An 11-day Catholic Pilgrimage Tour to Switzerland, Germany & Austria

November 4, 2024 – Monday
WASHINGTON / SWITZERLAND
Tour members gather at Washington’s Dulles Airport for our connecting flight to Switzerland. Meals are served on board our transatlantic flight.

November 5, 2024 – Tuesday
ZURICH
Today we arrive in Zurich, Switzerland’s capital and are met by our Pilgrimage Tours’ tour director who will remain with us until the end of our tour. We board our deluxe motor coach for an orientation tour of Zurich including a visit and celebration of Mass at St. Anton’s Church. Following Mass, we will visit the Church of Our Lady (Fraumunster), whose stained -glass windows were designed by the artist Marc Chagall. In Zurich’s historic center, we will see the facade of St. Peter’s Church (Peterkirche), displaying Europe’s largest clock, followed by free time on the Bahnhofstrasse, a popular pedestrian street offering the best in world-class shopping. Dinner and overnight in Zurich.

November 6, 2024 – Wednesday
ZURICH / LUCERNE / BASEL
This morning we drive to the beautiful city of Lucerne, nestled in the Swiss Alps and situated on Lake Lucerne. Here we will visit and celebrate Mass at Lucerne’s Hof Church. Following Mass, we walk to Lucerne’s Old Town where we will see the landmark wooden 14th century Chapel Bridge & Water Tower. Following free time for lunch, we continue on to the town of Basel, where we enjoy a walking tour where we will see Basel’s city hall and the Mittlere Brucke; the “Middle Bridge”. We will also visit St. Marien Church, followed by free time in Basel’s Marktplatz. Late afternoon we return to Zurich for dinner and overnight.

November 7, 2024 – Thursday
ZURICH / EINSIEDELN / BERN
Today we enjoy a day-trip to Einsiedeln, Switzerland’s largest and most important Marian Shrine. As far as you can see is a sea of green pastures and beautiful mountains. Einsiedeln is home to a shrine, a miracle-working Black Madonna statue and a Benedictine monastery. In the Lady Chapel, we find the Black Madonna statue, venerated by the faithful, with many miracles being attributed to Our Lady of Einsiedeln’s intercession. We celebrate Mass in the sanctuary’s Mercy Chapel. We will also see the impressive Diorama Bethlehem, the world’s largest nativity scene, with more than five hundred carved wooden figures. We will also see the Panorama, a circular painting more than three hundred feet in length and thirty feet high. The painting depicts Jerusalem and the Crucifixion scene. In the afternoon, we drive to the town of Bern for a visit to Bern’s lovely Rose Garden, offering a wonderful view of Bern. We next enjoy a walking tour of Old Town Bern where we will see its Clock Tower and visit Albert Einstein’s house displaying a number of Einstein’s inventions. This evening we enjoy dinner at Altes Tramdepot Brewery & Restaurant. Following dinner, we return to Zurich for overnight.

November 8, 2024 – Friday
ZURICH / RHINE FALLS / THE BLACK FOREST / MUNICH
Following Mass this morning at Sts. Peter & Paul Church, we bid farewell to Zurich and drive to Rhine Falls, Europe’s largest waterfalls, before driving to southern Germany, crossing the Rhine River, for a visit to the Black Forest. During our drive we enjoy some of the world’s most picturesque scenery including beautiful landscapes displaying majestic mountains, charming valleys, tranquil lakes, waterfalls and of course pine trees. Our main stop will be in Titisee-Neustadt on Lake Titisee in the heart of the Black Forest. Here we will enjoy the town square where you may want to sample some Black Forest cake and pay a visit to the Brunner World of 1000 Clocks store, offering a wide selection of locally crafted cuckoo clocks. Late afternoon we arrive in Munich for dinner and overnight.

November 9, 2024 – Saturday
MUNICH
Today we enjoy a walking tour of Munich, including visits to St. Anton Church and the Church of Our Lady (Frauenkirche), the towering twin-onion domed steeple church that has served as the symbol of Munich for centuries. Following Mass, we visit the world-famous and lively Hofbrauhaus for lunch and a beer. The remainder of our day is free for personal exploration in Munich’s main square, the always festive Marienplatz. Dinner and overnight in Munich.

November 10, 2024 – Sunday
MUNICH / ALTÖTTING / OBERNDORF / SALZBURG
Today we journey into the heart of Bavaria and arrive in Altötting, one of Germany’s most celebrated shrines and a village whose purpose is pilgrimage. Here we visit and celebrate Mass in the Chapel of Mercy. The chapel houses a 13th century statue of the Blessed Virgin to which numerous miraculous cures are credited. Following some free time to explore the sanctuary’s grounds where we will see St. Anne’s Basilica, the Church of St. Magdalene, the Church of Sts. Philip and James, the Panorama of the Crucifixion, the Pilgrim Museum and Saint Conrad’s Church. In the afternoon we continue on to Salzburg, with a visit to Oberndorf and the Silent Night Chapel, where the famous Christmas carol was written and first performed. Finally, we arrive in Salzburg for dinner and overnight.

November 11, 2024 – Monday
SALZBURG
This morning we enjoy a walking tour of Salzburg, the birthplace of the famous composer of Classical music; Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart., passing through Mirabell Gardens en route to the Cathedral, where we celebrate Mass. Following free time for lunch and shopping, we enjoy a panoramic tour of the surrounding areas of Salzburg, we relive the true story of the von Trapp family which was filmed as the “Sound of Music” in and around Salzburg. The tour will include both an historic city tour and a journey into its lakes and mountains area, the breathtaking Salzkammergut. Dinner and overnight in Salzburg.

November 12, 2024 – Tuesday
SALZBURG / VIENNA
Today we drive to Vienna, Austria’s capital. Upon our arrival in Vienna, we enjoy a motor coach tour of the city, followed by free time for lunch and shopping. Later in the afternoon we will visit and celebrate Mass in Saint Stephen’s Cathedral, housing the miraculous image of Our Lady of Mariapocs. We will also visit the Imperial Palace, also known as the Hofburg Palace. Our day concludes with a visit to St. Michael’s Church, prior to arriving at our hotel for check-in. Dinner and overnight in Vienna.

November 13, 2024 – Wednesday
VIENNA / MARIAZELL / MELK
Today we enjoy a day-trip outside Vienna, beginning with a visit to Mariazell, the most visited Marian Shrine in Central Europe, nestled high atop the Alpine Mountains. Here we will visit and celebrate Mass in the Mariazell Basilica, where we will see the miraculous statue of the Virgin Mary housed in the Chapel of Miracles. Following a visit to the shrine’s gift shop, we enjoy free time for lunch and personal time in this charming town. We depart Mariazell and drive to the famous Melk Abbey, rising above the banks of the Danube River. At over 900 years old, the Melk Abbey is one of the finest religious sites in Austria where black robed monks still stroll amidst marble sculptures and frescoed walls. We return to our hotel to freshen up before this evening’s dinner at Wiener Rathauskeller restaurant prior to arriving at Auersperg Palace for a memorable performance of the best compositions of Mozart & Strauss by the Vienna Orchestra. Overnight in Vienna.

November 14, 2024 – Thursday
VIENNA / WASHINGTON
This morning we transfer to Vienna International Airport for our flight home. Though our pilgrimage draws to a close, its blessings will last a lifetime and its graces are certain to draw us closer each day to the Lord.