MARTIN LUTHER 500th Year Anniversary Reformation Tour
July 11-24, 2017
Escorted by Pastor Frank Kerkemeyer
We invite you to join us on our professionally escorted tour of Germany, as we retrace the steps of the great reformist, Martin Luther. We will visit many beautiful sites in Germany and will travel on the famous Romantic Road, see Bavarian castles and cruise on the Rhine River. We look forward to exploring the birthplace of the Reformation and the various points of interest where Martin Luther forever changed the face of Christianity. Please contact us for more information on how to reserve your spot on this beautiful tour in the summer of 2017.
– Pastor Frank Kerkemeyer
Tour Itinerary:
Day 1: LEAVE USA; Tuesday, July 11, 2017:
Today we will depart our home airport and fly via scheduled airline, arriving Wednesday morning in Berlin, Germany.
Day 2: BERLIN Wednesday, July 12, 2017
Upon arrival in Berlin, we will meet our tour guide, Fritz, who will escort us with our luggage to our deluxe motorcoach. We will relax today in one of the world’s capitals and will join the group for a welcome
get-together and dinner and overnight in Berlin. (D)
Day 3: BERLIN Thursday, July 13, 2017
After breakfast, we will enjoy a full day of sightseeing in one of the world’s capitals, Berlin. We will see the famous Brandenburg Gate, the Reichstag, Checkpoint Charlie, the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church and a portion of the remaining Berlin Wall. Tonight we will enjoy dinner and overnight in Berlin. (B,D)
Day 4: BERLIN – WITTENBERG; Friday, July 14, 2017
We will enjoy our morning meal as we travel south from Berlin to Wittenberg, the city of the Lutheran Reformation. We will visit Luther’s house, the Stadtkirche, the University, and the All Saints Castle Church, where Luther nailed his 95 theses on the church door. Tonight we stay in Wittenberg. (B,D)
Day 5: WITTENBERG – ESLEBEN – MANSFELD; Saturday, July 15, 2017
This afternoon we will continue to Esleben, the birthplace of Martin Luther in 1483. After we arrive in Esleben, we will visit the little museum in the house where Luther was born. Then, we will visit the church where he preached his last sermon and see the Luther monument. We will also stop in Mansfeld, where Luther spent his early years. Tonight again we will overnight in Wittenberg. (B, D)
Day 6: WITTENBERG – LEIPZIG – WEIMAR – ERFURT; Sunday, July 16, 2017
On the way to Erfurt we visit Leipzig. Points of interest include Augustusplatz, the market, and St Thomas church where Johan Sebastian Bach was an organist. In the afternoon we continue via Weimar (stop) to Erfurt. ( B )
Day 7: ERFURT – EISENACH – WARTBURG; Monday, July 17, 2017
Erfurt was the town where Martin Luther was a student of law and business before joining the Augustinian convent as a monk. In a short morning walk through this charming town with many timber framed houses we see the market with St Mary’s Cathedral, the merchant’s bridge, and visit the Augustinian monastery. From there we get on the bus for a drive westbound to the town of Eisenach to visit Wartburg castle. It is here that Luther hid in 1521 and 1522, taking on the assumed name of Knight George, after being placed under an imperial ban. While here, he translated the New Testament into German. Eisenach also is the birthplace of the famous composer Johann Sebastian Bach. We visit the museum and listen to a demonstration of Bach’s works on historical instruments. (B, D)
Day 8: COBURG – NÜRNBERG – AUGSBURG; Tuesday, July 18, 2017
Proceeding south through the Thuringian Forest our first visit is to the town of Coburg, famous for its bratwurst. We’ll see the Veste Coburg Fortress, where Luther spent some time under protection while an outlaw of the Holy Roman Empire. Continuing, we arrive at Nuremberg, the second-largest city in Bavaria. It was from here that Luther began his journey to Rome in 1510. We’ll visit the Old Town with its many points of interest. We end the day at Augsburg, with dinner and overnight. (B,D)
Day 9: MUNICH; Wednesday, July 19, 2017
Today we will travel from Augsburg to Munich and we will visit St. Anne’s Church, where, in 1518, Luther met with Cardinal Cajetan. This is when the Cardinal demanded that Luther submit to the Pope. We will also view the Augustus Fountain, the Church of the Holy Cross, and other sites. This afternoon will be spent in Munich, the capital of Bavaria, where we visit the Marienplatz, and see the Town Hall, Cathedral, and other sites. Afterwards we will return to Augsburg to our hotel. (B,D)
