Martin Luther 500 Years & the Legendary DanubeJune - July 2017Berlin Wittenberg Torgau Leipzig Weimar Erfurt Eisleben Eisenach Würzburg Augsburg Munich Nuremburg Regensburg Passau Linz Melk Vienna Budapest

Inclusions• Accommodation in the mentioned hotels or similar• 7 Breakfast & 6 Dinners• Transportation by bus from day 2 - 8• English speaking tour guide from day 2 – 8• Visits and excursions as mentioned• Admission to Luther‘s home in Wittenberg and

Eisleben, the Augustine monastery in Erfurt, the Bach museum in Eisenach and Wartburg Castle

• Airport transfers with English speaking assistance

IntroductionWe are living in historic times: rapid change in life; new proposals for faith; ever shrinking world. There are many similarities with the 16th century in Europe. Johannes Gutenberg had invented the moveable type printing press. Christopher Columbus had sailed to America. Questions about the authenticity of the faith were circulating. On October 31, 1517, Martin Luther nailed 95 Theses for discussion on the church door in Wittenberg, Germany.

“Life must be lived forward, but can only be understood back-wards.” – Søren Kierkegaard. In 2017, Lutherans will mark the 500th anniversary of the Reformation. What better way is there to deepen our understanding of who we are than by visiting the important sites where these historic events took place? Please join me as we walk where Luther lived. Born in 1483 in Eisleben, he died in 1546 back in Eisleben. In between, he reshaped the Church, Germany, and Europe itself. In the religious and secular world, Luther was one of the most important people in modern history. In addition to the Reformation tour, there is opportunity for a river cruise on the Danube River or other side trips that you may want to add. We look forward to learning together!

Hotels (or similar)Berlin: Maritim proArte****Wittenberg: Best Western Stadtpalais****Leipzig: Best Western Premier Victor’s Residenz****Erfurt: RAMADA Hotel Erfurt****Würzburg: Maritim Würzburg****Augsburg: Augsburger Hof****

Land Price (per person)20 persons traveling $2,49830 persons traveling $2,14640 persons traveling $1,941Single Room Supplement $525

Cruise Price: AMADante (per person)Cabin prices start from $3,399/person based on two travelersPort charges are extra: $168/person

Eisenach, Wartburg Castle Interior

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Ralf KorbnerBusiness Development ManagerSITA World Tours

Itinerary - 9 daysDay 1 Jun 21 - Depart USA

Day 2 Jun 22 - Berlin

Arrival in Berlin in the morning and transfer to your hotel. In the afternoon enjoy a guided walking tour of Berlin’s govern-ment district.

You will see the Palace of Tears, Reichstag, the famous Brandenburg Gate and the Holocaust Memorial remembering the murdered Jews of Europe. In the evening enjoy the wel-come dinner.

Day 3 Jun 23 - Berlin – Wittenberg - Leipzig (BD)

Start the day early, right after breakfast, (8:00a.m.) to Wittenberg. There we will see the “Schlosskirche”, where Luther was laid to rest. We will stroll through the historical

City Center, a UNESCO World heritage site and go to Luther’s preaching Church, the “Stadtkirche”. Thereafter we pass the University, where Luther and Melanchton taught. We see the House of Phillip Melanchthon and at the end, we are going to visit the inside of the Luther House, where Luther and his wife Katharina raised their 6 children together. Continue to Leipzig for dinner and overnight.

Day 4 Jun 24 - Leipzig– Torgau – Leipzig (BD)

After breakfast drive to Torgau. There we make a photo stop at the war memorial, where Russian and American troops in April of 1945 had joined hands at the River Elbe in Germany, bringing the end of the war a step closer. Afterwards we visit the first ever consecrated reformed Church by Luther, the Chapel at Hartenfels Castle. Here in Torgau Luther, Melanchthon, Jonas and Bugenhagen worked out the basic ideas of the Torgau Articles in 1530.

Lunch in Torgau on your own. In the p.m., we return to Leipzig, where the significant Leipzig debate took place. In summer of 1519 the indulgence controversy had reached a peak and the scholastic theologian John Eck was ordered by his superiors to meet Luther at the University of Leipzig, debating theo-logical issues in public. Here Luther stood up in defense of his Wittenberg colleagues Andreas Bodenstein and Andreas Karlstadt. We are also going to visit the inside of the Thomas Church, where Sebastian Bach was leading the world famous Thomas Choir and where he is buried. During a walk through the inner city, we we will see City Hall and pass by the Nicolas Church, where Pastor Christian Führer started the Monday demonstrations, which led to the fall of the Communist Government in East Germany in 1989. Overnight in Leipzig.

