Reformation Tour
13 days

Reformation Tour

Under the Leadership of Dr. and Mrs. Phil Schroeder and Rev. David and Rev. Joy Melton

August 31 - September 12, 2026

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Welcome Letter

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Tour Flyer

(Single Supplement is $975.00)

AUG 31: ATLANTA / BERLIN. Evening departure from the Atlanta. Dinner and breakfast will be served on board our trans-Atlantic flight to Berlin.

SEP 01: BERLIN / WITTENBERG. We’ll be greeted at the Berlin Airport by our guide and board our deluxe motor coach for our orientation tour of Berlin. We’ll see the famous Brandenburg Gate, the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church, the Cathedral, the Reichstag building and the lively boulevards. This city has undergone tremendous change in the 35 years since reunification. Then visit the birthplace of the reformation, Lutherstadt-Wittenberg. Dinner and overnight at our hotel.

SEP 02: WITTENBERG / ERFURT. After a breakfast, we’ll go to the very place Martin Luther nailed his famous 95 Theses to the door of the Schlosskirche (Castle Church). The original door was destroyed in the Seven Years War. Luther’s texts of the 95 Theses are cast in bronze on the door. Inside the church, we can see Martin Luther’s and Phillip Melanchthon’s graves. Next we’ll tour the Lutherhalle (Luther House) Museum. In 1508, when Martin Luther came to Wittenberg, he lived here with other Augustinian monks. We’ll be able to view some of Luther’s very own personal library, rare manuscripts, early Bibles, and some of the very pamphlets that Luther had printed up that stoked the fires of the Reformation. Next we’ll visit Stadtkirche St. Marien (St. Mary’s church) where Luther preached and where his children were baptized. Then visit the Melanchthon House Museum, a tribute to Philipp Melanchthon, who presented the Augsburg Confession of Peace. Melanchthon was second only to Luther as the key person in the Reformation in Germany. This afternoon we drive to Erfurt. Dinner and overnight at our hotel.

SEP 03: ERFURT: Erfurt walking tour to see the monastery and the town with its fabulous treasures and to have some time for wonderful homemade chocolate pralines and ice cream on the medieval merchant's bridge. Visit also the Prediger church (Preacher church) created by the DOMINICAN ORDER. Learn about Meister Eckardt and enjoy an organ recital (if possible). Visit also St Mary's cathedral and the Augustine monastery. Afternoon visit to the old Synagogue. Free time to enjoy the wonderful town of Erfurt and its hidden treasures.

SEP 04:  EISENACH & Wartburg Visit Eisenach with local guide. Tour starts after the visit of the Bach house including an introduction into the Bach music on historic instruments. We will then head for fascinating Eisenach Wartburg. 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. This is where Luther translated the New Testament into German in just 11 weeks. Then head to Eisenach and visit the Bach house. After the Bach house visit enjoy lunch on your own in the town of Eisenach and tour the town with a local guide . In the town of Eisenach, we’ll see the splendid Martin Luther Statue in town and St. George’s Church. Martin Luther preached here on his journey back and forth from the imperial parliament in Worms.

SEP 05: RHINE CRUISE / MAINZ / WORMS. We begin today with a Rhine cruise. We’ll board the boat at St. Goar and sail past magnificent castles and the famous Loreley rock. This afternoon we will take an excursion to Mainz, known for the Gutenberg Museum. We’ll also visit Mainz Cathedral, dating back to 975. On the way to Worms, we’ll stop at Rheinhessen Castle in Alzey, where 350 Anabaptists were killed in 1529. We will also see the nearby Mennonite village at Weierhof. In Worms we’ll have a walking tour to see the site of the Worms Debates. Our guide will also share about another Reformer, William Tyndale, who finished his printing of the English Bible in Worms, escaping persecution in England. It was the first translation of the Bible from the original Greek into English -- also the first translation of a Greek book into English. Return to Rudesheim for the evening meal and overnight stay.

