A Rail Cruise to the Places of the Reformation in Europe Wittenberg via Heidelberg and Geneva to Dordrecht May 21 31, 2014 5 Countries. 11 Days. 11 Cities. 8 Speakers. 1,500 Miles. 200 Friends One Train. In the summer of 2014, the Refo500 Train connects the most important places of the Calvinistic and Lutheran Reformation in Europe. Starting from Lutherstadt Wittenberg, the train includes visits to Eisleben, Nordhausen, Wartburg Castle, Heidelberg, and Zurich before reaching Geneva for the commemoration of John Calvin, on the 450th anniversary of his death. Strasbourg and Leuven will be additional stops before the final destination: Dordrecht. The Refo500 Train combines great travel experiences at the Reformation Sites in Europe with ecumenical fellowship and the knowledge of leading experts. While the train brings the travellers safely and comfortably to each stop, rail cruise participants enjoy the time meeting one another, simply walking around and chatting in the day coaches and lounge cars. Introductions and lectures will be given by international Reformation experts, teachers, and professors on the train, with workshops and presentations available in the meeting areas. After arrival at the various locations, sightseeing options, study programs, museums and receptions welcome the guests. Overnight stays are in local hotels. Leading experts of Reformation history and theology turn the Refo500 Train into an unparalleled study experience. Among the 200 rail travellers will be In-Sub Ahn (Presbyterian General Assembly Theological Seminary, South Korea), Timothy George (Samford University, USA), Robert Godfrey (Westminster Seminary California, USA), Michael Haykin (The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, USA), Peter Lillback (Westminster Theological Seminary Philadelphia, USA), Thomas Seidel (Internationale Martin Luther Stiftung, Germany), Herman Selderhuis (Theological University of Apeldoorn, director of Refo500, Netherlands), and Hans Wiersma (Augsburg College, USA). Michael Bridges and George Baum (LOST AND FOUND, USA) will provide fun, faith-based liturgical music. JOIN US FOR THIS UNFORGETTABLE EXPERIENCE AND RESERVE YOUR SEATS NOW! The Refo500 Train tour is operated by Terra Lu Travel, Germany s experts for group travel in Terra Lutherana, Luther s land. 16072013
Itinerary 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, meet the experts travelling with us, and check out the program for 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. This is the time to get acquainted with the train, to walk around, meet others, and to attend a few lectures in the dining and lounge cars. 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 buses 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 lived. We meet for a devotional service in the imposing church of St Peter and Paul, the church where Martin Luther was baptized. Overnight: Various Hotels in Eisleben, including Hotel Graf von Mansfeld, Mansfelder Hof, Hotel an der Klosterpforte and others 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 caused Luther to say 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: Group splits to 2 hotels: Mercure and Ibis Hotels in Erfurt Old Town Saturday, May 24 Wartburg castle is the en route stop for today. Shuttles buses take us from Eisenach train station up the hill. The Wartburg is important for many aspects of German history, starting at the medieval minstrel competition which Richard Wagner later used as story for his Tannhäuser opera. At a gathering for the 300th Reformation Jubilee in 1817, German students demanded civil rights and a united Germany using a black-red-golden flag. Already in 1521 Martin Luther was under protection at the "mighty fortress", spending is time in writing books and translating the Bible. Following the guided tours, the Refo500 Train leaves "Luther Country", heading to Heidelberg. The approximately 4-hour ride will give enough time for lectures, presentations, chatting, and music on board. Overnight: Entire group in Crowne Plaza, Heidelberg
Sunday, May 25 No train travelling today to allow a Sunday rest at 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 centre and the castle. The group meets for dinner in the evening in a cozy restaurant. Overnight: Entire group in Crowne Plaza Heidelberg Monday, May 26 After leaving Heidelberg we see the Black Forest at the horizon as we follow the tracks to the Swiss border. After changing 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. Introduction tours are provided as well as a little lunch snack. This afternoon the workshop and lecture options offered on board will have a tough competition - we enjoy a scenic drive along the Alps before passing Lausanne. From here we travel along Lake Geneva (Lake Leman) to our day's destination: Geneva. Again we stay for two nights. Overnight: Hotel Cornavin and others in Geneva Tuesday, May 27 Today is the 450th day of the 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. Overnight: Hotel Cornavin and others in Geneva 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: Novotel and A&O Hotels in Karlsruhe Thursday, May 29 Ascension Day A wonderful day awaits us as we travel on the historic tracks along the Rhine Valley. We will see dozens 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: Mercure, Ibis, and others in Leuven
