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EMU Radical Reformation @ 500: Gender and Class

May 18 - Jun 04

Salzburg, Austria, with its historic buildings and scenic landscape set against a backdrop of rolling hills and a clear sky

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This is a Custome Program.

Registration by invitation only.
Explore Anabaptist beginnings on a European tour with faculty, alumni, and friends of Eastern Mennonite University. Seize the unique opportunity to visit Anabaptist sites in Austria, the Czech Republic, Switzerland, and the Netherlands with a special emphasis on how women and peasants shaped the Anabaptist movement. See the house outside of Vienna where an Anabaptist woman was chained to her kitchen to keep her from preaching in the streets. Have coffee in an Anabaptist noblewoman’s castle in Kitzbühel. Visit the magisterial center of Tirol where Anabaptist women who were unable to escape Habsburg jailers were held and questioned. Tie these stories in with those of other significant Anabaptist figures and sites as you visit the Goldenes Dachl (Golden Roof) where Jakob Hutter was burned, Conrad Grebel’s house, Felix Manz’s mother’s house, a cave where Anabaptists worshipped in secret, and much more. Along the way, take in some of Europe’s finest cultural landmarks like Vienna’s Ringstrasse or the towering Baroque-style Melk Abbey. The main portion of the tour ends in Zürich, where Anabaptists from all over the world will join together to celebrate 500 years of Anabaptism. On an optional tour extension, make your way up to the Netherlands to see Menno Simmons’ sites in Friesland, with stops in Strasbourg and Munster on the way. We end in Amsterdam and Haarlem where we will contrast radical, militant Anabaptists with their respectable bourgeois descendants. Historians Mary Sprunger and Kimberly Schmidt will lead with historical expertise and extensive personal travel experience.

At a Glance

  • May 18-30, 2025
  • 13 Days
  • Optional 6-day Netherlands extension May 30 – June 4

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!

​Frequently Asked Questions

How much walking will I do on this tour?

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.

Please note: itinerary subject to change.

For further information, please contact us. We would be happy to be of assistance.


Tour Fare

EMU Radical Reformation @ 500: Gender and Class – Tour Fare

Tour Fare Per Person

Double Occupancy:

$4,799 USD

Single Supplement:
$950 USD
What do “Double Occupancy” and “Single Supplement” mean for my tour fare?
The price for a tour listed under “Double Occupancy” means the amount paid per person if you are sharing a room with another traveller, such as your spouse or a travel partner. If you prefer to have a single hotel room to yourself, the “Single Supplement” is an additional amount to cover the extra cost charged by the hotels for a single room. To determine your amount owing for the tour as a single traveller, you will need to add together the tour fare PLUS the single supplement. 

Important note: Costs could increase if you sign up less than 90 days before a tour begins

Fare Includes:

  • Hotel accommodations while on tour
  • Coach transportation within tour
  • Group airport transfers
  • All breakfasts, 10 dinners
  • Expert tour leaders and local engagements
  • All entrance fees included in itinerary
  • Gratuities for bus driver and included meals, donations for local presenters
  • 1 bottle of water on the bus per day
  • Contribution to EMU’s Student Intercultural Scholarship Fund ($355 USD)

Fare excludes:

  • International airfare and any associated fees
  • Additional transfers outside of group transfer
  • Lunches
  • Beverages with meals
  • Any additional or optional activities

Extension Tour Fare Per Person

Double Occupancy:

$1,859 USD

Single Supplement:
$350 USD
What do “Double Occupancy” and “Single Supplement” mean for my tour fare?
The price for a tour listed under “Double Occupancy” means the amount paid per person if you are sharing a room with another traveller, such as your spouse or a travel partner. If you prefer to have a single hotel room to yourself, the “Single Supplement” is an additional amount to cover the extra cost charged by the hotels for a single room. To determine your amount owing for the tour as a single traveller, you will need to add together the tour fare PLUS the single supplement. 

Important note: Costs could increase if you sign up less than 90 days before a tour begins

Extension Fare includes:

  • Hotel accommodations while on tour
  • Coach transportation within tour
  • Group airport transfers
  • All breakfasts, 1 Lunch, 4 Dinners
  • Expert tour leaders and local guides
  • All entrance fees included in itinerary
  • Gratuities for bus driver and included meals
  • 1 bottle of water on the bus per day
  • Contribution to EMU’s Student Intercultural Scholarship Fund ($138 USD)

Extention Fare excludes:

  • International airfare and any associated fees
  • Additional transfers outside of group transfers
  • Most Lunches, 1 Dinner
  • Beverages with meals
  • Any additional or optional activities

Insurance

Travel medical (out-of-country emergency) insurance and cancellation/interruption insurance are not mandatory but are highly recommendedClick here to learn more about insurance services we offer.

Payments

All rates shown are in effect at time of printing (March 2024). Although every effort is made to maintain the prices as established, TourMagination does reserve the right to adjust prices on this tour should it become necessary. For your convenience, we accept online credit card payments.