Itinerary
May 17 Vienna (suggested arrival)
Arrival on May 17th is recommended, so as to be well-prepared for the day’s activities tomorrow.
May 18 Vienna (B, D)
Meet your fellow travelling companions over breakfast at your hotel. A walking tour will set the scene for the Reformation as we stroll through Vienna’s Innere Stadt. Local landmarks of interest will highlight Anabaptist sites, including where Balthasar Hubmaier was burned in 1528, the Castle where the anti-Anabaptist Habsburgs held court, pre-Reformation history/themes, and perhaps some Jewish history. Enjoy lunch at the Naschmarkt (snack market), Vienna’s open-air eatery. Later, tour the Kunsthistorisches Museum with Dr. Ilse Friesen and see pre- & Reformation-era art, particularly featuring Rembrandt (for the Dutch context) and Bruegel Elder and Younger (for the Peasant context). This evening, walk the Ringstrasse, a three-mile circle of historic buildings around the city. The beautiful buildings boast a wide range of architectural styles and provide a romantic spectacle at night.
May 19 Vienna (B, D)
This morning, visit the Niedersulz Museum, 30 minutes north of Vienna. Here, see the house where an Anabaptist woman was chained (literally) to her kitchen to keep her from preaching in the streets. Speak with current members of the Mennonite church in Vienna about how they’ve experienced being a “Free Church” member in the current Viennese culture. After lunch, drive to Mikulov (Nicholsburg) in the Czech Republic. This was a city of refuge for Hutterite Brethren fleeing from Habsburg persecution in Tirol, Vienna, and other Austrian regions. Return to Vienna after supper, with the option to take in a concert this evening.
May 20 Vienna (B)
This morning, take a walking tour with Dr. Ilse Friesen to hear about women’s participation in the Reformation. Hear stories of Viennese female Saints, such as St. Wilgefortis, who, though female, was depicted with a beard and popular in the Austrian Tirol, a hotbed of Anabaptist activity. Can we make any connections? Enjoy lunch at the historic Cafe Sperl, founded in 1880, which was a spot frequented by Freud! Enjoy Vienna at your leisure this afternoon: perhaps to browse the Albertina Museum, visit Mozart’s house, or to shop in the Innere Stadt.
May 21 Salzburg (B, D)
Depart for Salzburg. Along the way, stop at Melk to tour the Benedictine Abbey and the beautiful village. The current abbey was built 1702-1736 and survived the Napoleonic, First, and Second World Wars. Later, take a sobering tour of Mauthausen Concentration Camp, established shortly after the annexation of Austria in 1938, and which became the source of many more sub-camps in the area. Arrive in Salzburg – This UNESCO World Heritage site is an ecclesiastical city-state known for its baroque architecture, musical heritage, and stunning Alpine backdrop. Explore the sites – climb the Hohensalzburg, or take pictures in front of Mozart’s birthplace, the Mozart Geburtshaus.
May 22 Innsbruck (B, D)
Enjoy a free morning to enjoy sites at your leisure. After lunch, meet at Castle Mirabelle. Leave Salzburg and head to Anabaptist noblewoman Helena von Freyberg’s family castle in Kitzbühel, now a hotel. Have a coffee in the historic Schloss Münichau. Learn about Helena and how her class distinctions influenced her contributions to the early Anabaptist movement. Depart Kitzbühel for Innsbruck, where you will lodge this evening.
May 23 Lucerne (B, D)
Take a short drive to Hall in Tirol. Hall has the most intact 15th and 16th-century Old Town in Northern Tirol. It was the magisterial center of Tirol and where Anabaptist women who were unable to escape Habsburg jailers were held and questioned. Take a walking Tour of Hall to learn about Anabaptist women’s social history in Tirol. Back in Innsbruck, discover one family’s centuries-old bell-making tradition at the Grassmayr Bell Foundry Museum, visit the Goldenes Dachl (Golden Roof) where Jakob Hutter was burned, and reflect at the Übrige Brocken (Remaining Fragments) Memorial in Hutter Park. Depart Innsbruck for overnight in Lucerne.
May 24 Lucerne (B, D)
Lucerne is a picturesque city renowned for its medieval architecture, including the Chapel Bridge and Water Tower, offering a blend of natural beauty and historical charm. You may choose to take an optional hike/cable car ride up Mt. Pilatus, retracing Conrad Grebel’s steps. Or, enjoy Lucern from a ferry ride around the pristine, turquoise lake.