Berlin, Reichstag and Chancelery

Erfurt, Merchant’s Bridge

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Day 5 Jun 25 - Leipzig – Weimar – Erfurt (BD)

Today we leave for Weimar. This City is the highlight of German Culture in the 18th and 19th Century. It was the focal point of German Enlightenment and home of the lead-ing characters of the literary genre called “Weimar classics”: the writers Johann Wolfgang von Goethe and Friedrich Schiller. Famous composers like Franz Liszt and artists and architects like Van de Velde, Kandinsky, Paul Klee, Lyonel Feininger and Walter Gropius came from Weimar and some of them founded their own movement here, like the Bauhaus for example. The Weimar Republic and Germany’s first dem-ocratic constitution was signed after First World War in Weimar, giving it the name: “Weimar Republic”. Enjoy a guid-ed Walking Tour of Weimar. Lunch on your own.

In the afternoon we continue to Erfurt, where Luther lived as a young man. There he became a student and a monk and in Erfurt he also met many of his faithful friends, such as Spalatin, Jonas, Lang and Draconites. Erfurt was Luther’s spir-itual home. A local Guide will assist us in visiting the inside of the Augustine Monastery, where Luther enrolled in 1505 joining the religious Order. On a walk through the inner city you will enjoy its architectural beauty, also called the “Thuringian Rome”.

Day 6 Jun 26 - Erfurt – Eisleben – Erfurt (BD)

Today we visit Eisleben, Luther’s birth place in 1483 and where he also died - 1546. In 1996 UNESCO added the Luther memorials to its World heritage list, making the “Lutherstadt” Eisleben (City of Martin Luther) a much visited destination of Germany.

We will visit the house of his birth and the Peter and Paul Church, where Luther was baptized. Luther’s birth house and

Luther’s last residence are today Museums rich in historical documentation supported by UNESCO. Lunch in Eisleben on your own.

In the afternoon we return to Erfurt. There you are going to have some free to enjoy the flavor of the historical City Centre of Erfurt. See the famous facades of beautiful patriarchal build-ings and old statues, of times when Erfurt was a Centre of edu-cation and wealth, famous all over the Holy Roman Empire. We can make a stop at the monastery where Master Eckhart lived from 1294-1298.

Day 7 Jun 27 - Erfurt – Eisenach – Würzburg (BD)

We are going to leave early for Eisenach to visit the Wartburg. There, a Castle Guide is waiting to give us an inside Tour of the Wartburg. The Wartburg is the most famous landmark for Lutherans all over the World. Martin Luther stayed here for almost a year, protected by the Prince Elector Frederic the

Eisenach, Wartburg Castle

Würzburg, Fortress Marienberg

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Wise. Here he translated the Bible. Thereafter we are going to see the Bach Museum, pass by the Luther House of the Cotta family who provided the young Martin Luther with a Latin lan-guage education, preparing him for University in Erfurt.

We are going to visit the inside of the Church of St. George where Luther preached on May 2nd. 1521. This was two days before he was taken into protective custody, by the soldiers of Frederic the Wise, who brought Luther to the Wartburg. Lunch on your own in Eisenach. In the afternoon we drive to Würzburg.

Day 8 Jun 28 - Würzburg - Augsburg (BD)

In the morning visit of Würzburg: The city of Würzburg, next to the Main River, in the heart of the Franconia wine region is charming. Once the seat of the Episcopal See, Würzburg is now a bustling and lively university town.

Continue to Augsburg, the third largest city in Bavaria. It was founded by the Romans and is one of the oldest cit-ies in Germany. This city, located on the Romantic Road, offers numerous places of interest, the most well known being the 500 year old Fuggerei social housing complex, the Renaissance City Hall and the Cathedral.

Day 9 Jun 29 - Augsburg / Munich or Nuremburg (BD)

Today transfer to Munich airport for your return flight or Nuremburg for embarkation. Later this afternoon embark on your ship. Tonight, meet your fellow travelers at the Welcome Dinner. The ship will moor overnight in Nuremberg.

