Upon arrival at Munich International Airport (Franz Josef Strauss International Airport), you will collect your luggage at Baggage Claim and will be greeted by our local tour guide. Directly from the airport, our ground transportation (motor coach) will transfer you to Bamberg (2.5 hours), where after lunch, our first full day of this memorable pilgrimage begins! This historic city is in southern Germany, in the North of Bavaria. It extends over seven hills, each crowned by a church! Founded in 1004 by King Heinrich II (St. Henry), this charming city is perched on the River Regnitz. It is world-renowned for its abundant baroque architecture, charming landscapes, culture, cafés and of course, its lively beer gardens! Our first stop is the Bamberg Cathedral (Bamberger Dom St. Peter and St. Georg), which contains the tombs of Henry II and his wife, the only imperial couple to be canonized. Initially begun in 1002, this magnificent cathedral has undergone construction and renovation through 1974. We visit the nearby Diözesanmuseum (Diocesan Museum), which contains a prominent collection of art, books, liturgical items, relics, and Pope Clement II's completely preserved and unique papal regalia. Among the treasures to be viewed are also King Henry’s gold embroidered majestic cloak and that of his wife, Kunigunde. A Mass of Thanksgiving will be celebrated this day. Overnight and dinner in Bamberg. 

Following breakfast at the hotel, we travel to Regensburg (2 hours), one of Bavaria's most beautiful places. Steeped in history, this city lies along the beautiful Danube River and remains one of the best-preserved cities in Europe. Surviving WWII, Regensburg was built in stone and has been able to preserve its original medieval outline since the 14th century. We visit the historic Old Stone Bridge, the Old Town Hall: Altes Rathaus, and the 13th-century Cathedral of Regensburg: St. Peter’s Cathedral, considered to be the finest gothic church in south Germany. We see the University of Regensburg, where Pope Benedict XVI was a professor of theology and served as vice-president of the university. A very quick “to go”  lunch and we continue our travel driving through many small and charming Bavarian villages to visit one of Germany’s most celebrated shrines, Our Lady of Altotting (1.5 hours). Known as the “Lourdes of Germany,” this special place with its Shrine of the Black Madonna of Altotting (dating to 1330) has sparked a profound devotion to Our Lady throughout the area as well as for the multitude of pilgrims who have visited from all over the world. Numerous miraculous cures and countless conversions have been documented after visitation to this shrine. Visited in 1980 by St. Pope John Paul II while accompanied by then Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, we see the “Miraculous Statue of Our Lady” in the Chapel of Mercy. In 2006, as newly elected Pope Benedict the XVI, Cardinal Ratzinger returned to this shrine to donate the ring he wore as Archbishop of Munich. The ring is now part of the scepter, which Our Lady holds in the statue. Mass is celebrated here this day with free time following (schedule permitting) prior to our visit to Markl, birthplace of Pope Benedict XVI. We finish our schedule-filled day by traveling to Munich, capital of Bavaria. Check-in, dinner and overnight in Munich. 

Breakfast at the hotel followed by Mass at the Baroque Church of Asamkirche. With its magnificent interior, this church was built by two brothers as a private chapel “for the greater glory of God” and, for the salvation of its builders! We make our way just west of Munich to visit the Nymphenburg Palace, summer home of the Bavarian monarchs. Extensive and meticulous gardens, lavishly decorated interior, and romantic quaint castles are a delight to visit. We return to Munich for a city tour, including the historic Rathaus Glockenspiel, a large mechanical clock in Marienplatz. It rings daily at 11 a.m., 12 p.m. and 5 p.m. (depending on time of the year) and every night at 9 p.m., the night watchman blows his horn while the guardian angel blesses the Müchner Kindl (the child monk) and puts him to bed in the right lateral bay window of the Glockenspiel to Brahms’ lullaby. We also visit the Frauenkirche Cathedral, the most familiar landmark of old Munich, built in the 1400s.
Mass and free afternoon for leisure and exploring this fascinating and historic Bavarian city! A festive German “Welcome Dinner” at the famous Hofbräuhaus this evening! Dinner and overnight in Munich. 

Breakfast at the hotel followed by Mass as a group prior to a free day in Munich for sightseeing and exploring on your own! Dinner and overnight in Munich. 