Day 10: AUGSBURG -Neuschwanstein-Rothenburg ob er TAUBER; Thursday, July 20, 2017
We drive south from Augsburg this morning to reach Neuschwanstein, the fairy tale castle built by King Ludwig II, near the town of Fussen. We visit the castle, and then travel along the Romantic Road to reach Rothenburg ob der Tauber, where we will have dinner and stay overnight. (B,D)
Day 11: ROTHENBURG; Friday, July 21, 2017
Rothenburg is Germany’s famous and best-preserved walled city. After a walking tour of the town this morning, the afternoon is at your leisure for shopping and more sights to see. This evening we will enjoy dinner at our hotel. (B, D)
Day 12: Rothenburg – Heidelberg – Worms – Rüdesheim; Saturday July 22, 2017
After breakfast, we will proceed to Heidelberg. Upon arrival, we will visit the Castle and the University, and see the Stone Bridge. We will continue to Worms, where Luther, in 1521, appeared before the Holy Roman Emperor and the Imperial Diet. He refused to recant his beliefs, and stated “Here I stand, I can do no other. God help me.” This morning we’ll visit the Reformation Monument and the Cathedral. In the afternoon we proceed to Rüdesheim, in the romantic Rhine valley. Dinner will be in a local restaurant tonight. (B, D)
Day 13: Rhine cruise – Koblenz; Sunday, July 23, 2017
This morning we will enjoy a cruise on the Rhine River. We will cruise by many small villages and the famous Loreley Rock. The afternoon is at leisure. A farewell dinner with wine is planned for this evening. Farewell dinner will be at a Rüdesheim wine tavern (B,D)
Day 14: Frankfurt – home; Monday, July 24, 2017
Today you will be transferred to Frankfurt airport for your departure for your homebound flight. With many happy and unforgettable memories, we will journey back to our respective homes and arrive on the same day.
TOUR INCLUSIVE FEATURES:
• 13 days deluxe motorcoach transportation via a modern, deluxe, motorcoach with reclining seats, bathroom, refrigerator and air-conditioning, transfers, excursions and roundtrips as per itinerary,
• Services of a friendly and experienced coach driver and English speaking tour escort,
• Twelve nights accommodations in first class hotels with private facilities, (3 & 4-star category)
• Daily buffet breakfast & porterage service in and out of all hotels,
• Eleven evening meals including farewell evening dinner in Rüdesheim,
• All road taxes, local taxes, tolls, parking fees, etc.
• Guided city tour of Munich, guided tour of Luther’s house in Wittenberg guided tours of Luther’s sites in Eisleben and Mansfeld, guided tour of the Augustine convenent in Erfurt, minibus to Wartburg, entrance and tour of the Wartburg Castle, entrance and tour & mini-concert in the Bach house in Eisenach, tour and carriage ride to Neuschwanstein Castle, entrance to St. James Church in Rothenburg, entrance and tour of Heidelberg Castle, cruise on the Rhine River from Rüdesheim, to St. Goar.
TOUR COST per person: $2580.00 per person double occupancy; (single supplement $450.00, airfare not included) This inclusive tour rate is subject to currency fluctuations and adjustments and is based on the current euro rate as of July 2016. Credit card surcharges apply. A minimum of thirty participants is required to operate this tour. Complete terms & conditions will provided at time of reservation. This tour itinerary and rate is subject to change and revision. You will receive a group airfare proposal after group rates are available. Note that your airfare itinerary may be customized from other cities and for longer stays. Additional items not included in tour price: Airfare from your home city, trip Cancellation and Interruption insurance, incidental charges, optional tours and meals not listed, gratuities to the driver and tour director and local guides.
HOW TO MAKE YOUR RESERVATIONS: Please send your $500.00 per person refundable deposit via check, payable to True Travel, Inc, as soon as possible, as space is limited on this tour. You will receive trip cancellation insurance information and your registration form with terms and conditions after your deposit has been received.
Final payment will be due on or before March 31, 2017.