European Heritage Tour 5, September 11-21, 2012

South-Germany, France (Strasbourg) and Switzerland, 11 day Hotel Tour, English spoken.

This tour focuses on the South-German and Swiss Anabaptist Mennonite history. One of the main features of this tour is a visit of the International Patchwork Exhibition in Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines (Markirch), the former residence of Jacob Ammann and many other Amish. We will visit beautiful cities as Strasbourg, Bern and Zurich. We will have a free day in the superb mountain scenery of the Alps. This Tour is easy to combine with Tour 4.

Tour Price: 1695 euro

Single room supplement: 275 euro

Map: Click here for a map of the itinerary of this tour.

Registration: Click here for the online Registration Form.

Day 1, Tuesday September 11, 2012. Pick-up at Frankfurt International Airport

Fly to Frankfurt, Germany. Pick-up time will be at 15.00 pm at Frankfurt International Airport. At the airport you will meet your Dutch tour guide and driver, Ayold Fanoy. Our lodging will be in Worms on Rhine for two nights. In Worms we visit the Reformation monument and the Cathedral. In 1521 this was the scene of the Diet of Worms where Martin Luther had to defend himself against the pope and the emperor Charles V. Here Luther spoke his famous words: "Here I stand, I cannot do otherwise".

Day 2, Wednesday September 12, 2012. The Rhine and Weierhof

From Worms it is not far to the Mennonite village of Weierhof. Here we will make a walking tour and visit the 'Forschungsstelle', a large library and archive of Mennonite history. In the afternoon we go for a Rhine cruise near Sankt Goar and see the romantic Loreley Rock. Our Anabaptist ancestors, expelled from Switzerland in 1710 and 1711, made the same journey on their way to tolerant Holland. On our way back to Worms we stop in Alzey. The round prison tower of the Rheinhessen Castle in Alzey once held many Anabaptist prisoners, waiting for their execution.

Day 3, Thursday September 13, 2012. Palatinate and Strasbourg

From Worms we travel on to Strasbourg, the town of so much importance to the early protestant movement. In Strasbourg's tolerant and hospitable climate many of the early 16th century protestant leaders assembled to share their thoughts and ideas. Among them Mennonite leaders as Michael Sattler and Pilgram Marpeck. On a walking tour we will follow their footsteps. Sightseeing will include a visit to the skyline dominating Cathedral and a canal boat ride to the headquarters of the European Parliament. As we are in the middle of a wine-region we will make a short visit to a wine estate in the afternoon. Lodging near Strasbourg for two nights in a historic monastery, once the residence of the bishop of Strasbourg, with beautiful views at the surrounding Alsace.

Day 4, Friday September 14, 2012. Patchwork exhibition in Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines

Today we attend the international patchwork exhibition in Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines, once the residence of Jacob Ammann and many other Amish before emigrating to America. More than 150 participants from all over the world show their patchwork and quilts here. This exhibition is located in Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines as a tribute to the Amish who were very skilled in the art of making quilts and made it famous around the world. To get an impression you can read the 2011 program. In the afternoon an optional excursion is possible to Struthof, a former concentration camp. From 1941 to 1945, Struthof was one of the most murderous camps of the Nazi system. Nearly 22,000 deportees died here.

Day 5, Saturday September 15, 2012. Alsace and Jura

This morning our first stop is in Riquewihr, a perfectly kept semi-medieval village. We look at these old houses, built in the 16th and 17th century, their courtyards, their galleries, the old wells and fountains. Then on to Switzerland. The Swiss Jura was place of refuge for the persecuted Swiss Anabaptists in the 16th, 17th and 18th century. Sightseeing will include 'Geiskirchlein' or little church of the goats, an Anabaptist worship cave. Another ancient place of worship is the bridge of the Anabaptists, recently being renovated. Mennonite inscriptions in the rocks here date from 1633. At Jeanguisboden the archives of the Swiss Mennonite Conference are accommodated. We will have a look at the old Frochauer bible, copies of the Martyrs Mirror, old song books and family trees with well-known Anabaptist family names. Lodging in Emmental for two nights.

