In the Footsteps of Johann Sebastian Bach

 
Itinerary

1. Day
Arrival in Germany i.e., in Frankfurt am Main – Eisenach (approx. 195 km/121 miles)
Arrival in Frankfurt am Main, and welcome by local guide who will accompany you throughout your stay. Bus transfer to Eisenach: visit the Wartburg Castle (World Heritage Site) with tour of the Palas or Great Hall, Art exhibition, the Elizabeth Hallway and the Luther Room where he translated the New Testament into German. Check in to hotel for three nights. D

2. Day
Eisenach – Muehlhausen (approx. 38km/55 miles)
Eisenach: Walking tour of the city past the Latin School where both Bach and Martin Luther attended school, to the Church of St. George where J.S. Bach was baptised. Visit the Bachhaus on the Frauenplan. Take a short bus trip to Muehlhausen followed by city tour and visit of the Church of St. Blasius, where Bach was employed as organist until 1708. Return to Eisenach. BD

3. Day
Wechmar – Arnstadt (approx. 150 km/93 miles)
Drive to Wechmar, "Home of the founding fathers of the Bach musical family." Visit the Bach-Stammhaus and Museum. Continue to Ohrdruf, where the orphaned Bach came to live with his oldest brother: visit the historical exhibition located in the church tower of St. Michael's Church. Afterwards drive to Dornheim: visit the St. Bartholomew Parish Church where J.S. Bach married his first wife, Maria Barbara. Then drive to Arnstadt, where Bach was first employed as organist. Visit the Bach Church with a musical presentation on the reconstructed Bach organ. Return to Eisenach. BD

4. Day
Koethen – Berlin (approx. 385 km/239 miles)
Drive to Koethen, where Bach served as director of music at the court of Anhalt for six years and composed the majority of his secular works. Visit Koethen Palace with its famous Hall of Mirrors and Bach Memorial Place. Continue to Berlin: Sightseeing tour. Check in to hotel for three nights. In the evening, possibility to attend a concert. BD

5. Day
Potsdam – Berlin (approx. 66 km/41 miles)
Excursion to Potsdam where Bach's son, Carl Philipp Emmanuel was employed as harpsichordist at the court of Frederick the Great. Bach himself played for the young Prussian King and later dedicated The Musical Offering to him. Visit Sanssouci Castle and Park (World Heritage Site ), the "Prussian Versailles" with its magnificent castle, orangery and lavish gardens. In the afternoon return to Berlin for a walking tour through the historical centre. It was here in the Sing-Akademie that Felix Mendelssohn in 1829 conducted his famous revival of Bach's St. Matthew Passion, marking the beginning of the Bach Renaissance. Today one of the finest collections of Bach music and family manuscripts are located in Berlin. BD

6. Day
Berlin: Day free to shop and explore this exciting city. BD

7. Day
Leipzig (approx. 192 km/119 miles)
Drive to Leipzig. Visit the Bach Museum in the Bose House; the Old Town Hall with the only authentic portrait of J.S. Bach and St. Thomas Church, where J.S. Bach worked as a cantor for more than a quarter of a century and is now buried. Check in to hotel for one night. In the evening, possibility to attend a concert. BD

8. Day
Meissen – Dresden (approx. 150 km/93 miles)
In the morning, drive to the town of Meissen for a guided tour of the factory and Museum of the world-famous porcelain manufacturer. Then continue on to Dresden (World Heritage Site) for a walking tour of its impressive historic center with its Castle and Castle Church, Theatre Square and the famous Semper Opera, the Semper Gallery and Zwinger Palace and Bruehl's Terrace. Check in to hotel for one night. In the evening, possibility to attend a performance or concert at the Semper Opera. BD

9. Day
Dresden: Visit the magnificent Frauenkirche "Church of Our Lady". This baroque cathedral was destroyed in the firebombing of Dresden during World War II. It was reconstructed and completed in 2004 as a landmark symbol of reconciliation between former warring enemies. Visit the art gallery "Alte Meister" (Old Masters Picture Gallery) with Cranach's St. Catherine Altarpiece and other masterpieces of European painters. Leisure time. BD

10. Day
Day 10 Departure
Transfer to the airport and return flight.