After breakfast at the hotel, we drive (1 hour) to the beautiful village of Oberammergau, nestled in the Bavarian Alps. Known for its talented woodcarvers and their woodcarvings, this town is particularly famous for its 380-year-old tradition of the enactment of “The Passion Play.” First performed in 1634, the play continues every ten years as a vow made by the inhabitants of the village. Tradition maintains that as the Black Plague swept through Europe, the people of Oberammergau prayed to be spared and vowed to present a play depicting the life and passion of Jesus. The play continues to be performed in years ending with zero and for centuries, has only been interrupted twice by two world wars and a worldwide pandemic in 2020. Actors, singers, technicians and musicians are all residents of the village … they number 2,000, roughly half the population. We continue to Ettal to visit the Kloster Ettal (Ettal Abbey), founded in 1330. One of the largest Benedictine houses in the world, the abbey is widely known for its liqueur, beer and amazing baroque design! Our last stop this day is Weis. We visit the masterpiece of Bavarian Rococo, the Pilgrimage Church of Wies. Extraordinarily well-preserved and intentionally set in the Alpine Valley, this sanctuary is described as a result of creative genius. Colorful ceilings painted in trompe-l’oeil, an abundance of whimsical motifs, the details of sculptures and stuccos, as well as the design of clever natural lighting throughout, make this place an exquisite sight to behold. Mass as a group and lunch on your own this day. Dinner and overnight in Munich. 

Following breakfast at the hotel, we begin our journey toward Salzburg, Austria (2.5 hours). We start our day tour visiting the birthplace of the world-renowned composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Now a museum, it is one of the most visited places in Austria. We see the Glockenspiel Tower, whose bells play at 7 a.m., 11 a.m., and 6 p.m., and the Royal Palace. Our day includes visiting the Abbey of St. Peter and Nonnberg Abbey, a Benedictine monastery that is the oldest continuously existing convent in the German-speaking world. It was founded by St. Rupert of Salzburg in 712. Mass as a group and lunch on your own this day. This evening we travel to Linz, Austria (2.5 hours). Check-in, dinner and overnight in Linz. 

Breakfast at the hotel before we tour Melk Abbey. Located on a rock formation overlooking the Danube River, this Baroque-style structure is situated in a breathtaking town speckled with Renaissance-style homes and charming winding streets reminiscent of the Middle Ages! The abbey is the setting for many treasures, including paintings, sculptures and decorative art from the 9th to 15th centuries. A Benedictine Abbey, it is famous for its library, which houses a vast and large collection of manuscripts. Although it is visited by many pilgrims yearly, it continues to serve as home to hundreds of students training to become Benedictine monks. Mass is celebrated this day at the abbey. Lunch on your own and free afternoon this day. This evening, we travel through the Austrian countryside to Vienna (1.5 hours). Check-in, dinner and overnight in Vienna. 

After breakfast at the hotel, we celebrate Mass at St. Stephen’s Cathedral, an iconic symbol of Vienna and a significant Gothic structure. It houses the miraculous image of Our Lady of Mariapoch, a simple icon formerly venerated in Hungary, where tears flowed from it in 1696. A sightseeing tour of the Imperial city of Vienna follows, beginning at the Hofburg Chapel (founded in the 13th century) where the Vienna Boys’ Choir and other musical talents sing during Sunday Masses at 9:15 a.m. (September-June). We continue to the Ringstrasse, a grand boulevard built to replace city walls of the 13th century. Here we see magnificent buildings, including the State Opera House, the Museum of Fine Arts, the Museum of Natural History, City Hall, the Parliament, the university, and the stately Votive Catholic Church. We see the Giant Wheel at the Prater Amusement Park, the pristine Belvedere Palace gardens and drive by the impressive Schonbrunn Palace. We enjoy lunch at Restaurant Stift Heiligenkreuz and have a free afternoon this day for leisure and exploring the splendid city of Vienna on our own. This evening we enjoy a “Farewell Dinner” at a local restaurant in the wine-growing village of Grinzing, famous now for its Heurigen wine. Overnight in Vienna. 

 Following our final breakfast at the hotel in Vienna, we check out and bid farewell to Germany and Austria and all its treasures of our faith. We transfer to Vienna International Airport for our return flight to the U.S. Auf Wiedersehen! 

A note from Trinity Tours Travels:

We are honored to have you travel with us and appreciate your trust in 

Trinity Tour Travels for your pilgrimage! Though every effort will sincerely be made to follow the above itinerary, it should be considered as a template of the journey rather than a “contract” of sites to be visited. There are times when local religious or national holidays, weather, traffic challenges, etc., may cause us to make changes in our schedule. This MAY result in a change in the sequence of sites visited or, on rare occasions, the missing of some certain site visits entirely. 

As with all in life, we encourage the acceptance of possible change with a cheerful heart; after all, it is sometimes the unexpected that often makes the most beautiful memories! Enjoy your trip to the fullest and relish every moment!