Luther Sites & Christmas Markets

 

ULS Luther Sites & Christmas Markets Tour

December 6-16, 2026

You may register here: https://ulsforms.wufoo.com/forms/rvx14850g5iu3c/

Dear Friends of ULS!

This is your invitation to join the 2026 Luther Sites and Christmas Markets tour led by Dr. Guy Erwin &  Rob Flynn, Drs. Martin & Angela Otto-Zimmann, Bishop Christopher and Dr. Allison deForest, and Bishop Kevin Strickland for friends of United Lutheran Seminary. Our stay is organized by Christian Tours Europe and its owner/manager, Christian Eggert of Wittenberg, Germany. ULS sponsored a very similar tour in 2024, was it was such a great success that we have decided to offer it again!

December is a cold time of year for tourism, and weather can be unpredictable, but the payoff is smaller crowds and lower prices, and the Advent season in Germany is simply magical. Nothing tastes better when the air is chilly than a sausage or hot sandwich from a Christmas market stand, washed down by a glass of beer or a mug of steaming Glühwein (mulled wine). German food is hearty and substantial, and it is really a wintertime cuisine. Germans celebrate Christmas with great joy and rich attention to tradition—every town and every shop window will be decorated.

We’ll also visit all the most important places associated with the life and career of Martin Luther, and will see the enduring impact he and the Reformation have had on this part of the world. All the Luther sites we visit, the places we will stay, and almost every part of the tour (except some brief time in West Berlin) will be on the territory of the former German Democratic Republic. That adds a special dimension to the tour, for unlike Bavaria and the parts of Germany best known to American tourists, we will be traveling through “Lutheran” regions that have only been easily accessible to tourists since the fall of the Iron Curtain. Though now even the former East Germany is modern and spruced up, it is still less homogeneous and “Americanized” than the former West.

To keep costs reasonable and build in flexibility, we are separating the “land only” component of the trip from the flights. We plan to offer at least one set of group flights from a convenient major airport and back, but we also allow you to make your own arrangements, particularly if you wish to add a day or two to the beginning or end of the trip. We can’t offer any guiding during those extra days, but (especially if you are familiar with Germany), you may want to take some extra time—Berlin in particular is worth more time than our tour will be able to give it. It is also very likely that our (extremely central) Berlin hotel will allow a day or two extension at the group rate—for early arrivers, you can make your own arrangements or stay at an airport hotel. The Berlin airport (BER), though outside Berlin, is connected directly to the city by commuter rail.

Our bus will be comfortable and our driver skilled; I will (whenever it is allowed) be your historical guide. I have visited all these places many times, and taken groups on at least a dozen occasions. For much of 1983, I studied and did research at the University of Leipzig, and I was a real curiosity back in those days as an American student of theology in the officially atheistic GDR. As time permits, I may offer some off-program walks and can offer suggestions for additional things to see on your own.

The Colleg Wittenberg (where we will spend our first two nights) is a converted 19^th century girls’ school that is now a modern facility for housing students and teachers (mostly American) studying in Wittenberg. The food there is simple and hearty, and the rooms (though spare) are spacious and comfortable. Many of our ELCA colleges and universities have used the Colleg for their Germany programs. All our commercial hotels will be very nice and highly central, only steps from major sites, and each one will have an impressive and generous breakfast, which can set you up for a good day’s sightseeing. Keep in mind that there will be quite a bit of walking and standing, and that many streets in these old cities are paved with cobblestones. There is also always the possibility of snow. Wear layers and sensible shoes, and bring a hat, scarf, and gloves!

One other pro-tip: if you are a single and can tolerate sharing a room, do bring a friend! It is more fun to have company, and you will save a lot of money.

We’ll provide more details as we move through the year; your main ULS logistical contact will be Dr. Martin Otto-Zimmann (mzimmann@uls.edu). I will provide later some suggestions for reading or film viewing to prepare for the trip, and we will have at least one informational Zoom meeting next fall as we get ready to go.

I hope you’ll consider joining us—this is the most fun of all the itineraries I have led, and I promise you some unforgettable experiences in beautiful and richly meaningful locations. I am proud of the great number of people I have been able to introduce to this fascinating part of Germany, so deeply connected to the spiritual history of so many of us. If you’ve ever thought of doing this, don’t hesitate—I expect the trip to fill up very quickly! E-mail me at president@uls.edu if you have any questions; to register, click here.