Day 6, Sunday September 16, 2012. Emmental

Our worship service will take place at the Langnau Mennonite Congregation. This is the oldest continuous Mennonite church in the world. After worship and fellowship we will see the community cemetery, located next door with many Mennonite family names on the gravestones. Just up the hill is the hamlet of Dürsrütti, where Anabaptists met in secret. Then on to Trachselwald Castle, once used as a lock up for radical Anabaptists. One of them was Hans Haslibacher. We will hear his story and visit his farm, his descendants are still living there. We drive via Lüdernalp to enjoy a wonderful view over the Emmental hills and the Alps to reach the Mennonite Täuferversteck in Hinterhütten.

Day 7, Monday September 17. Bern and Bernese Oberland

Wandering the picture-postcard old town of Berne, it is not hard to believe that this is a Unesco World Heritage site. In the morning we will make an walking tour to explore this magnificent town, including the Clock Tower, Bear pit and Cathedral. Then it's on to the Bernese Oberland, home of many Amish and Mennonite families before emigrating. We vist Thun and Erlenbach, birthplace of Jakob Ammann. The tower of Thun Castle was used as a prison to lock up Anabaptist heretics. Lodging in Grindelwald for two nights.

Day 8, Tuesday September 18, 2012. Free day in the Alps

Grindelwald is a town with a lot to offer to tourists. Enjoy the magnificent scenery of the Bernese Alps. You can purchase a rail pass for the cog rail train to the Jungfrau, or visit a high mountain hut for lunch and walk back to Grindelwald.

Day 9, Wednesday September 19, 2012. Zurich and Anabaptist Cave near Bäretswil

The Anabaptist Cave near Bäretswil is a wonder of nature. As an Anabaptist hiding place it was used for meditation and worship. On our way we stop at Einsiedeln, where we visit the monastery and will meet the monks. Huldrich Zwingli, the reformator of Zurich, stayed for a couple of years at this monastery before he went to Zurich. We will follow his footsteps into Zurich. Zurich is the city where the Anabaptist story started and as such the birthplace of Anabaptism. We will make a walking tour of the old city. Sightseeing will include the City Hall, the Grossmünster Church with its massive bronze doors, depicting the story of the Reformation, the Fraumünster Church with the famous stained glass windows by Marc Chagall, the Limmat river, where Felix Mantz was drowned and the Zwingli monument. Lodging in Waldshut, the first village to become fully Anabaptist in 1525 (for a limited period), after Balthasar Hubmaier abolished here infant baptism.

Day 10, Thursday September 20, 2012. Schleitheim and Schaffhausen

Today we focus on the legacy of Michael Sattler. In the morning we drive to Schleitheim. In 1527 the first Anabaptist Confession of Faith was written here, known as The Schleitheim Articles and instigated by Michael Sattler. The local museum has a small exhibition devoted to this Anabaptist history. Not far from Schleitheim is Schaffhausen with the famous Rhine Waterfalls. Then it's on to Rottenburg on the Neckar, the town where Michael Sattler was drowned after his arrest. We will visit his monument and hear his story. In the afternoon we drive through the Kraichgau to Darmstadt, near Frankfurt, for our last overnight.

Day 11, Friday September 21, 2012. Departure home from Frankfurt

Fly home from Frankfurt International Airport. Drop-off time will be at 9.30 am.

Photo Album: a photo album of a past tour to South-Germany and Switzerland is available on the Photo Albums page.

Tour Price includes:

10 nights accommodation.
All breakfasts and dinners.
Entrance fees to all places mentioned in the itinerary.
Modern, comfortable transportation.

Not included:

International Flights to and from Frankfurt International Airport.
Noon lunches, beverages with included dinners.
Trip cancellation and holiday medical insurance.

Deposit and Payments: Your reservation will be confirmed upon receipt of a deposit of 250 euro. The remaining 1445 euro is due before June 22, 2012.

In the event of a marked change in foreign exchange rates, fuel costs or tariff rates, Mennonite Heritage Tours does reserve the right to adjust prices should it become necessary. The published price is guaranteed from the moment you have paid the full tour price.

European Heritage Tour 5, September 11-21, 2012

South-Germany, France (Strasbourg) and Switzerland, 11 day Hotel Tour, English spoken.

Navigation: