Oberammergau Passion Play and the Rhine Valley – Castles, Cathedrals and Cruises Tour Package

Day 1

Depart the UK

Take the short sea crossing over to France and drive over the border into Belgium making an overnight stop in the Namur area.  Dinner is included at the hotel this evening.

Day 2

Travel to Oberammergau

Depart after breakfast and continue the journey through Belgium and into Germany, driving south into Bavaria and our hotel which will be based in the Oberammergau region.  After check-in there may be time to relax and unwind before having dinner in the hotel this evening.

Day 3

Oberammergau Passion Play Day

After breakfast, we will have a full day in Oberammergau. In the morning there will be the option to visit the Passion Play theatre for an introduction talk by one of the cast members to learn about the production of the Passion Play.  After this, there will be free time to explore this picturesque village with the beautifully painted houses, shops and buildings, as well as the Rococo church and many wood-carving shops.

Lunch will be included in one of the local restaurants before we take our seats for the first half of the Passion Play performance which is followed by a 3-hour interval during which time we will enjoy a 3-course dinner with drinks before the second half commences.

At the end of the play, which is around 10.00pm, we return to the hotel.

Day 4

Speyer Cathedral / Travel to the Rhine Valley

Depart after breakfast, driving north through Germany and to Speyer, a small city with a medieval old town and renowned for its food and wine.  Enjoy some free time and lunch before making a visit and tour of the Cathedral of St. Mary and St. Stephen (Speyerer Dom), a UNESCO World Heritage site and the largest surviving Romanesque church in the world.  It is the final resting place of eight Holy Roman Emperors and German kings and mass is celebrated every day of the week.

After the visit we will continue to the Rüdesheim area for the next 4 nights.  After check-in, there may be time to explore the surroundings before having dinner in the hotel this evening.

Day 5 – Drivers rest day

Day 6

Historic Mainz, Cathedral, Eberbach Abbey and Winetasting

After breakfast, drive to Mainz for a guided walking tour of the historic old town with its half-timbered houses, winding alleyways and picturesque squares before making a visit to the Gutenberg Museum to see the world-famous 42-line Bible and historic printing press.  From here we will make a guided tour of the imperial St. Martin’s Cathedral (Mainzer Dom), a massive, thousand-year-old sandstone cathedral boasting a striking six-tower facade and stunning tombs.

There will be time to get some lunch before departing for Eberbach Abbey, a former Cistercian monastery.  A guided tour will start with a walk through the monastery, discover its wine cellars and see historic presses and barrels, explore the Abbey’s museum featuring many sculptures and paintings, tour the historic cloisters, visit the basilica and the ice cellar and discover the treasure chamber full of wine bottles.  After the tour, enjoy a wine tasting and the opportunity to make some purchases in the monastery shop.

Return to the hotel for dinner and evening at leisure.

Day 7

Worms Cathedral, Martin Luther, Heidelberg and Neckar Cruise

Worms is dominated by the landmark Romanesque Cathedral of St. Peter situated on a hill overlooking the town.  This four-towered Romanesque basilica is famous for its intricate interior and deep ties to the Protestant Reformation which will be discovered on a guided tour of the interior and exterior.  As Worms is located along the ‘Luther Trail’ we will also see the Luther Monument, the largest monument to the Reformation which took 12 years to complete.   After the tour there will be time to get some lunch, maybe enjoy a glass on Liebraumilch wine for which Worms is famous.

Continue to the city of Heidelberg whose most famous landmark is one of Europe’s most romantic castle ruins which is home to the famous ‘Heidelberg Tun’, a wine vat holding over 220,000 litres.  (Note: the only access to the castle is a steep 15 minute climb on foot).  On arrival, enjoy a 50 minute round trip cruise on the River Neckar whilst enjoying the sights from a different perspective.  See the Old Bridge which is the city’s second most iconic structure with distinctive gate towers and marvel at views of Heidelberg Castle.  There may be some time to explore the baroque old town, stroll along the Haupstrasse lined with shops, cafes and bars or visit the elegant Church of the Holy Spirit in Marktplatz before heading back to Rüdesheim for a final dinner and evening.

Day 8