Yours faithfully,

Guy Erwin

 

Your Hosts

 Guy Erwin & Rob Flynn

Guy serves as president of ULS; Rob is the director of the ULS libraries. They have been life and travel partners since 1994, and know our tour sites well. Guy is a native Oklahoman; Rob hails originally from West Virginia—but now they (and their parrot, Echo) call Pennsylvania home. (Echo is not coming on the tour.) Guy’s career has been in higher education and the church; Rob worked in scholarly publishing for many years and is now a librarian—they are both definitely “book people”! You’ll enjoy getting to know them better, and they are looking forward to traveling with you.

Angela & Martin Otto-Zimmann

Angela serves as the Vice President of Church Relations for Mosaic, an organization based in Omaha, Nebraska that serves nearly 5,000 people in 12 states. Services are tailored to meet individual needs and goals, allowing people to be as independent as possible. Services are designed for people with disabilities, mental and behavioral health needs and autism, as well as aging adults. Martin is the Senior Director of the Kindling Faith continuing education initiative at ULS. Kindling Faith is built on a simple truth: learning never ends. The program nurtures ongoing theological reflection, spiritual growth, and bold leadership for pastors, deacons, lay leaders, and all who seek deeper engagement. Angela and Martin are former Global Mission Pastors serving in Jerusalem. They are the proud parents of Seth and Chelsea, enjoy travel, reading, and their mini Aussie fur babies: Charisma, Deema, and Violet (who sadly will be staying home for this trip).

Christopher & Allison deForest

Christopher deForest was elected Bishop of the Northeastern Pennsylvania Synod of the ELCA on October 24, 2020. Ordained in 2011, he served as pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Kutztown, PA from 2018 to 2020 and St. John’s Lutheran Church in Lehighton, PA from 2011 to 2018. He was the admissions advisor for Wartburg Theological Seminary in Dubuque, Iowa, from 2010 to 2011. Wartburg is one of seven ELCA seminaries. Prior to his ordination, Bishop deForest was interim executive director for the Haitian Timoun Foundation from 2007 to 2008, director of communications for PartyLite Gifts, Inc., from 1993 to 2003 and a video creative specialist for Tupperware from 1987 to 1992. He’s grateful to be on this journey with so many wise minds and faithful hearts! The Rev. Dr. Allison deForest is ordained to Word and Sacrament in the ELCA and currently serves at United Lutheran Seminary where she is the Kraft Assistant Professor of Biblical Studies in New Testament. She received her MDiv from Wartburg Theological Seminary and her Doctorate in Scriptural Theology from the former Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia, one of United Lutheran Seminary’s predecessor schools. Her dissertation was an in-depth theological interpretation of John 3:14 and it has been published as a book, Lifting up the Serpent in the Gospel of John: The Cross as Restorative Justice. Dr. deForest is interested in issues of justice, particularly how our image of God colors our ideas of what justice is and vice versa. She also likes to explore the intersections between science and faith and how one can read the Bible in light of science. (Prior to her seminary studies, she studied Chemical and Environmental Engineering.) She also teaches the course that introduces students to the New Testament letters as well as courses on Romans, the Corinthian Correspondence, and the Gospel of John. Allison and Christopher live in Kutztown, PA; their son Beau, a Kutztown University student; and two cats, Tanner and Sage. Their other child, Mallory, lives in Salt Lake City, Utah. Allison loves to knit and read theology, detective stories, and fantasy. Having grown up in New Mexico, she is a big fan of spicy food.

Kevin L. Strickland

Kevin serves as the bishop of the Southeastern Synod of the ELCA (AL, GA, MS, TN). He lives in Atlanta with his husband, Robby, and their adorable French bulldog, Bumble Bee. Kevin is a native South Carolinian. When Kevin isn’t traveling all over for work, he, and Robby love to travel for fun. Kevin is a lover of food, books (especially murder mysteries), and show tunes.

Itinerary

 Day 1, Sunday, December 6, 2026: Depart the US

Group members leave the US on overnight flights to Berlin. Some may choose to travel early and meet us in Berlin on December 7.

Day 2, Monday, December 7, 2026: Berlin/Wittenberg

Welcome to Berlin. The group will convene at a pre-arranged meeting place in the Berlin-Brandenburg International Airport (BER). After we get everyone together, we’ll get on our bus and transfer to Wittenberg. Check in at Colleg Wittenberg. Orientation meeting and welcome dinner and a good night’s sleep. Dinner included.

Day 3, Tuesday, December 8, 2026: Wittenberg

This morning we gather after breakfast for a city tour on foot and discover this quaint small city where Martin Luther lived and taught for most of his life. What we see in Wittenberg will set us up for the tours of the next few days, as we follow in Luther’s footsteps. We will visit places which were important in his life, like the Town Church of St. Mary, the market square, the16th C Town Hall and the All Saints (or “Castle”) Church, where Luther posted his 95 Theses in October 1517. A visit and tour of the special exhibition at the Lutherhaus Museum is included as well—but the main “Lutherhaus” is under renovation for a couple of years and closed right now. In the afternoon we have free time to explore the beautiful Christmas market of Wittenberg which is situated on the market square in front of the historical town hall—only steps from where we’re staying. Breakfast included.

