In the Footsteps of the Reformers
Experience In the Footsteps of the Reformers with a Believer, not just a Guide
DAY 01: PRAGUE
Welcome to your tour. Today we meet in Prague, Czech Republic. The history of Prague dates back to the ninth Century with the founding of The Prague Castle (it was built around 880 by Prince Borivoj of the Premyslid dynasty). Christianity was brought to the Czech lands by Cyril and Methodius, the “Apostles of the Slavs,” and was quickly embraced by some members of the dynasty that ruled Bohemia.
Enjoy a panoramic city tour followed by our welcome dinner.
DAY 02: PRAGUE
Today, after breakfast, we see the Royal Castle, St. Vitus Cathedral and the Mala Strana (Little Quarter). Nearby is the Church of St. Nicholas, one of the city’s finest churches. In the afternoon, we visit Prague’s most important Hussite historical monuments such as the Jan Hus Monument and the Bethlehem Chapel where he preached. Enjoy the rest of the afternoon at your leisure,
DAY 03: PRAGUE - TABOR - PRAGUE
This morning we drive to Tabor, a town rich in history dating back to the year 1420. Tabor was founded by the Hussites, a group who were one of the forerunners in the Protestant Reformation. A local expert on the Hussites and Protestant movement in Tabor will take us through this fascinating town as we visit the Hussite Museum and Monastery Church at Klokoty. We make our way to the Kozi Hradek Ruins where some of Jan Hus’ most important writings were finished. We visit the Jan Hus Monument and Jan Zizka Monument in the afternoon and then make our way back to Prague for dinner at a local restaurant and overnight.
DAY 04: PRAGUE - TEREZIN - WITTENBERG
We check out of our hotel this morning and make our way to Germany. Before we reach Germany, we stop in Terezin for a tour of the town which served as a Nazi fortress during WWII. We visit the concentration camp which is also known as Theresienstadt Ghetto. We leave Terezin and continue on to Wittenberg, Germany.
DAY 05: WITTENBERG
Wittenberg is the most significant of cities in Luther's life which is why its official name is Lutherstadt-Wittenberg (Luther City Wittenberg). In 1517, on the doors of All Saints’ Church in Wittenberg (pictured), Luther nailed his 95 Theses that sparked the Reformation. We’ll see the famous doors (now bronze replacements) which bear the Latin text of the 95 Theses, and the restored burial church of the Reformers. We will also visit City Church and Luther’s well-preserved house where he and his family lived as well as the Renaissance mansion of Philip Melanchton - Luther’s right-hand man.
DAY 06: WITTENBERG - LEIPZIG - ERFURT
Today we journey to Leipzig where we can see Altes Rathaus, St. Nicholas Church where Martin Luther is said to have preached from its ornate 16th-century pulpit. We visit the St. Thomas Church - Martin Luther preached here in 1539 heralding the arrival of Protestantism in Leipzig. We continue our journey to Erfurt, the city also played a significant role in the life of Martin Luther. We will enjoy a walking tour through this richly beautiful, medieval city, to explore some unforgettable sites including the Augustinian Monastery wherein is housed a Luther Exhibition showing restored monastic cells as they might have looked in Luther's time. We will also see where Luther was ordained at St. Mary’s Cathedral and stop at the Barfusserkirche, a Franciscan monastery consecrated in 1316.
DAY 07: ERFURT - EISENACH - HEIDELBERG
Enroute to Eisenach, we will visit the Bachhaus and also visit the Lutherhaus, one of the oldest and most picturesque half-timbered buildings remaining in Eisenach, now a museum featuring multimedia exhibits relating to Luther’s teachings. We also explore the Marktplatz with the Georgenkirche (the Church of St. George) where Bach was baptised and Wartburg Castle, founded in 1067. It was at Wartburg Castle (pictured) that Martin Luther, disguised as “Knight George,” translated the New Testament into German. Eisenach was home to Martin Luther as a child, and it was also the birthplace of Johann Sebastian Bach.
DAY 08: HEIDELBERG
Heidelberg is a city known for its romantic and picturesque cityscape, from its baroque style Old Town to Heidelberg Castle. Our half-day sightseeing tour will include a visit to this magnificent castle where we will also see one of the Heildelberg Catechism exhibits, this one speaking to the theme of politics and life at court. The rest of the afternoon will be at leisure.
DAY 9: BLACK FOREST - ZURICH
Today after breakfast, we will drive to Zurich. On our way we will drive through the Black Forest, famous for its expanded forests, valleys, little cities and nature-left rivers. We will stop in Titisee to view the beautiful lake, which got its name from Roman Emperor, Titus, as well as visit the Titsee-Neustadt Clock Factory, which is said to be the actual cradle of the Black Forest Clock. We will make a stop at the Rhine Falls (Rheinfall in German, is the largest plain waterfall in Europe) near Schaffhausen to enjoy a boat trip along the Rhine River and admire the beautiful scenery.
