Church history in Continental Europe
Eleven days from Prague, where Jan Hus preached, through Luther’s Leipzig, Wittenberg, Erfurt and Worms, to Constance, Zurich and Calvin’s Geneva.
Two nights in Prague with Jan Hus, a century before Luther, then the Reformation in Germany, the place of Hus’s death at Constance, Zwingli’s Zurich and two nights in Calvin’s Geneva.
From Prague to Leipzig and Wittenberg, west through Erfurt to Worms, then south to Constance, Zurich and Geneva.
From Erfurt to Wartburg Castle and Eisenach.
Two nights in Prague, one in Wittenberg, two in Erfurt, one in Mannheim, one in Constance and two in Geneva.
Days 2 & 3
Bethlehem Chapel, where Jan Hus preached, and the city he called to reform.
Prague Castle, Charles Bridge, Old Town Square
Days 4 to 6
Leipzig, the 95 Theses in Wittenberg, the monastery in Erfurt and Wartburg Castle.
Leipzig, Wittenberg, Erfurt, Eisenach
Days 7 & 8
Where Luther took his stand, and where Hus was condemned and martyred.
Worms, Mannheim, Constance
Days 9 & 10
Zwingli’s Grossmünster, then St. Pierre’s and the Reformation Wall.
Zurich, Geneva
The sites on this eleven-day route, from Hus’s Prague to Calvin’s Geneva.
Eleven days, day by day. Every group’s version is built around its own dates, its own pace and the places that matter most to its people.
Passports. Passports must be valid for at least three months after the date you leave Europe. U.S. citizens do not need a visa.
Days 1 to 3
Day 1
Our journey begins as we depart the United States for our overnight flight to Prague.
Day 2
We arrive in Prague and meet our Christian Expedition tour director, who stays with the group for the whole trip, then transfer to the hotel and gather for dinner together.
Dinner and overnight in Prague for two nights.
Day 3
A morning in the Hradčany district: Prague Castle, the old seat of the Bohemian kings, and St. Vitus Cathedral. We cross the Charles Bridge to Bethlehem Chapel, a reconstruction of the church where Jan Hus preached reform from 1402 to 1413, then walk to Old Town Square, the Astronomical Clock and the Hus monument. The afternoon is free.
Dinner and overnight in Prague.
Days 4 to 6
Day 4
We drive to Leipzig and St. Thomas Church, where Luther preached in 1539 and Bach later served as cantor, then continue to Wittenberg.
Dinner and overnight in Wittenberg.
Day 5
In Wittenberg we see the Castle Church, where Luther posted his 95 Theses in 1517 and where he and Melanchthon are buried, and St. Mary’s Church, where he preached most of his sermons. We walk the town square past the Renaissance town hall, then travel on to Erfurt.
Dinner and overnight in Erfurt for two nights.
Day 6
In Erfurt we visit the Augustinian Monastery, where Luther lived as a monk from 1505 to 1511. At Wartburg Castle above Eisenach we see the Luther Stube, the room where he hid after the Diet of Worms and translated the New Testament into German, and in Eisenach the Luther House, where he lodged as a schoolboy.
Dinner and overnight in Erfurt.
Days 7 & 8
Day 7
In Worms we see the Reformation Monument and the cathedral, and walk the Heylshof Gardens, where the bishop’s palace stood when Luther refused to recant at the Diet of Worms in 1521: “Here I stand, I can do no other.” We continue to Mannheim for the night.
Dinner and overnight in Mannheim.
Day 8
We drive south to Constance on its lake. Here in 1415 Jan Hus was condemned and burned for his teaching. We see the Hussenstein, the stone that marks the place, and the Hus Museum.
Dinner and overnight in Constance.
Days 9 to 11
Day 9
In Zurich we visit the Grossmünster, where Ulrich Zwingli became pastor in 1519 and began the Swiss Reformation, and where Heinrich Bullinger followed him. We see the Helferei, where Zwingli worked, and his monument at the Wasserkirche, then drive on to Geneva.
Dinner and overnight in Geneva for two nights.
Day 10
A day for Calvin’s Geneva: St. Pierre’s Cathedral, where he preached, Calvin’s Auditorium and the old academy. In the afternoon a specialist guide takes us through the Reformation Museum and to the Reformation Wall, with Beza, Calvin, Farel and Knox in stone. We close with a farewell dinner.
Farewell dinner and overnight in Geneva.
Day 11
We transfer to the airport for the flight home.
Tell us the window you have in mind and we will build the itinerary around it: the time you have, and the places that matter most to your people.
Every inclusion can be tailored to your group.
Not included unless added to your package: travel insurance, lunches, drinks at dinner, personal expenses, and the cost of meeting any national entry requirements.
Our group leader support team guides you every step of the way, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm Eastern, at (877) 234-3002 or groups@christianexpedition.com.
Our 24/7 travel emergency team is there for travelers who are abroad and facing a travel-related emergency, at (877) 234-3002 ext. 9.
Start from this route, add a Rhine cruise or a night in Strasbourg, or finish in London with Wesley and Spurgeon, and we shape the days, the pace and the sites around your people.
“Our church has absolutely enjoyed every aspect of planning travel with Christian Expedition! Their team makes the process of taking our church to see incredible locations from the Bible easy and stress free!”
Pastor Josh LuechtCalvary Chapel Palm City
“Trey and his team have done a fabulous job organizing, managing and overseeing our trips to Israel and Greece.”
Pastor Jim GallagherSenior Pastor, Calvary Chapel Vero Beach
U.S. citizens do not need a visa for tourist stays of up to 90 days in the Czech Republic, Germany or Switzerland. All three are in the Schengen area, so passports must be valid for at least three months after the date you leave Europe. The European Union plans to introduce an online travel authorization called ETIAS; it is not yet in operation, and we will tell your group if it applies before you travel. Passport and entry requirements remain the responsibility of each traveler.
A Czech priest and teacher who preached in Prague a century before Luther, calling for the Scriptures in the language of the people. He was condemned at the Council of Constance and burned in 1415. This route visits both the chapel where he preached and the place where he died.
Yes. Every expedition is built for one group, on that group’s dates. The eleven-day route on this page is our standard, and groups often add a night in Strasbourg, a Rhine cruise, or London at the end.
A good deal. The old towns are on cobblestones and Wartburg Castle sits on a hill above Eisenach. Comfortable shoes make each day easier, and our guides set the pace for the group.
Travel insurance, lunches, drinks at dinner, personal expenses, and the cost of meeting any national entry requirements. Anything not listed as included can be quoted for your group on request.
Tell us about your group and we will be in touch.