Day 10 Jun 30 - Nuremberg / Continental Divide (BLD)

You have two city tour options today. Enjoy a guided morning tour of this historic city with its fabulous Gothic churches and see the medieval ramparts that surround the city as well as the Imperial Castle. You may also choose a “World War II tour” which takes you to the Justice Palace where the War Crimes Tribunal sat in 1946 (when available), and other important wartime sights. Later, the ship cruises to Regensburg.

Day 11 Jul 1 - Regensburg (BLD)

This morning’s scenic cruising takes you through the final stretch of the Main-Danube Canal en route to Regensburg, one of Germany’s best preserved medieval cities. A guided walking tour will show you the city’s architectural highlights, including the Old Town Hall and the Porta Praetoria, gates to an ancient Roman fort built in 179 A.D.

Nuremburg, Germany

Melk, Benedictine Monastery

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Day 12 Jul 2 - Passau / Linz, Austria (BLD)

After breakfast, arrive in picturesque Passau, where the Inn and Ilz rivers join the Danube. You have your choice of two tours today, a Passau walking tour or an optional excursion to Salzburg. Passau is a 2,000-year-old city noted for its Gothic and Italian Baroque architecture. Walk the cobble-stone streets of the Old Town past the old city fortifica-tions and St. Stephan’s Cathedral. If you choose the optional Salzburg excursion, you will have a walking tour of the his-toric center, famous as the setting for the “Sound of Music” and as the birthplace of Mozart. Enjoy free time on your own before returning to the ship, now docked in Linz. After dinner, you may wish to take a walk through this delightful town, Austria’s third largest city and a major river port.

Day 13 Jul 3 - Melk / Vienna (BLD)

Early this morning, we cruise through the scenic and romantic Wachau Valley en route to Melk. Your guided tour takes you to Melk’s magnificent 900-year-old Benedictine Abbey, one of the world’s most famous monastic sites, located on a rocky outcropping overlooking the Danube. Return to the ship for lunch before cruising on through the Wachau region. Arrive in Vienna after dinner and explore the magnificent Austrian capital on your own, or enjoy an optional evening Mozart and Strauss concert.

Day 14 Jul 4 - Vienna (BLD)

Savor Vienna’s Baroque elegance on a guided city tour that includes the world famous Opera House, the Ringstrasse, St. Stephen’s Cathedral and more. The tour is followed by free time in the city center to shop for souvenirs or sample some

of Vienna’s famous pastries. Alternatively, join an optional excursion to the imperial Schönbrunn Palace, the former summer residence of the Habsburg emperors and a fine example of Baroque architecture. Tonight, the ship continues down the Danube en route to Hungary.

Day 15 Jul 5 - Budapest, Hungary (BLD)

This morning, a sightseeing tour takes you to historic Buda Castle, where you can enjoy a splendid view of the twin cit-ies of Buda and Pest. Your tour also features the Fisherman’s Bastion, the Royal Palace, St. Stephen’s Basilica, Heroes’ Square and more. After dinner, the ship will sail a special “Illuminations Cruise” past the city’s glittering riverfront.

Day 16 Jul 6 - Budapest / Disembarkation (B)

Bid farewell to Budapest as you head for your homeward flight.

Berlin, Spree River

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Pretour Berlin - 3 daysDay 1 Jun 20 - Berlin Arrival in Berlin and optional transfer to your hotel. The rest of the day is free at your leisure.

Day 2 Jun 21 - Potsdam This day offers an incredible mix of history, art and archi-tectural styles. Leaving Berlin we first visit the Wannsee Conference building. It was in this villa at Lake Wannsee, where in January of 1942 the ‘Final Solution to the Jewish Question’ took shape.

Then on to the Glienicke Bridge, which divided east from west during the cold war and served as the spy exchange point between Americans and Sowjets.

Stop at Cecilienhof, the last castle the Hohenzollern rul-ers built. Here the Potsdam Conference in the summer of 1945 took place between Truman, Stalin and Churchill and Germany’s fate was sealed.

In Potsdam you will see the Dutch quarter before we head to Sanssouci, Frederick the Great’s beloved small summer palace, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Frederick rests here in a simple grave next to his beloved Italian Greyhounds.

Day 3 Jun 22 - Berlin After breakfast group transfer to KaDeWe. From there you will enjoy a short guided walking tour in that area with a stop at the Kaiser Wilhelm Gedächtniskirche. Rest of the day is free at your leisure.

We suggest you visit the Museum Island with its famous Pergamon Museum; the island in the Spree River is walking distance from your hotel.

