The day has arrived and we depart the United States on an overnight flight to Europe.
Upon arrival at Prague International Airport, we will be welcomed by our professional English-speaking tour escort. This evening, we gather for dinner at the hotel and rest in preparation for the days ahead.* Overnight Prague. Clarion Congress Hotel Prague or similar. (L,) D.
* Itinerary dependent upon arrival time. Travelers will likely be arriving throughout the day. For those arriving in Prague prior to 11:00am, lunch is included. For those arriving after lunch time, the first included meal will be dinner.
After breakfast, we embark on a full-day tour of Prague, a city deeply rooted in proto-Reformation history. We begin in the Hradcany District, where we explore Prague Castle, St. Vitus Cathedral, St. George’s Cathedral, and the charming Golden Lane. Crossing the iconic Charles Bridge, we continue to the Bethlehem Chapel, where the great pre-Reformation reformer Jan Hus once preached. We pause at the Jan Hus Memorial before viewing the Astronomical Clock, City Hall, Our Lady of Tyn Church, and Wenceslas Square. In the afternoon we will have time for personal exploration. Overnight Prague. Clarion Congress Hotel Prague or similar. B, L.
After breakfast and hotel check-out, we travel westward to Erfurt with a stop in Wittenberg, the cradle of the Protestant Reformation. Here, we visit the Castle Church where Martin Luther posted his 95 Theses in 1517. We view the Theses Door, City Church, Luther Memorial, Judenstrasse, and Luther Oak. We continue to Erfurt for hotel check-in and an evening at leisure. Overnight Erfurt. Nyx Hotel or similar. B, L.
Following breakfast, we explore Erfurt, where Luther studied and later entered monastic life. Our tour includes the Augustinian Monastery, the Merchants’ Bridge, the University of Erfurt, and the Cathedral where Luther celebrated his first mass. After lunch, the afternoon is free for personal exploration or relaxation. Overnight Erfurt. Nyx Hotel or similar. B, L.
We journey to Wartburg Castle, where Martin Luther once took refuge and translated the New Testament into German. Afterward, we continue to Eisenach to visit the Luther House Museum, located in the 16th-century home where young Luther is believed to have lived as a student. Overnight Erfurt. Nyx Hotel or similar. B, L.
This morning we drive to Worms—an essential site of in Reformation History. We explore the Monument to the Reformation and visit the Cathedral, as well as the Heylshof Gardens, where Martin Luther stood before the Holy Roman Emperor at the Diet of Worms in 1521 and refused to recant. We then continue on to Heidelberg, check into our hotel, and enjoy a free evening. Overnight Heidelberg. Atlantic Hotel or similar. B, L.
We make our way into Switzerland, stopping in the city of Basel—a key center of Reformation publishing and Spanish Protestant history. It was here in 1569 that Casiodoro de Reina, a Spanish reformer and former monk, completed and printed the first full Spanish Bible translation, now known as the Reina-Valera Bible. Our visit includes a guided walk through the Spalenberg and Petersgasse district, where the printer Thomas Guarin operated and where Reina carried out his work in exile. We also visit the exterior of the Basel MĂĽnster, a powerful symbol of the city’s transition from Catholicism to Protestantism. The nearby University of Basel—founded in 1460—was a hub of theological thought and supported the broader intellectual environment in which Reina and his colleagues labored to make Scripture accessible to the Spanish-speaking world. From Basel, we continue to Zurich. Upon arrival, we enjoy a guided tour centered on Ulrich Zwingli, the Swiss Reformer. We stop at the Zwingli Statue and enter GrossmĂĽnster Church, where Zwingli preached the Gospel in the early 16th century. We also visit the site of Felix Manz’s execution, honoring this early Anabaptist martyr. We conclude with a walk along Lake Zurich. Overnight Zurich. Crowne Plaza or similar. B, L.
Today we travel to Geneva. At the Reformation Wall, we reflect on the courage of the spiritual giants John Calvin, Theodore Beza, William Farel, and John Knox. At St. Pierre’s Cathedral, where Calvin taught and preached, we gain insight into his theology and ministry. We also see Calvin’s Auditorium and Calvin College and pass by Geneva’s Flower Clock and Gardens. A visit to the Reformation Museum deepens our understanding of the Reformation’s history and global impact. Overnight Geneva. Novotel Genève Centre or similar. B, L, D.
This morning, we transfer from Geneva to Seville, Spain, where our journey continues with a focus on the Spanish Reformation. Overnight Seville. Melia or Giralda Center or similar. B.
We begin the day at the Monastery of San Isidoro del Campo, where Casiodoro de Reina and Cipriano de Valera—former monks turned Reformers—first encountered Reformation teachings. Their commitment to translating the Bible into Spanish would have a dramatic impact across the Spanish-speaking world. Our exploration continues through Seville’s historic district, including the Cathedral of Seville (exterior), and the Jewish Quarter. Overnight Seville. Melia or Giralda Center or similar. B, L.
This morning, we explore more of Seville, including the General Archive of the Indies and the sweeping beauty of Plaza de España. Afterward, we travel by coach to Madrid and check into our hotel. Overnight Madrid. Novotel Madrid Center or simlar. B, L.
Today, we transfer to the airport for our return flights home, carrying with us a renewed appreciation for the courage, conviction, and gospel legacy of the Reformers. If time allows, breakfast is included today.