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 centre. 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 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. Later in the evening our train shuttles us to the hotel in nearby Rotterdam. Overnight: Entire group in Manhattan Hotel, Rotterdam Saturday, May 31 Meet your train fellows, colleagues, and new friends at breakfast before saying good-bye after this truly 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). What is included in the train package price? Travel on the Refo500 Train from Wittenberg to Rotterdam Local bus shuttles within the train's program 10 overnight stays in selected local hotels 10 x breakfast daily 10 x dinner or dinner reception Admission to all Refo500 Train events, local sightseeing tours, museum admissions Study program on board the train and at the various stops Program book Not included: Travel to Wittenberg and from Rotterdam Drinks/ beverages at hotel and restaurant dinners Porterage service (see below) Personal expenses Visa fees
Where does the train start? The train starts in Wittenberg. Travellers should arrive in Wittenberg on May 21, 2014. Sightseeing tours will be offered in the afternoon, and the program starts with a reception at the Luther Hotel. Wittenberg can be easily reached by train from Berlin. Where does the train end? The final event will be in Dordrecht on May 30, followed by the last overnight stay in the Manhattan Hotel in Rotterdam. Breakfast is included on May 31, but there is no other event. Since the Manhattan Hotel is located directly opposite of Rotterdam Central Train Station it's very easy to leave from there to wherever you want to go. Rotterdam The Hague Airport (RTM) can be reached with city bus #33 which goes directly from Rotterdam central station to the airport. The journey takes about 25 minutes and costs 3 Euro. Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS) is also just 25 minutes away, using the FYRA high speed train from Rotterdam central station nonstop to Amsterdam airport. We are happy to give you the details when needed. What does the train look like? The train consists of 8 coaches, with seating areas as well as meeting cars. Will there be a luggage / porterage service? RefoTrain passengers will have to carry their own luggage all time. We try to make it as easy as possible: Hotels will be close to the train stations, or a shuttle bus will be available. And the Coach Group Leaders will help with lifting bags into the train. But it just would take too much time for logistics to have 250 suitcases being loaded and unloaded, sorted, and carried by a porterage service. That's why we have to ask everybody to take care of his/her own bag(s). And we think it's doable: There is one door at the train for each 20 passengers, and since only 4 passengers travel in a compartment we only need room for 4 bags in the overhead racks. It is a good idea to "travel light". Using a backpack would be a good idea, as well as using suitcases or carry-ons with wheels. How much do we have to walk? A lot. Depending on the town it might already be a little walk to get along the platform of the train station of we just arrived, to get downstairs, follow a tunnel, get to the plaza in front of the station and get into a waiting shuttle bus. In Strasbourg (Karlsruhe), Leuven, and Rotterdam the hotel is in walking distance of the train station. Also the guided city tours include a lot of walking. What shall I wear? Casual clothing generally. Travellers may want to wear better than casual style on Sunday or for receptions. However, since we all have to travel light and cannot carry a lot of luggage, we can't expect to be dressed up in the best suit for certain events. Just make yourself feel comfortable. Which language will be spoken? The official train language is English (although we hope there will be fellows with many different languages on board).
What about the meals? We will have breakfast and dinner included every day. Breakfast is served in the hotels every morning. The setting for dinner may vary. Some days it is served in the hotel, on other days it may be part of a reception or evening event. Lunch is on your own. There will be time on day-excursions to grab something to eat before boarding the train. Some snacks as well as beverages will be also available on the train. Will there be beverages and snacks available on the train? Yes. We will have catering on board for beverages as well as little snacks and small meals. Do travellers need a visa? We will visit five countries: Germany, Switzerland, France, Belgium, and the Netherlands. All visited countries are members of the "Schengen States" which means that there is no passport control between these countries. Travellers on Australian passports do not need a visa for these countries. What happens at the border? We change the engine. While there is no passport control (just random checks), the train systems are different between the European countries. This means that our train will get a new engine at every border. Can Guidepost Tours arrange pre- or-post train trips for our group? Sure. And we would be most happy to do so. A pre-train trip may be just a few days in Berlin to relax from the jetlag after overseas travel and to see a little bit of the German capital. A post-train trip may include a bus tour to any other place in Europe, a Rhine cruise from Rotterdam, or another rail trip to London or Paris. Please contact Bob Daniel at Guidepost Tours to share ideas and to get a proposal.