SEP 06: HEIDELBERG / STRASBOURG.  Heidelberg is a picturesque town on the Neckar River. First a walking tour of the Old Town, the famous Stone Bridge over the Neckar River, then tour Heidelberg Castle. This is where the Heidelberg Confession was written in 1653. Continue to the edge of France where we drive to Strasbourg, home of the E.U.’s European Parliament, the “City of Hope,” or “Refuge of the Righteous” as the Anabaptists refer to it. This is where John Calvin wrote his famous books on systematic theology. Martin Bucer, another Reformation leader was from Strasbourg and is buried in St. Thomas’s Church, the principle Protestant Church since 1549. Also related to Strasbourg was Peter Waldo, whose followers were known as “Waldensians”, “Poor in Spirit” or “Poor Men of Lyons.” Due to growing persecution in Paris, Calvin settled in Strasbourg to live the life of a quiet Christian scholar and author. His first draft of the Institutes in 1536 was instantly popular as it presented Reformed doctrine in an easy to read, systematic manner. Tour the Cathedral of Strasbourg, St. Thomas’s Church, and also see the Statue of the Reformers in the University, the Astronomical clock and the historic “La Petite Strasbourg” quarter. Dinner and overnight at our hotel in the Alsace area

SEP 07:  Alsace / Colmar Today we will visit the wonderful town of Colmar , walking tour including little Venice boat ride  and a must visit of Unterlinden Museum with its striking altar. Also include a organ recital as the Alsace is the home of some of the best organ builders ( Silbermann  organ St Mathew , 1755). Then  afternoon visit of typical Alsace small village Riquewhir with a local guide. Dinner at a local restaurant.

SEP 08:  ZURICH / LUCERNE  This morning, we will pass through the Black Forest region of Germany to Switzerland.  We will have a walking city tour of Zurich then we will continue to Lucerne for dinner and overnight.

DAY 10: LUCERNE In the morning go up to Mt Pilatus , take the Golden route . Cruise first Lake Lucerne , then take the steepest coq railway in the world up to Mt Pilatus . Then take the cable car and gondola down. Afternoon  tour the city including Lions monument and Old Town with a local guide. Afternoon visit the charming Swiss town of Lucerne, beginning with a brief walking tour to view the City Walls and famous covered wooden bridges. The Kapellbrucke (Chapel Bridge) is a symbol of Lucerne. It originally dates back to the 14th century. Close by is the Spreurerbrucke (Spreuer Bridge), dating from 1408. View the ornate patrician houses along the cobbled streets. Dinner and overnight in Lucerne .

SEP 10: GENEVA This morning visit Bern on the way. In the morning travel to Bern on the way to Geneva. Explore this wonderful town with a local guide. ( Guided tour 2h30min). See the cathedral and old town. Learn about the Bern disputations from 1528 and the impact it had on Switzerland and Geneva. Stop by the famous Bear House of Bern. Enjoy lunch on own in Bern. Then continue towards Geneva and stop over in Gruyere. After the visit continue to Geneva. Dinner and overnight in Geneva.

SEP 11: Geneva It was here in Geneva that John Calvin and John Knox brought Christ’s teachings to eager listeners. Our full-day tour will start at the waterfront, famous for its Flower Clock and English Gardens, and continue to the old town area, where we’ll tour St. Peter’s Cathedral. This is where John Calvin preached and stoked the fires of the Reformation in Geneva. You can see Calvin’s chair. It’s only 157 steps up to the top of the North Tower, where the view is worth the effort. Under the Cathedral are the ruins of a Roman sanctuary, a 4th century basilica, and a 6th century church. Close by is the Auditoire de Calvin (also known as The Protestant Lecture Hall), where the inspired theologian himself taught. John Knox also taught here for three years. Next, we go to the impressive Reformation Monument. Four statues of four Reformation leaders stand as sentinels. Dinner and overnight at our hotel.

SEP 12: GENEVA / ATLANTA After breakfast we transfer to the airport for our flight home – the end of a most memorable journey.