"Saint Stephen's Crown" Pilgrimage

 Today, we depart Pensacola for our connecting flight to Munich. We will be served complimentary beverages, in-flight movies, dinner and breakfast aloft.

 This morning, we arrive in Munich where we are met by our tour director and coach. We board our motor coach and drive north to Prague. On route, we enjoy delightful Regensburg. Pope Benedict was a professor of Theology at the University of Regensburg and his brother was the choirmaster for the Cathedral boys’ choir. This important city, the best preserved medieval town in all of Germany, was host to the Diet of Regensburg, a conference of formal dialogue between Catholics and Protestants in 1541. Some highlights include St. Peter's Cathedral where we celebrate mass, Stone Bridge (Steinerne Brücke): A historic bridge over the Danube River, dating back to the 12th century and the Old Town Hall. Lunch in Regensburg is included, after which we continue to Prague for a welcome reception as we check in to our hotel. Time and weather permitting, Fr. Joe will take us to see the main square at night.

 After breakfast, we begin our day with Mass at the famous Norbertine Strahov monastery, where St. Norbert is entombed. The Strahov Library is one of the most valuable and best-preserved in the world with a collection of approximately 200,000 volumes. We continue our tour of Prague at Castle Hill and visit St. Vitus Cathedral (where Sts. Wenceslaus, Adalbert, John of Nepomuk, and Vitalis are all entombed), Wladislav Hall and the Golden Lane. Afterwards, we have ample time to rest at the hotel or wander and explore the streets of Prague, enjoy the beautiful architecture, go shopping or simply relax in the beauty that makes Prague such a popular destination. We will taste the wonderful local cuisine during our included dinner in the heart of Prague.

 Our tour of Prague continues after breakfast with Mass at the Church of Our Lady of Victory, which houses the famous Infant Jesus of Prague. Devotion to the Infant Jesus draws our attention to the manger at Bethlehem and we will see nativity scenes donated to this church from all over the world. The city center is best experienced on foot so that you can admire the city's stunning architecture and revel in its unique ambience. Making your way around Prague, we will see the Vltava River, which runs through the heart of the city, the Old Town with its iconic Astronomical clock, the Jewish Quarter and the famous Charles Bridge to enjoy wide panoramic views across the water. During our excursion, we also enjoy a revitalizing hot chocolate and a brief rest. Today, significant evidence of Jewish life in the city of Prague can be seen in the former ghetto. The preserved religious buildings and cemeteries are part of the Jewish Museum. Dinner is included in a local restaurant.

 Today we depart from Prague for Salzburg visiting Cesky Krumlov en route. This beautiful town, situated on the winding Vltava River, comprises a spectacular collection of buildings, mainly from the 16th century. The town is overlooked by the unmissable castle and landmark of the town. The unique architecture is complemented by museums, galleries, concerts and festivals. We will celebrate Mass here at Krumlov’s cathedral, after which, lunch is included in a local restaurant. From here we make our way to Salzburg in our private motorcoach.

 After yesterday’s full day of travel from Prague we have a later morning start. We proceed to nearby, picturesque Altötting where we celebrate Mass at the small Shrine of Our Lady of Altötting, a shrine known for the many healings which are said to have taken place there, and is commonly called the Lourdes of Germany. The shrine dates back to the 7th century and the image of Mary has been venerated for over 750 years. Pope Benedict would come here often as a child on pilgrimage with his parents. A late lunch is included in a local restaurant in Altötting, after which we return to Salzburg.

 We start our day with an early breakfast and motor-coach departure to Vienna. On arrival and after Sunday Mass at the Cathedral (where Sts. Elizabeth, Valentine and others are entombed), our local guide will lead us on a city walk thru the heart of Vienna. The current Cardinal-Archbishop of Vienna was the primary editor of the Catholic Catechism. Surrounded by palaces and shops, churches, concert halls, and gardens, Vienna is an epicenter of culture and history. Countless composers have made a name for themselves here, including Beethoven, Schubert, Haydn, Strauss, Brahms, Mahler, Vivaldi, and many more. Lunch is included in Vienna in a local restaurant. We will make a panoramic stop at Schonbrunn Palace, the former summer residence of the Hapsburgs to see it from our motor coach as we return to Salzburg.

 Today we visit Salzburg, ancient seat of the archbishop, birthplace of Mozart, and the setting for the Sound of Music film. We begin with Mass at the Cathedral. Afterwards, we will see the colorful city center with its charming streets and shops, Residenz Fountain and Tower. Our tour also includes the Salzburg Castle complex including a much-appreciated funicular ride up the hill. We enjoy the unusual architecture, which lends much to the character and charm of the city. Dinner is included in a local restaurant.

 This morning we travel through the heart of the Bavarian Alps, including a visit to the wonderful Passion Play village of Oberammergau, where we will have time to celebrate Mass at the village church and stroll the streets and perhaps purchase a famous wood carving. No visit to Germany would be complete without a visit to one of its numerous castles. Today we stop at the famous Neuschwanstein Castle. Built in the 19th century by German King Ludwig II as a retreat from Munich and in honor of King Ludwig’s dear friend, famed composer Richard Wagner. The castle is said to be the inspiration for Cinderella’s castle at the Walt Disney World Resort and is similar to Sleeping Beauty’s castle in Disneyland. We return to Salzburg for overnight. A late lunch or early dinner is included.

 This morning, we start our day Visiting the Salzkammergut Lake District which was already a popular retreat during the emperor‘s time: its sparkling lakes are sprinkled among mountains and forests, offering the perfect escape. We intend to stop at Fuschlsee, Wolfgangsee, and Mondsee. Mozart‘s mother was born in St. Gilgen; in St. Wolfgang the unique Gothic winged altar, sculpted by Michael Pacher, and the Weisses Rössl restaurant are among the leading attractions. We will also stop along the way for a tour of the little town and Imperial Villa of Bad Ischl in Upper Austria, the former summer capital of the great Austro-Hungarian Monarchy, with its originally preserved rooms in which Empress “Sisi” Elisabeth and Emperor Franz Joseph spent the summer months. A late lunch or early dinner is included in a local restaurant.

 This morning, we drive to Munich and enjoy a tour of the city, which passes the University, St. Michael’s Church (where we will celebrate Mass), the 'Frauenkirche,' (church of Our Lady) the Obelisk, Theatinir Church, the Feldherrnhalle, the Hofgarten, and English Gardens. We will see the famous Glockenspiel and this afternoon we enjoy our included luncheon followed by free time for rest or personal adventure in the gardens. We will overnight in our hotel at the Munich Airport.

 This morning, we transfer to the gate for our return flight  to the U.S.A. where we arrive later today with memories of a lifetime.