passion play southern germany bavaria, black forest
Day 1 Overnight flight
Day 2 Munich – Regensburg
Herzlich wilkommen in Deutschland! Arrival at Munich Airport. Meet your driver and tour escort and depart for Regensburg. Regensburg is home to two thousand years of living history and listed on the UNESCO World Heritage list. Here you will find some of Europe’s most important architectural and cultural monuments. It’s an attractive place to spend some time and the Bavarian hospitality adds a special note to the vibrant mix of art and culture. Upon arrival in Regensburg a local guide will introduce you to Regensburg’s Old City with its wealthy merchants’ houses. You will see treasures of Romanesque and Gothic architecture such as the Old Town Hall, the St. Peters Cathedral, the Stone Bridge and the Porta Praetoria. Check in at the hotel and have some time to relax before dinner.
Welcome dinner and overnight in Regensburg.
Day 3 Regensburg – Kelheim – Regensburg
This morning you will visit Thurn and Taxis Palace, also known as Sankt Emmeram Palace. In the middle of the 18th century, the princess of Thurn and Taxis, founder of the first large-scale postal service in Europe, turned the former monastery into a magnificent castle-residence. The entire palace contains several magnificently furnished chambers. The cloisters in the oldest part of the monastery are of particular interest. Afterwards you will board the Swarovski Chrystal boat for a cruise on the River Danube. On board a 2-course lunch will be served. In the afternoon you will depart for Kelheim to visit Weltenburg Monastery, the visitors center and brew house for a close look at a working brewery. Find your favorite beer during a beer tasting, where you may keep your own original Weltenburg beer glass. Travel back to Regensburg.
Day 4 Nuremberg
After breakfast you will travel to Nuremberg, one of the most beautiful medieval cities in Germany. You will enjoy a guided city tour by coach and on foot. During the tour you will walk through the historic Old Town with its Frauentor Tower, the Henkersteg (Hangman’s bridge) and the unique Craftsmen Courtyard. Visit the historic St. John`s Cemetery and Kaiserburg Castle the symbol of the city. The castle stands proudly on a sandstone outcrop north of the city. You will see the Palace of Justice, where the Nuremberg Trials were held after World War II. The Dutzendteich Lake and the remains of the former Nazi Party Rally Grounds show a different side of Nuremberg. Remainder of the day at leisure for some shopping and relaxation in the city.
Overnight in Nuremberg.
Day 5 Nuremberg – Bayreuth – Bamberg
After breakfast and check out you will depart for Bayreuth. Here you will visit the most beautiful preserved Baroque Theatre in Europe and the Margravial Opera House. It is UNESCO World Heritage and build by Richard Wagner. Today, the Festival Hall is used exclusively for the Bayreuth Festival, and only works by Wagner are performed there. You will walk through the historical Hermitage Court Garden with its fairy tale like Orangery, the Sun Temple, the Old and New Palace with the upper and lower grotto and tranquil water features with Baroque fountains. Continue to picturesque Bamberg, the city with the largest historical center in Germany and also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A local guide will show you the major sights in the historical city center such as the Cathedral, Old Court, New Residence, Rose Garden, the Old Town Hall and ‘Little Venice’. Dinner tonight will be a typical Franconian dinner. You might want to pair your food with local Bamberger ‘smoked beer’, a type of beer with a distinctive smoke flavor imparted by using malted barley dried over an open flame. Overnight in Bamberg.
Day 6 Bamberg – Würzbug – Rothenburg ob der Tauber
This morning you will travel to Rothenburg ob der Tauber via Würzburg. Here you will visit the majestic Wüzburg Residence, considered one of the most important baroque palaces in Europe and became a part of the UNESCO World Heritage list in 1981. Unlike other buildings, it was built almost within a single generation and incorporates French château architecture, Viennese baroque and secular elements of northern Italy. You will continue your journey along the Romantic Road towards Rothenburg. As well as being old, the town is both picturesque and unspoiled. Remainder of the afternoon at leisure to explore this quaint town yourselves. After dinner at a Medieval Restaurant, you will to take a walk back in time with the Night Watchman of Rothenburg ob der Tauber. Learn the fascinating story of one of Germany’s best known and best preserved medieval cities. From its origins as a stronghold at the crossroads of important trade routes, to its time of glory and its downfall during the Thirty Years War.
Overnight in Rothenburg.
