Depart USA

Arrive in Munich this morning and begin your tour at the Glockenspiel on the Marienplatz. Pass the new Gothic Hall and visit the Hofbräuhaus, site of the first mass Nazi meeting. See the Hofgarten and a memorial to the White Rose anti-Nazi resistance group of students. Pass the Feldherrnhalle, the site of the failed Beer Hall Putsch that would lead to the arrest of Adolf Hitler in 1923. Stop at the Konigsplatz, where mass rallies once took place. Then explore and shop on your own before checking into your hotel for dinner and overnight. Overnight: Munich

Journey to Dachau, the concentration camp left standing as a solemn reminder of the capacity for cruel inhumanity toward our fellow human beings. You’ll see the memorial to those who died at Dachau. Continue to Nuremberg, where you can enjoy a bit of old Nuremberg, the medieval old city that has been lovingly restored. You’ll visit the Reichstag Museum which houses the Documentation Centre Nazi Party Rally Grounds Exhibition. Overnight: Nuremberg

This morning you pass through the picturesque German countryside on your way to Berlin. Enjoy a city tour that includes the Brandenburg Gate and the rebuilt Reichstag, whose transparent dome represents the open government of the nation. Walk a portion of the Jewish Memorial nearby. See a section of the Berlin Wall, and take a photo at Checkpoint Charlie, the infamous crossing point from East to West Berlin in the Cold War Era. Overnight: Berlin

This morning you'll travel to the villa in Wannsee, where the Nazi's determined their "Final Solution" to the Jewish problem. Today it is a Holocaust Memorial and document center. This afternoon is yours to explore and shop on your own in Berlin. Overnight: Berlin

This morning, wander the town of Wittenberg, where Luther lived and taught for 36 years. See where he posted his 95 Theses on the Palace Church door, giving voice to the Reformation. Visit Schlosskirche, where Luther was buried, and explore Luther Halle, a former monastery where Martin lived with his family. This afternoon, explore on your own through the town's museums and shops. Martin Luther visited Dresden in 1516 and again in 1518. See a statue of Martin Luther in the square in front of the Frauenkirche (“Church of Our Lady”). The church, built between 1726 and 1743, was destroyed by Allied bombs during WWII. The ruins lay untouched until after the reunification of Germany. Reconstruction took 13 years, and the church was reconsecrated with a festive two-day service lasting through Reformation Day on October 31, 2005.

In Leipzig, you’ll walk to St. Thomas Church where Luther preached, and Bach served as cantor and choir director. It contains a large stained glass window depicting Luther with his translation of the Bible. See also the Neues Rathaus, the city hall built over the castle where Johann Eck and Martin Luther debated in 1519. Martin Luther lived in Eisenach during his student days. Learn about Luther’s life and the Reformation at the Luther House Museum, and tour the famous Wartburg Castle, where Luther translated the New Testament into German in 1522. View the room where Luther completed his translation in just 11 weeks. Travel to the Rhine River area. Check into your area hotel for dinner and overnight.

This morning, visit the Rhine River city of Mainz, where Johann Gutenberg developed the process of moveable type that allowed printing to be done on a production scale. Enjoy a cruise on the Rhine River past medieval castles before staying overnight in the Frankfurt area. Return to your hotel for dinner and overnight.

Return home with memories of the people and places of Germany.