Day 4, Wednesday, December 9, 2026: Eisleben and Halle

On the way to Eisleben, stop in historic Halle to visit the Christmas market there, the 16th-century Marktkirche Unser Lieben Frauen (Lutheran Church of Our Lady) and the Roter Turm, a landmark Gothic bell tower. Continue on to Eisleben (where Luther was born and also died) to visit Luther’s birth house museum and the nearby Sts. Peter & Paul Church where he was baptized, as well as St. Andrew’s Church near the marketplace, where Luther preached his last sermons the week before he died. In the afternoon, head to Erfurt for dinner and overnight. Breakfast and dinner included.

Day 5, Thursday, December 10, 2026: Eisenach and the Wartburg/ Erfurt

In the morning, we depart for Eisenach, where we will visit the Bachhaus Museum (the birthplace of J.S. Bach) and hear a mini-concert on period instruments. After some free time, we’ll tour the Wartburg Castle, where Luther disguised himself as a squire named “Junker Jörg” and hid away for ten months while he was on the run from imperial authorities. Here Luther created one of his most important and enduring works—the translation of the New Testament into German. On our guided tour of the castle, we will also see the room where Luther lived and worked on his Bible translation. Return to Erfurt for a brief city tour and with time to visit Erfurt’s Christmas market, which is especially impressive after dark. Dinner tonight on your own, try the food at the Erfurt Christmas market! Breakfast included.

Day 6, Friday, December 11, 2026: Leipzig

We say goodbye to Erfurt this morning and travel east to Leipzig—a city already important in Luther’s time and continually since. In May 1989, the people of Leipzig first organized the demonstrations that brought hundreds of thousands into the streets for the “Peaceful Revolution” which helped topple the Communist government of East Germany. We will visit the protestors’ rendezvous point at the Gothic St. Nicholas Church, built in 1165. Afterwards some free time to visit the St. Thomas Church and have a quick lunch on your own. Visit the Leipzig Christmas market which is located at the market square in front of the historic Altes Rathaus (Old Town Hall). In the afternoon, we head further east to Dresden. Check in at the Hilton Hotel for the next four nights. Dinner at your hotel. Breakfast and dinner included.

Day 7, Saturday, December 12, 2026: Seiffen

Today we head south, up into the Erzgebirge (Ore Mountains) to visit Seiffen, a small picturesque little mining town almost on the Czech border, now famous for its wooden toy industry and many Christmas shops. Here, we will find anything and everything one might imagine to decorate your Christmas tree or your home, such as nutcrackers, wooden incense-smoking men, Schwibbögen (candle arches) and Christmas pyramids. In Seiffen the “Christmas market” really covers the whole town. Its small baroque Lutheran church is famous for its unusual octagonal shape and lovely architecture. In the afternoon, there is the traditional Ore Miners’ Christmas Parade. In the late afternoon, we’ll return to Dresden. Dinner on your own tonight, at the Dresden Christmas market or one of the many nice restaurants right near the hotel. Breakfast included.

Day 8, Sunday, December 13, 2026: Fortress Königstein

Join Sunday worship service at the amazing Lutheran Church of Our Lady (Frauenkirche) in the morning. For the afternoon we are planning an excursion to Fortress Königstein, for many years a powerful military outpost and at times a prison. Located on a sandstone cliff high above a bend in the Elbe River, the imposing former castle and barracks is richly decorated for Christmas. We will visit the Christmas market here, part of which is down in the massive arched galleries of the ancient fortifications. Back to Dresden in the later afternoon for dinner. Opportunity to attend a candlelight Christmas organ concert at the Frauenkirche in the evening. Breakfast and dinner included.

Day 9, Monday, December 14, 2026: Dresden

After breakfast we will have devotions at the second main church of Dresden and the bishop’s church of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Saxony, the Church of the Holy Cross (Kreuzkirche). Afterwards, have a guided city tour of Dresden. Afterwards we have time for one of the oldest Christmas markets of Germany, the Striezelmarkt. The market was founded in 1434. Here we may have a chance to taste the biggest Christstollen (4 tons) in the world—Stollen, a yeast bread with raisins and candied fruit and covered with powdered sugar, is the most traditional Christmas treat of Saxony, and though it’s eaten everywhere in Germany, it is especially associated with Dresden. The Striezelmarkt is located in the main market square, between the two famous churches of Dresden, the Frauenkirche and the Kreuzkirche, and just steps from our hotel. Free afternoon and evening tonight. Breakfast included.