Day 7 Rothenburg ob der Tauber – Calw – Breitnau / Titisee
Today you will travel into the Black Forest. Your first stop will be in Calw, nestled in the Nagold valley, is often referred to as the northern gateway to the Black Forest. Almost the entire center of the village is under historic preservation. Over 200 buildings are listed and dating back to the late 17th century. Half-timbered buildings in Southern Germany differ from region to region on account of their great variety of stylistic elements. Stroll through the town and have lunch on your own. Your journey into the Black Forest continues, you will travel past Lake Titisee and will arrive in Breitnau, where you will have time to do some souvenir and cuckoo clock shopping. The clocks from the Black Forest have become a global brand and are beautifully hand-carved. Also the largest cuckoo clock in the entire Black Forest can be seen in Breitnau. You might want to try Kaffee und Schwarzwalder Kuchen (coffee and Black Forest cake).
Overnight in the Titisee area.
Day 8 Breitnau / Titisee – Offenburg – Singen – Mainau – Lake Constance – Breitnau / Titisee
After breakfast you will travel to Offenburg where you will board a train and travel the Black Forest Railway to Singen at Lake Constance. Admire the stunning scenery and pass through a grand total of 37 tunnels along the way. In Singen you will be met by your coach driver and will travel to Mainau for a visit and lunch on your own. The year-round beauty of Flower Island Mainau can be explored on 45 hectare of impressive gardens. The second largest butterfly house in Germany invites everybody to its tropical world with numberless colorful butterflies and blossoms. Look around in one of the themed gardens including a Rhododendron Slope, Italian Rose Garden, Dahlia Garden and Hydrangea Path or the Herbaceous Garden. You will travel back to your hotel in the Titisee area. The spectacular Rhine Falls serve as a backdrop for your on route stop in Schaffhausen. Remainder of the day at leisure.
Overnight in Titisee area.
Day 9 Breitnau / Titisee – Hohenschwangau – Oberammergau – Passion Play package
This morning you will leave the Black Forest for the Bavarian Alps. Enjoy the scenery as you travel to Hohenschwangau. After some free time for lunch in Füssen you will visit Neuschwanstein Castle. The Fairy Tale Castle which Walt Disney based his castle of the Sleeping Beauty on. Built by King Ludwig II in 1868, who lived here only for 170 days, as he was dethroned in 1886. In the Castle you will see the influence of the operas of the composer Richard Wagner, which inspired the King. You will see the distinctive rooms, the rich decorated sitting room, the minstrel’s room and many more. You will travel onwards to Oberammergau. Dinner tonight will be at the hotel or at a local restaurant (included in the Passion Play package). Overnight in Oberammergau area.
Day 10 Oberammergau – Garmisch-Partenkirchen – Zugspitze – Oberammergau – day of the performance
Attend the renowned Passion Play today. Transfer by private deluxe coach to Oberammergau. Enjoy a light lunch (included in the package). Start of first sequence of the Passion Play will be at 02:30pm (May – August) or at 01:30pm (August – October). 3-course dinner during the 3 hour break in Oberammergau (included in the package). Transfers to and from the dinner by shuttle busses, arranged by the Passion Play organization. Start of the second sequence of the Passion Play at 08:00pm (May – August) or at 07:00pm (August – October). Transfer back to the hotel by private deluxe coach.
Overnight in the Oberammergau area.
Day 11 Munich
After breakfast you will travel to Munich. Upon arrival meet your local guide for a city tour on foot through Munich’s beautiful old town and take a look into the city’s turbulent 850 years of history. See important sights such as Marienplatz the historic town square, Munich’s oldest church Sankt Peter, the Viktualienmarkt the colourful open-air market, the Bayerische Staatsoper, the Bavarian State Chancellery, the Siegestor the Bavarian Arch of Triumph, the Field Marshall’s Hall, and the beautiful Hofgarten. Afterwards you will visit Nymphenburg Palace, one of the largest royal palaces in Europe.The baroque palace was the summer residence of the Bavarian monarchs and houses several outstanding collections. With its lavishly decorated interior and the famous “Gallery of Beauties” commissioned by Ludwig I, the palace is one of Munich’s favorite attractions. Among the highlights are the lavishly decorated interior, the famous “Gallery of Beauties” and the impressive banquet hall with fine ceiling frescoes by Johann Baptist Zimmermann. Remainder of the afternoon at leisure for shopping and to explore this interesting city on your own. This evening you will have your farewell dinner at the famous Hofbräuhaus.
Overnight in the Munich area.
Day 12 Departure
After breakfast departure to Munich Airport for your flight back home.