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Day 2 • Mainz
Day 6 • Passion Play
Day 9 • Nymphenburg Castle
Day 1 • Departure from the USA
We start our exciting journey to Europe with an overnight flight to Frankfurt, Germany.
Day 2 • Frankfurt/Mainz/Heidelberg
We arrive in Frankfurt, where we are met by our friendly Signature Tours International Manager. After we are assisted to our motor coach, we travel to Mainz where we visit the Gutenberg Museum. The museum’s prize exhibit is two original editions of the world-famous Gutenberg Bible printed from 1452 to 1455. There is free time for lunch before continuing our travels to Heidelberg for dinner and the night.
Day 3 • Heidelberg Castle
Day 3 • Heidelberg
Our day begins with a sightseeing tour of Heidelberg, including entrance to Heidelberg Castle. The Heidelberg Castle, known as the Schloss, is one of Germany’s most romantic locations, with a long and turbulent history. First constructed in the early 15th century as a residence for the Palatine princes, it was destroyed twice during war times and was once struck by lightening. Stones have even been removed to construct other buildings, thus it has a variety of architectural styles. There is free time for lunch and an afternoon at leisure to experience Heidelberg. Take a walk down the Hauptstrausse and enjoy the shopping or take a walk across the bridge of the Neckar River. Your tour manager is available to direct you on options for sightseeing. Dinner and the night are in Heidelberg.
Day 4 • Heidelberg/Rothenburg Ob De Tauber
Today we transfer to one of the oldest towns on the “Romantic Road”, Rothenburg O.T. We enjoy a guided walking tour, where we view many of the towns’ historical sites. There is free time for lunch before an afternoon at leisure under the guidance of our Tour Manager. D inner and overnight are spent in Rothenburg.
Day 4 • Rothenburg Ob De Tauber
Day 5 • Rothenburg O.T./Augsburg/Oberammergau
Today, we depart Rothenburg and travel to Augsburg, where the disputations between Luther and the Papal legate took place and the Protestant confession of faith was proclaimed for the first time. We see the Town Hall, the Fuggers’ Town Mansion, and the Cathedral during a guided tour. We then continue our journey to Oberammergau and the highlight of our trip, the Passion Play. There is free time for lunch on our way. We have dinner and spend the night in Oberammergau.
Day 6 • Oberammergau/PASSION PLAY
Today is the day we have all been waiting for! This small town of peasants and craftsmen, encircled by the wooded foothills of the Ammergau, owes its fame to the internationally renowned Passion Play. Performed only once every ten years, and involving 1,100 amateur actors from the local population, this play, re-enacting the final days of Christ, lasts an entire summer’s day. This is sure to be a day we will never forget. Dinner and the night are in Oberammergau.
Day 7 • Neuschwanstein Castle
Day 7 •Oberammergau/Neuschwanstein/Innsbruck
After an unforgettable day in Oberammergau, we board our coach to travel to Fussen for a tour of the Neuschwanstein Castle. This fortress of great stature is a mass of gray granite bristling with towers and pinnacles rising from a spur cut at its eastern end. The building was first started in 1869 for and by King Ludwig II of Bavaria, the fairytale king. We have time for lunch before continuing our journey to Innsbruck for dinner and the night.
Day 8 • Innsbruck/Munich
This morning we embark on a guided walking tour of Innsbruck, including a visit to the Swarovski Crystal Factory. Swarovski Crystal was started when Bohemian born Daniel Swarovski invented an automatic cutting machine in 1892. The company was founded when he established a crystal cutting factory near Innsbruck. There is free time for lunch before our afternoon ride to Munich for dinner and overnight.
Day 9 • Munich
Today we enjoy a sightseeing tour of Munich, the cultural center and capital of Bavaria. Munich is also the largest center for industry and commerce in southern Germany. It was host to the XX Olympic games in 1972. We tour Nymphenburg Castle, which was the one-time summer residence of Bavarian rulers and has been finished in the style of an Italian palace. There is time for lunch on our own before an afternoon to explore at leisure under the guidance of our Tour Manager. Tonight there is a Farewell Dinner and then we stay the night in Munich.
Day 10 • Munich/Hometown, U.S.A.
We transfer to Munich Airport for our return flight to the U.S., taking with us all our unforgettable memories to share with friends and family back home!!