DAY 10: ZURICH
Today we awake in Zurich and we will begin our walking tour of Zurich, sometimes referred to as "Downtown Switzerland," with a visit to the Predigerkirche Church. We’ll see the Helferei, a church where Ulrich Zwingli lived with his wife and children, and the Prophezei where the reformation ideas were developed, and where the Theological Seminary is presently located. Our next stop is the Grossmünster Cathedral where Zwingli gave his famous sermons criticising practices of the Church. Afterward, we see the Zwingli Statue near the Wasserkirche or "Water Church" (pictured).
DAY 11: ZURICH - BERN - GENEVA
On the way to Geneva we stop in the city of Bern to see the Old Town, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the Minster Cathedral. This gothic-style cathedral began construction in 1421 and includes the tallest tower in Switzerland. In 1515, Thomas Wyttenbach, Huldrych Zwingli's teacher, became a priest at the Minster of Bern. In 1521, he became friends with Zwingli in Zurich and began to preach more Protestant sermons. Later in the day, we arrive in Geneva to enjoy dinner and an overnight stay.
DAY 12: GENEVA
We begin our day with a worship service at the World Council of Churches (if desired and available). We’ll then travel to visit the Reformation Wall, a monument honouring many of the individuals, events, and documents of the Protestant Reformation as depicted in statues. Next we are treated to a visit of the site where Calvin and de Beze gave sermons: the Calvin Auditory, as well as a visit to the lodge of John Knox.
We continue our tour of Geneva with a view of what has become a breathtaking emblem of the city, the Jet d’Eau Fountain, a 460 foot high water fountain in the centre of the harbour. We’ll also tour the Saint Pierre or Saint Peter’s Cathedral, an architectural hybrid with its Romanesque, Gothic and Greco-Roman styles. Our next stop is the world-renowned International Museum of the Reformation, which opened in 2005 and is a testament to the power of faith and reform.
DAY 13: GENEVA - LONDON - CAMBRIDGE
We bid farewell to this enchanting part of Europe as we prepare for our journey to the United Kingdom. We arrive and check-in at Geneva International Airport for our flight to London. Upon arrival, we board our motor-coach in London and drive to Cambridge.
DAY 14: CAMBRIDGE
Cambridge is most widely known as the home of the University of Cambridge, founded in 1209 and consistently ranked one of the top five universities in the world. We will enjoy a local city tour which includes the famous monuments and settlement history. A visit to King’s College is also included, with its chapel being regarded as one of the greatest examples of late Gothic English architecture. The chapel's stained-glass windows and wooden chancel screen are a must-see. King’s College was founded in 1441 by Henry VI and was finally finished in 1544 during the reign of Henry VIII. It is here where we will discuss the works by Desiderius Erasmus and Thomas Cranmer, two of the Reformers so well influenced during their time in Cambridge. This afternoon we have an optional (£20 charge) exclusive tour of the Parker Library by Dr de Hamel (pictured), where most of the surviving raw material for the history of the English Reformation is held.
DAY 15: CAMBRIDGE - STRATFORD-UPON-AVON - OXFORD
Transfer south to Oxford, stopping en-route in Stratford-upon-Avon for a 3-hour guided tour. Stratford, a small and delightful Tudor market town, is one of Britain's most visited towns due to its association with the playwright William Shakespeare. Visit the half-timbered house that is Shakespeare’s Birthplace. The house itself is part museum and part shrine and is where the bard was born in 1564. Also visit Anne Hathaway’s Cottage, the most photographed cottage in Europe. Late afternoon we journey to Oxford.
DAY 16: OXFORD
Oxford is the city where John Wesley first started the Methodist movement while he was a fellow of Lincoln College. Visit Christ Church College and its chapel, which doubles as the Cathedral of Oxford. Also visit Lincoln College, with its Wesley Memorial Room and beautiful chapel. In the afternoon, we visit Worcester College with its extensive 28 acre gardens to wander along quiet waterways and woodlands with the Chapel being perhaps the highlight of any visit with its simple stunning interior. Onto the University Church of St. Mary the Virgin, the site of the 1555 trial of the Oxford Martyrs. We then continue on to the Martyrs’ Memorial and the Church of St Mary Magdalene where theologian William Tresham who acted as a commissioner for the trial of the Oxford Martyr’s was a vicar.
DAY 17: OXFORD - LONDON
We depart Oxford this morning and make our way back to London. There we embark on a tour which includes the residential and shopping districts of Kensington and Knightsbridge. A visit is made to Westminster Abbey, where most English Kings and Queens have been crowned since 1066, and where many are buried. The Abbey also contains a memorial tablet to John and Charles Wesley. Pass Whitehall and Trafalgar Square with Nelson's Column, pass Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament to Buckingham Palace, where we see the Changing of the Guard. Also see the 900-year-old Tower of London, whose construction was initiated by William the Conqueror. With hearts full of gratitude and memories for a lifetime, we transfer to Euston Station for our central London drop off point before continuing on to London Heathrow airport for our final drop off point.
