Eastern Germany and Prague
Berlin, with its dramatic, war-torn history; the tragic Buchenwald concentration camp and Wittenberg, birthplace of the Lutheran Reformation. On to the beautiful city of Prague, divided by the Vltava River and joined again by its iconic bridges. Known for its hilltop castle, St Wenceslas Square, Old Town Square and Jewish Quarter, baroque buildings, Gothic churches and medieval Astronomical Clock.
Highlights
- Berlin and Checkpoint Charlie, the Berlin Wall, Tiergarten, the government sector, the Bradenburg Gate, the Potsdam Square, Unter den Linden and Berlin Cathedral, the largest Lutheran church in Germany
- Potsdam, famous for splendid palaces and gardens, the Dutch Quarter and the Russian Colony Alexandrovka.
- Sanssouci Palace, a favourite of the great Prussian king Frederick II.
- Wittenberg where Luther posted his famous '95 Theses', launching the Protestant Reformation. The Luther House, the Schlosskirche where he is buried and Cranach's Triptych Altar.
- Torgau and the Castle, the Castle Church and St. Mary's Church, where Katharina von Bora, Luther's wife, is buried.
- Halle where Handel was born and the 'Francke Foundations', a centre of Lutheran Pietism that included an orphanage, school and Bible society. Henry Melchior Muhlenberg , patriarch of the Lutheran Church in America, left from here for Pennsylvania.
- Eisleben and Luther's Birth House, Death House, the Church of St Peter and St Paul where he was baptised and the church where he preached his last sermon.
- Erfurt, the Augustinian Monastery, St Mary's Cathedral where Luther was ordained and St Severin's Church.
- Eisenach, birthplace of Bach and the Bach Museum, Luther House and St. George's Church where Bach was baptised.
- Wartburg Castle where Luther lived in protective custody.
- Weimar, the centre of classical German literature and a living picture book of German history featuring Wieland, Goethe, Herder, Schiller and Bach. Also the site of the first German democracy, the ill-fated Weimar Republic.
- Nietzsche Archive, Goethe and Schiller Houses and Archives and the Bauhaus Museum.
- Buchenwald Nazi concentration camp.
- Leipzig and St. Thomas Church, where Bach was buried, Luther preached, Mozart played the organ and Wagner was baptised. The Bach Museum and Nikolaikirche.
- Walking tour of Prague and its Old Town, the Gothic Town Hall and nearby Wenceslas Square; the Jewish Quarter, birthplace of Kafka, with the Jewish Museum, Old New Synagogue and Jewish Cemetery.
- Prague's Castle District and Hradcany Castle, the seat of Holy Roman Emperors; Cathedral of St. Vitus; the Basilica of St. George founded in 905; the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Loreto, an important place of pilgrimage; the Strahov Monastery and a private tour of the library.
Photo credits:
Slideshow: view of Prague and Prague Castle at night; Berlin Cathedral; Brandenburg Gate.
Photos to the right of the tour: Old Jewish Cemetery, Prague; Golden Gate, Prague.