Day 10, Tuesday, December 15, 2026: Berlin

This morning we say goodbye to Dresden and head north to Germany’s capital, Berlin. On a guided tour, we will see the Brandenburg Gate, the Holocaust Memorial and the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church, remnants of Berlin’s dramatic and sometimes tragic history as Germany’s capital. Afterwards we will visit our last Christmas market, near our hotel on Berlin’s most famous boulevard, Unter den Linden. Nowadays Berlin is host for about 80 Christmas markets which take place all throughout the city’s many districts. Once again—and for the last time—we will be surrounded by the aroma of cinnamon and Glühwein. In the late afternoon check into our hotel. Farewell dinner this evening. Breakfast and dinner included.

Day 11, Wednesday, December 16, 2026: Auf Wiedersehen!

All too soon we have to say goodbye to Germany. We will be transferred to the airport to catch our flights back home to the USA, or some may continue their stay on their own. Merry Christmas! Breakfast included.

Note: minor changes to the program are possible, as not every eventuality can be anticipated.

Hotels confirmed:

Wittenberg	2 nights	Colleg Wittenberg
Erfurt	2 nights	NYX Hotel Erfurt
Dresden	4 nights	Hilton Dresden
Berlin	1 night	Maritim proArte

 Rates:

The net rates per paid participant for the land arrangement are based on double occupancy:

with a minimum of 25 paying participants	US$	3,000.00	per person
single room supplement	US$	850.00	per person

These prices are exclusive of airfare. Discounted group flights will be offered separately, or you may make your own arrangements and meet us at the Berlin airport on December 7.

 Included:

• Transportation in a 4-star European-styled motor-coach with climate control, reclining seats and refrigerator. Maximum: 40 seats.
• Hotel accommodations in German twin beds, double
• All taxes, parking and road
• Visits to Lutherstadt Wittenberg, Halle, Eisleben, Eisenach, Erfurt, Leipzig, Dresden, Seiffen, Fortress Königstein and Berlin
• Entrance fees to Luther House special exhibition, Town Church and City Church in Wittenberg
• Entrance fee to Market Church in
• Entrance fee to Luther House and Peter and Paul Church in Eisleben.
• Admission and tour at Wartburg
• Entrance fee and 20-minute recital at Bach House in
• Entrance fee to Augustinian Monastery in
• Sightseeing and excursions as cited in the
• 15 meals: 9 buffet breakfasts, 6 dinners (beverages are not included with dinners). Lunches are on your own; the Christmas markets provide excellent opportunities for a quick bite.
• All necessary tips are included, such as porters, housekeeping, doormen, dining room tips for meals specified in the itinerary and the customary gratuity to drivers and local guides.
• Information folder for all participants including town maps and country brochures, information on Germany and a detailed timed itinerary upon arrival in Berlin.

Not included:

Airfare, expenses for passports, visas, bar bills, telephone calls, laundry or items of a personal nature, baggage or other insurance and meals other than those included in the itinerary.

Payment, cancellation, terms and conditions:

• An initial deposit of US $1,000 per person is due as soon as possible or before August 1, Placing the deposit will hold your place. We are limiting the tour to 40 participants, so act fast!
• Full payment is due October 1,
• The entire tour, a portion of it, or the participation of individual tour members may be cancelled without a fee up to August 1, A $1,000 fee is required for cancellation made August 1 to October 1. No refund for cancellation made after October 1, 2026 or no-show. Group rates are subject to change if size of group varies due to cancellation.
• Airfare is not
• Booking party is responsible for all visa, health and passport
• Participants are encouraged to purchase trip insurance to cover health, trip cancellation and loss of baggage.
• Participants should be able to climb stairs (sometimes many and sometimes uneven) without assistance and to walk at a modest pace for two miles at a time.
• Notification of double/single occupancy and the names of the participants should be received by October 1, 2026.
• All rates are net without commission and in US
• Rates are applicable for 2026. Due to currency fluctuations, we reserve the right to adjust prices after re-negotiation with the booking party.
• In the event that any dispute arises, on which any party has a right to assert a civil claim related to this tour agreement, the exclusive jurisdiction for that claim shall be in a court of competent jurisdiction, located in Lutherstadt Wittenberg, Germany.

Flight arrangements are through Good Shepherd Travel. Economy ticket total cost is:  $1483.53

We only need a copy of the passport if available.  If not, just name it as it appears on the passport and enter the date of birth.

The flights are booked through United departing Newark to Berlin directly and vice versa:

UA  962V 06DEC SU EWRBER HK35  5:50P 7:55A

UA  963S 16DEC WE BEREWR HK35  9:55A 1:10P