. We also BERLIN (D) Church of St. Mary. In 1508, when Martin visit the Augustinian monastery which Luther Luther came to Wittenberg, he lived in the Upon arrival at Berlin airport we will board our always referred to as his spiritual home. deluxe motor coach and head into the city to Black Abbey – now known as the “Lutherhaus”. Overnight: Erfurt our centrally located hotel, check in and rest It was here that he had his “Tower Experience” and first grasped the gift of faith by grace after a long day of travelling. DAY 8: WEDNESDAY 5TH AUGUST – alone. Later, Luther lived here with his wife, Overnight: Berlin EISENACH (BD) Katharina von Bora, and their six children. Today we travel to the town of Eisenach, about DAY 3: FRIDAY 31ST JULY – BERLIN (BD) Overnight: Wittenberg one hour drive from Erfurt. This morning we will visit the Berlin Dom DAY 5: SUNDAY 2ND AUGUST – WITTENBERG We visit the Wartburg, one of the most Cathedral. Built in 1905, the Dom is a symbol – NO BUS (BD) important castles in German history. It is here of the Protestant Union in Germany. Statues that Martin Luther hid in 1521 and 1522, taking of Luther and Calvin stand to both sides of the A free day to explore Wittenberg. on the assumed name of Knight George, after altar, symbolising the Lutheran and Reformed Overnight: Wittenberg being placed under an imperial ban. Among tradition which both are a part of the current many letters and books he wrote here is the Evangelical Church in Germany. DAY 6: MONDAY 3RD AUGUST – WITTENBERG / TORGAU (BD) first translation of the New Testament into We have the rest of day free to explore the city. Another day in Wittenberg to visit the the German language. The Wartburg also is Places to see include the Brandenburg Gate, important for many other aspects of German the Reichstag parliament, and Kaiser Wilhelm Luthergarden and the Luther-Melanchthon- Gymnasium. history. On our tour we will be reminded of Memorial Church. The history of the divided the life and work of St Elisabeth. And we will We travel to Torgau in the afternoon. Visit the Berlin comes alive when we visit Checkpoint see the original black-red-golden German flag, Renaissance Palace with the first Lutheran Charlie and discover remnants of the Berlin Wall. used at a student’s meeting at the Wartburg chapel dedicated by Martin Luther and enjoy The Holocaust is the topic of the “Topographie in 1817. of Terror.” Located on the ruins of the the picturesque houses around the market square. Katharina von Bora, Martin Luther’s Eisenach also is the birthplace of the famous former SS and Gestapo headquarters, the composer Johann Sebastian Bach. We visit Topographie of Terror documentation centre wife, is buried in St Mary’s church where we will see her gravestone. the museum and listen to a demonstration of opened examines the history of the location as Bach’s works on historical instruments. well as the institutions of terror found in the Torgau also is the place where the U.S. and Another important place to see in Eisenach is direct vicinity of the Nazi government district Russian troops met in February 1945 at the the Luther house, a museum in the building and the crimes committed all over Europe. The end of WWII. where Martin Luther lived as a student. It tells exhibition is complemented by 15 information Overnight: Wittenberg us about Luther’s life and also focusses on his stations on the site and a further exhibition bible translation works. that can be seen outside. DAY 7: TUESDAY 4TH AUGUST – EISLEBEN, TO ERFURT (BD) Overnight: Erfurt This evening we visit the glass cupola of the Our en route stop today is Eisleben where Reichstag Parliament and enjoy a wonderful DAY 9: THURSDAY 6TH AUGUST – WEIMAR, Luther was born in 1483 and died in 1546. view over the night skyline of Berlin. LEIPZIG (BD) We visit the little museum in his birth house, Overnight: Berlin see the pulpit in St. Andrews where Luther The town of Weimar is our first stop today. Weimar is the home of German literature DAY 4: SATURDAY 1ST AUGUST – BERLIN, TO preached, and visit St Peter and Paul. This and we will visit the museum dedicated to WITTENBERG (BD) church, where Luther was baptized, is now a “Centre for Baptism”. Germanys best known writer Johann Wolfgang We have the morning for sightseeing in von Goethe. Berlin