The Land of Luther Study Tour
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ITINERARY
Day 1: Arrival in Berlin
Guests arrive at Berlin International Airport and are greeted by Sovereign Concierges who will provide welcome amenities as you wait to be transported via coach to our official Berlin hotel. Upon arrival at the hotel, guests are pre-keyed into their appointed rooms and will be given the Day 1 Land of Luther Tour newsletter that will identify the day’s events at the Sovereign guest reception desk. This evening, we will enjoy a full dinner and first night’s lecture with Dr. Steve Nichols. HOTEL: Contemporary Accommodations |
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Day 2: Wittenberg - Overnight in Berlin
After a full breakfast, we travel to Wittenberg where our local guide will take us on a tour of Lutherstadt. It was here in 1517 that Martin Luther nailed his famous 95 Theses and Philip Melanchthon helped forge Reformation Theology. Here the Cranachs painted now famous portraits of Luther. We will spend time in the Lutherhalle (Luther House) Museum, where Luther lived first as a monk, then later with his wife and children. We’ll be able to view some of Luther’s very own personal library, rare manuscripts and early Bibles. The tour will also include Castle Church, Stadtkirche St. Marien (St. Mary’s church) where Luther preached and where his children were baptized, and the Luther Oak where he burned the edict from Rome, condemning him as a “heretic”. This evening, we head back to Berlin where you can choose from any of the many restaurants in this fabulous city. HOTEL: Contemporary Accommodations |
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Day 3: Eisleben - Overnight in Wiemar
After a generous breakfast, we will journey into the city of Martin Luther’s birth and death: the quaint city of Eisleben, Germany. Located southwest of Wittenberg and north of Luther’s educational home of Erfurt, Eisleben served as Martin Luther’s baptism and place of his final sermon. We will visit the location of Luther’s Birth House and examine the situation of life during his early years. We will also visit St. Andreas Church where Luther’s last thundering sermons were delivered. We will continue on to the famous city of Weimar, Germany. Martin Luther's ties to Weimar are closer than is generally known. Luther's sovereigns, who chose Weimar as their secondary residence in 1513 and as one of their prime residences in 1531, were the reason he visited the city so frequently between 1518 and 1540. Dinner is on your own tonight as you explore Weimar. HOTEL: Contemporary Accommodations |
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Day 4: Erfurt - Overnight in Wiemar
After a full breakfast we head on the road via luxury coach to Erfurt. Once in Erfurt, local guides will take us on a tour of the sites of Luther’s upbringing and education including St. Mary’s Cathedral, St. Severin’s Church and the famous Merchant’s Bridge. We will end our tour at the Augustinian Monastery where Luther was received as a monk on July 17, 1505. We will be able to see his monastic quarters, including cell furnished to look as it would have been when he lived there. HOTEL: Contemporary Accommodations |
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Day 5: Eisenach - Overnight in Wiemar
After a full breakfast, we will embark our luxury coaches to explore Eisenach. In 1521, while fleeing from the wrath of the Pope, Luther took refuge in the Wartburg Castle after a fake kidnapping staged by his friend and protector, Frederick the Wise. Luther spent time in the nearby town of Eisenach as a school boy and sang in the choir of St. George’s Church, where the Bach family also worshiped. We will visit the Luther House Museum, Bach Museum and journey up the mountain to tour Wartburg Castle, where Luther finished translating the New Testament into German in just eleven weeks. Our groups will enjoy a special Thuringian barbeque before concluding the evening with a special private lecture in Wartburg Castle with Dr. R. Albert Mohler. |
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Day 6: Marburg - Overnight in Frankfurt
Our first destination today is the university city of Marburg for a tour of the Old City with the St. Elizabeth Church and the Castle. Through its 800 year history, Marburg has had many famous residents and visitors, among whom are Elizabeth of Thuringia, Martin Luther, and the Brothers Grimm. Once in Marburg, we will ascend the historic city streets enroute to the Castle of Marburg where the famous colloquy took place with Martin Luther, Martin Bucer, and Ulrich Zwingli. After leaving Marburg, we will then head into the city of Frankfurt for our dinner and overnight. HOTEL: Contemporary Accommodations |
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Day 7: Heidelberg, Worms, & Mainz - Overnight in Frankfurt
This morning, we travel on to one of the most charming cities in all of the world - Heidelberg, ancient capital of the Palatinate and home of Germany's oldest university. But most importantly, it was a stronghold of German Reformed Protestants beginning in 1560. One of the great confessional statements of the Reformation, the Heidelberg Catechism was produced here in 1563. Heidelberg Castle, a most impressive historic landmark of Germany, stands majestically overlooking the Neckar River. The structure, now largely in ruins, preserves numerous examples of Medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque German architecture. After lunch, we then drive to Worms. There is no better way to spend an afternoon following the footsteps of Luther. We see the site of the Worms Debates (Diet of Worms), now a park, with a plaque commemorating the Diet of Worms and the Reformation Monument. We hear the stories of Luther as he responded “Here I stand; I can do no other. God help me We then head to Mainz as we focus on Bible printing history and the contribution of Johann Gutenberg, who developed moveable type. You will be inspired as you view original copies of the Bible in the Gutenberg Museum. We also view Mainz Cathedral, dating back to 975. We will enjoy our final dinner together in Frankfurt. |
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Day 8:Frankfurt
After a full breakfast, your Sovereign Concierge assistants will help you with your journey home. If you choose to stay in MEALS: B |
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Please Note: Schedule of tour events is subject to modification without notice. To fully participate in this tour, you must be able to walk long distances, have good balance capabilities and be able to walk on uneven terrain. There will also be some climbing involved as well as long periods of standing. Due to the historical nature of some of our destinations, not all facilities will be ADA compliant. Parents are welcomed to register children above 8 years of age with at least one accompanying adult. We apologize that children under the age of 8 years of age cannot participate in the tour. |