May 25 Bern (B, D)
Today, take a tour of the small Mennonite towns of Switzerland: Hüttwil, Sumiswald, Signau, Langau, and others. Transfer to Bern for tonight’s accommodation.
May 26 Hohentengen-Lienheim (B, D)
Explore Bern and the Emmental today, with the help of guest guide Markus Jost. Be introduced to the noble women of Bern who helped foment the movement. This afternoon visit Trachselwald Castle, a fortress once used to imprison radical Anabaptists, such as Hans Haslibacher.
May 27 Hohentengen-Lienheim (B, D)
Markus joins us again today for a tour of the Zürich countryside. See the Täuferhöhle (Anabaptist) cave and the barn near the cave (and taste ice cream from their dairy!). View the exhibit and escape hatch. Stop in Zollikon where George Blaurock interrupted the church service in January 1525.
May 28 Zürich (B, D)
Zürich and its surrounding area are central to the story of how the Anabaptist movement began. This morning, spend time in the old city of Zürich for an Anabaptist walking tour with guest guide Markus Jost. See Conrad Grebel’s House, Felix Manz’s mother’s house, the Grossmunster, Fraumünster, Lindenhof, and more. Enjoy a free afternoon to explore Zürich on your own, or to relax.
May 29 Zürich (B)
Spend the day in Zürich visiting exhibits celebrating the 500th anniversary of the birth of Anabaptism. Enjoy connecting with EMU students and choir members at the celebration.
May 30 Departure (B)
Check out of your hotel this morning and either continue your tour to Strasbourg or depart for home.
Extension Itinerary
May 30 Heidelberg (B)
Continue tracing the Anabaptist story up to the Netherlands, with important stops along the way. First: Strasbourg. This city on the French-German border enchants visitors with its charming half-timbered houses, cobblestone streets, and the iconic Gothic Strasbourg Cathedral. While here, learn about the mystic Anabaptist prophetesses who once walked these streets. Continue travelling to your hotel in Heidelberg. Enjoy some free time and find a place for dinner.
May 31 Münster (B, D)
Enjoy a relaxing cruise down the Rhine River, taking in the beautiful sites. Enjoy lunch on board. Stop at the Cologne Cathedral, with time to stroll around and take in the majestic Cathedral. Then continue on your travels to Münster. Check into your hotel and enjoy dinner at the hotel. In the evening, take a walking tour of the city and hear about the violent uprising of radical Anabaptists during the Münster Rebellion. See the cages where the bodies of Anabaptist leaders were displayed—the cages which still hang from the St. Lamberti Church tower today.
June 1 Sneek (B, D)
Make the journey to the Netherlands today, arriving in time for lunch. Tour Mennonite sites in Friesland, including Menno Simon’s hometown of Witmarsum and the hidden church at Pingjum.
June 2-3 Haarlem (B, L, D)
Enjoy the Dutch scenery as you travel to Zaanse Schans to see a typical Dutch site, Windmills. Enjoy some free time to explore, or enter a windmill to learn about the power of the wind. lunch. Have at a local church. Visit the Teylers Museum and house in the charming city of Haarlem, founded by an 18th-century wealthy Mennonite collector. Enjoy some free time in the afternoon to get some rest, explore on your own, or even rent bikes to see the sites at your own pace. For dinner, we will visit a local Indonesian Restaurant.
June 3 Haarlem (B, D)
Compare Mennonite and Catholic hidden churches; wonder at portraits of wealthy Mennonites in the Rijksmuseum; and see the canal houses of wealthy merchants and church-sponsored alms houses. Wander around the streets of Amsterdam, taking in the sites. Then, enjoy a tour of Amsterdam from the water on a cruise through the canals. Enjoy your last evening together on tour.
June 4 Haarlem
Depending on your flight departure, enjoy breakfast at the hotel before you depart. Check out of your hotel this morning and depart for home, savouring sweet memories, and new insights!
FAQs
Q: How much walking will I do on this tour?
A: This tour is rated as “Active”. Expect up to 2-3 hours of walking each day including well-paced walking tours with regular breaks. Please consider if this level of activity will be feasible for you before you register. Read more about our activity levels here.
Please note: itinerary is subject to change.
Check the pricing page for what is included and excluded in the tour fare.
For further information, please contact us. We would be happy to be of assistance.