visiting the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial We continue to Erfurt in the afternoon. Here Continuing from Weimar we visit Buchenwald, church and the shopping boulevards at Luther lived as a student before he joined the memorial site of a former Nazi Kurfürstendamm. the Augustinian monks. On our orientation concentration camp. Here we will come face to In the afternoon Wittenberg, the cradle of the walk we will see the market square with the magnificent cathedral, stroll through the little face with the darkest part of German history as St Thomas Church, Leipzig Zinger Palace Coutryard, Desden we see an introductory video and have time to walk the ground silently on a self guided tour. We travel to Leipzig in the evening. Overnight: Leipzig Berlin 2 (BD) DAY 10: FRIDAY 7TH AUGUST - LEIPZIG L OL An old trade centre since the medieval ages, 3 Wittenberg Leipzig is the town where Johann Sebastian Eisleben Torgau Bach spent most of his life. He served as 3 the cantor for the Thomas Boys Choir and Erfurt 2 2 Dresden Leipzig composed a new cantata for every Sunday. L During our time in Leipzig we will visit Berlin 2 GERMANY L Thomas Church withOL Bach’s grave, pass the 3 Wittenberg RenaissanceEisleben Torgau town hall, see the University with L Erfurt 2 3 2 Dresden L its reconstructedLeipzig facade, and Gewandhaus GERMANY concert hall. Leipzig L is also important for the German revolution of 1989 when thousands of LO LO FRANCE Leipzigers1 Munich joined prayers for peace in Nikolai FRANCE 1 Munich church2 Oberammergauand started marching with candles L AUSTRIA HUNGARY in their hands along the ring road. Those 2 Oberammergau marches gotLO the attention of international AUSTRIA HUNGARY media and have been one of the main events L which led to the fall of the Berlin Wall just a few weeks later. which was reconstructed just about 15 years transferring to Oberammergau tomorrow An afternoon excursion takes us to Lützen. ago. We can also join the noon prayer in morning.LO It was here that the Swedish King Gustavus Frauenkirche. Johann Sebastian Bach was the Adolphus was killed in action in 1632 during Overnight: Munich first to play on the Silberman organ when the the Thirty Year’s War. We visit the church and church was originally built. DAY 15: WEDNESDAY 12TH AUGUST – the memorial site. OBERAMMERGAU A good idea for the evening would be to visit We will also make a stop at the a performance at the Semper Opera House Today we will be transferred south by coach Völkerschlachtdenkmal in Leipzig, built in 1913, (Optional extra). through the picturesque Bavarian Alps to the commemorating Napoleon’s defeat at Leipzig village of Oberammergau, home to the world at the “Battle of the Nations” in 1813. Overnight: Dresden renowned Passion Play. Overnight: Leipzig DAY 13: MONDAY 10TH AUGUST – PILLNITZ (BD) Every ten years affords pilgrims the great privilege DAY 11: SATURDAY 8TH AUGUST – LEIPZIG – Today We take a boat of the Dresdener of witnessing the world renowned Passion Play NO BUS (BD) Dampfschifffahrtsgesellschaft (Dresden Steam of Oberammergau. For over 300 years this Boat Company) and enjoy a cruise on the Elbe. picturesque village in the Bavarian Alps has re- Another full day in Leipzig which we can spend Our destination is Pillnitz where we visit the enacted the passion of Jesus, and people of every to visit more sights or to enjoy some free time Palace and the park. religious denomination have been drawn to this for shopping. Our motor coach picks us up again for our way cherished spectacle. Overnight: Leipzig back to Dresden. Overnight: Oberammergau region DAY 12: SUNDAY 9TH AUGUST – DRESDEN (BD) Overnight: Dresden DAY 16: THURSDAY 13TH AUGUST – Leaving Leipzig in the morning, our next OBERAMMERGAU (BD) destination is Dresden. Called the “Florence DAY 14: TUESDAY 11TH AUGUST – DRESDEN, (BD) The history of the Oberammergau Passion Play of the North”, Dresden is a display of the best TO MUNICH begins in 1633. During the Thirty Years’ War, baroque Architecture north of the Alps. We’ll Our itinerary today includes a visit to the after much suffering and also many deaths be amazed by the magnificent architecture of Kreuzschule, some more city sightseeing, and caused by the plague, the surviving population of churches and museums.