Inclusions

• Accommodation in the mentioned hotels or similar• Daily buffet breakfast• English speaking guide at your dis-

position on day 2 + 3 • Bus at disposition in Berlin and sur-

rounding on day 2, 8 hrs• Transfer hotel – KaDeWe• Admission to Sanssouci and Cecilienhof

Castle (no private group tour included)

Hotels (or similar)

Berlin: Maritim proArte****

Land Price (per person)

20 persons traveling $515Single Room Supplement $140

All prices are net in Dollars per person in double room, based on 20 participants.

Berlin, Museum Island

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Pretour Ostfriesland - 6 daysDay 1 Jun 17 - Bremen Arrival in Bremen and optional transfer to your hotel. The rest of the day is free at your leisure.

Day 2 Jun 18 - Bremen - Bremerhaven After breakfast walking City tour in Bremen. Walk through the city center of Bremen. Visit the wonderful market square (Marktplatz) where the rich Hanseatic history and traditions of Bremen come alive. Visit the statues of the well-known animal characters from the Brothers Grimm fairytale. The guide will lead visitors through the charming alleys and narrow streets of Schnoor, the city’s oldest district and Böttcherstraße street: an extensive 110m long work of art, built in the 1920s, with shops, restaurants, museums, work-shops and the Carillion.

Then continue to Bremerhaven to have lunch at the “Schaufenster Fischereihafen” (not included). At around 01:00 pm visit of the Emigration Museum. The German Emigration Center in Bremerhaven is situated on a historic site in the New Harbor, which opened in 1852 and was the departure point for approximately 1.2 million emigrants to the New World by 1890. The New Harbor was adjacent to the Old Harbor (Alter Hafen), the Imperial Harbors (Kaiserhäfen) and the Columbus Wharf, all departure points for the 7.2 million emigrants who sailed for the New World from Bremerhaven.

Enjoy a guided tour through the museum and have free time to do some research. Occasionally coffee and cake is served.

Inclusions

• Accommodation in the mentioned hotel or similar• Daily buffet breakfast• Transportation in bus day 2-4• Local guide Bremen, 2 hrs• Emigration Center: entrance, private guided tour,

coffee & cake + 2 persons at disposition for research• Private guided tour at the Meyer WErft• Private guided tour at the Evenburg Castle• Train ticket Bremen – Berlin, 1st class incl.

seat reservation (special group ticket)

Hotels (or similar)

Bremen Radisson Blu Bremen****Bremerhaven Atlantic Hotel Sail City****Leer Hotel Hafenspeicher****Berlin Maritim proArte****

Land Price (per person)

20 persons traveling $1,698Single Room Supplement $320

Bremer Marktplatz, Jürgen Howaldt

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Day 3 Jun 19 Bremerhaven – Papenburg - Leer After breakfast drive to Papenburg. Enjoy a guided tour of Meyer Werft visitor center. Then continue to Leer to visit the Evenburg Castle. Overnight in Leer.

Day 4 Jun 20 - Leer Free day at leisure.

Day 5 Jun 21 - Leer – Bremen – Berlin After breakfast transfer to the train station in Bremen. Board the train to Berlin. Arrival and transfer to the hotel. The rest of the day is free at your leisure.

Day 6 Jun 22 - Berlin Join the rest of the group for a walking city tour. Discover Berlin during a walking tour. We begin with the origins of Berlin in the district of San Nicolas, see the Museum Island and Berlin Cathedral. Walk through the Unter den Linden Avenue, the Humboldt University, the Royal Library, the State Opera and one of the most beautiful squares in Berlin, the Gendarmenmarkt. You learn about the details of Hitler’s rise to power and in addition you see the Holocaust memorial to remember the murdered European Jews. We admire the spectacular Potsdamer Platz and finish at the Brandenburg Gate, the symbol of Berlin.Afternoon free at your leisure. In the evening wel-come dinner with the rest of the group.

Bremerhaven

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Evenburg Castle, Leer

Martin LutherInitiates reformation

Frederick the WiseProtector of Luther

Katarina von BoraLuther’s wife

Frederick the GreatPrussian Emperor

Pope Leo XWants Luther’s head

Some of the historical figures You get to know on this tour

Charles VHoly Roman Emperor

Erfurt Cathedral

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Booking Form Leipzig, Germany

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Eugene Siberdt - Martin Luther Translating the Bible, Wartburg Castle

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