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Wednesday,
May 21, 2014
We meet in Lutherstadt Wittenberg, Germany, the town where
Martin Luther lived and worked. Various walking tours are offered
in the afternoon, and museums like the Luther house and the Melanchthon
house are open for Refo500 Train participants.
"The Train" starts with a Welcome Dinner and reception
in the evening. We will get introduced to each other, the experts
travelling with us, and the program of the next days.
Overnight: Refo500 Partner 
Luther
Hotel in Wittenberg (and other hotels)
Thursday,
May 22
After breakfast shuttles go to Wittenberg train station. Here we
will see it for the first time: The Refo500 Train. After
boarding and a little orientation we leave the station, passing
the skyline of Wittenberg while the train crosses the Elbe river.
Time to get acquainted with the train, to walk around, meet others,
and for a few first lectures in the dinning and lounge cars.
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It's not much
more than one hour before we reach our first stop: Lutherstadt
Eisleben. We are welcomed at the station by the Lord Mayor.
Shuttle busses take us to the market square. Various walking tours
are offered as well as visits in the houses where Martin Luther
was born and where he died. We meet for a devotional service in
the imposing church of St Peter and Paul, the church where Martin
Luther was baptized.
Overnight: Hotels
in Eisleben
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Friday,
May 23
After boarding the Train again in the morning a first stop will
be in RefoCity Nordhausen. Nordhausen joined the Reformation
early, and made Luther saying that "she will be honoured before
God and all others in eternal life." After a reception and
sightseeing program we continue south to Erfurt, the capital
of Thurinigia. An old merchant's town, Erfurt also is the home of
one of Germany's universities. Martin Luther studied here and joined
the Augustinian Order. We are welcomed by the Internationale
Martin Luther Stiftung (International Martin Luther Foundation)
which is based in the Augustinian Monastery.
Overnight: Hotels
in Erfurt Old Town
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Saturday,
May 24
Wartburg castle is the en route stop for today. Shuttles
busses take us from Eisenach train station up the hill. The Wartburg
is important for many aspects of German history, starting at the
medieval minstrial competition which Richard Wagner later used as
story for his Tannhäuser opera. German students demanded civil
rights and a united Germany at a gathering for the 300th Reformation
Jubilee 1817, using a black-red-golden flag. Already in 1521 Martin
Luther was under protection at the "mighty fortress",
spending is time in writting books and translating the bible.
Following the guided tours, the Refo500 Train leaves "Luther
Country", heading to Heidelberg. The approx. 4 hours
ride will give enough time for lectures, presentations, chatting,
and music on board.
Overnight: Entire
group in Crowne Plaza Heidelberg
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Sunday,
May 25
No train travelling today to allow a Sunday rest on your
own pace. Worship services are offered in the morning and the afternoon.
You may also join one of the walking tours in the old center and
the Castle.
In the afternoon we gather for an excursion to Bretten (with
busses) to see the Melanchthonhaus for a reception and dinner.
Sunday Morning Worship Service
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Monday,
May 26
After leaving Heidelberg we see the Black Forest at the horizon
as we follow the tracks to the Swiss border. After changes the engine
the train continues to today's en route stop: Zurich. It's
just a short walk from the train station to the Grossmuenster Church
("Great Minster") from where Huldrych Zwingli initiated
the Swiss Reformation. Here we will be welcomed by our friends of
the Swiss Church. Introductional tours are provided as well as a
little lunch snack.
This afternoon workshop and lecture options offered on board will
have a hard competition: We enjoy a scenic drive along the Alps
before passing Lausanne. From here we travel along Lake Geneva
(Lake Leman) to our today's destination: Geneva. Again we
stay for two nights.
Overnight: Entire
group in Crowne Plaza Geneva
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Tuesday,
May 27
Today is the 450th day of death of John Calvin. A diverse sightseeing
and study program is offered in cooperation with the Museum of
the Reformation. No train travel - it's all about Calvin. |
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Wednesday,
May 28
We leave Geneva and make our way back through Switzerland to the
German border and the train station of Offenburg just outside of
Strasbourg. Here we de-board the Refo500 Train and take a
commuter train into Strasbourg, the town of Martin Bucer. Walking
tours and a visit in the Cathedral are offered in the afternoon.
Back on board the Refo500 Train it's just a short drive to our today's
overnight stop in Karlsruhe.
Overnight: Hotels
in Karlsruhe
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Thursday,
May 29 – Ascension Day
A wonderful day awaits us as we travel on the historic tracks along
the Rhine Valley. We will see dozends of Castles as well
as cruise vessels on the river and bicyclists along the streets.
After passing Koblenz and Cologne we head west to the Belgian
border, reaching Leuven in the later afternoon. Evening program
in cooperation with the Leuven university.
Overnight: Hotels
in Leuven
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Friday,
May 30
It's our last morning on the train before we reach Dordrecht.
Local guides will welcome us at the train station for walking tours
into the historic center. One of the oldest cities of the province
of Holland, Dordrecht hosted the assembly which was one of the first
steps to the free and independent Dutch Republic in 1572. William
of Orange was elected the official leader of the revolt, and made
the Orange family being the royal family in the Netherlands still
today. Later, in 1618/19, the Synod of Dordrecht declared the canons
of Dort, which, along with the Belgic Confession and the Heidelberg
Catechism, remain the theological basis of the Reformed Churches
worldwide. A lot of history for the final stop of the Refo500 Train!
We will conclude the Refo500 Train tour with a festive farewell
reception and dinner tonight in Dordrecht. In the later evening
our train shuttles us to the hotel in nearby Rotterdam.
Overnight: Entire
group in
Manhattan
Hotel Rotterdam
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Saturday,
May 31
Meet your train fellows, colleagues, and new friends at breakfast
before saying good-bye after this truely once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Manhattan hotel
is located directly opposite of Rotterdam central train station,
with fast and easy connections to the airports of Rotterdam The
Hague (RTM) as well as Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS).
Questions? Check
out the answers to
>> Frequently Asked Questions
To register
for the Refo500 Train please file this
>> registration form (pdf).
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