Oberammergau and the Shrines of Eastern Europe

The Passion Play

The Oberammergau Passion Play dates back to the 17th Century. During the Thirty Years War, the people of Oberammergau vowed to celebrate the suffering, death, and resurrection of our Lord every ten years if their village would be spared from the plague that was ravaging the area.

During the five-hour-performance, more than 2000 participants bring the story of Jesus to the open-air stage of the Passion Play Theater.

2022 marks just the 42nd time the Passion Play has been offered.

Itinerary

Friday, June 3rd
Your overnight flight to Munich.

Saturday, June 4th
On arrival you’ll transfer to the hotel. You have the day free to explore Munich.

Sunday, June 5th
This morning, after Mass, we will travel to Oberammergau. This afternoon the Passion Play begins at 2:30 PM and runs until 4:00 PM. We will have a dinner break before the second act of the play begins at 8:00 PM and ends at 10:00 PM. You’ll have some time today to explore the town and visit the famous woodcarving shops.

Monday, June 6th
This morning we travel to the town of Altötting to visit the Grace Chapel with the Smiling Madonna. We will have Mass at the Shrine. Next we will stop in the town of Marktl am Inn, the birthplace of Pope Benedict VI. We will visit the church where he was baptized. This afternoon we arrive in Salzburg. We’ll have a walking tour of the city, including Mirabel Gardens and the Salzburg Cathedral. Dinner tonight in a local restaurant.

Tuesday, June 7th
Today we stop in Mariazell to visit Austria’s most important shrine dedicated to the Virgin Mary, we will celebrate Mass here. We will pass by the Salzburg Lake District today, where much of “The Sound of Music” was filmed. We’ll arrive in Vienna and you’ll have the evening on your own.

Wednesday, June 8th
Today we will stroll the old town of Vienna, including Saint Stephen’s Cathedral, Hofburg Palace, and the Donner Fountain. After Mass, you’ll have some time for lunch before we tour the Schonbrunn Palace and Gardens. Tonight we have dinner together in a local restaurant.

Thursday, June 9th
Today we head to Prague. We will stop along the way at the White Mountain, Czech Republic’s biggest Marian Shrine. We will have Mass here. You are on your own tonight in Prague.

Friday, June 10th
Today we will tour the city, including Hradcany Castle, Saint Vitus Cathedral, Saint George’s Basilica, and the Church of Our Lady Victorious to see the Infant of Prague. After Mass, you’ll have some time on your own for lunch. Later we will cross Charles Bridge and visit the Old Town. Dinner together in a local restaurant.

Saturday, June 11th
Today we travel into Poland. We will visit the Have No Fear Center dedicated to Saint John Paul II and celebrate Mass at the Shrine. You are on your own to explore Krakow this evening.

Sunday, June 12th
Today we visit the Wawel Cathedral and also the Deanery where Saint John Paul II lived. Next we will visit the Mariacki Church and Market Square. We will spend some time at the Divine Mercy Shrine and celebrate Mass here. After lunch, we will go into Europe’s oldest salt mines and see the Chapel of Saint Kinga made entirely of salt. Dinner together tonight in a local restaurant.

Monday, June 13th
We depart Krakow today and visit Wadowice, the birthplace of Saint John Paul II. We will celebrate Mass here. Next we make a visit to Auschwitz and Birkenau. We will see where Saint Maximillian Kolbe and Saint Edith Stein were martyred. Tonight we stay in Czestochowa.

Tuesday, June 14th
This morning we will visit the Jasna Gora Monastery and see the Black Madonna. We will celebrate Mass here. On the way to Warsaw, we will stop in Niepokalanow, a monastery founded by Saint Maximillian Kolbe. Dinner on your own in Warsaw.

Wednesday, June 15th
Today we tour Warsawm including the Old Town, Barbican, Saint John Cathedral, Royal Castle, and Holy Cross Church where the heart of Chopin is kept. We will also pass by the Ghetto, Palace of Culture, and Constitution Square. After Mass, you’ll have time to explore Warsaw before meeting back up for dinner together in a local restaurant.

Thursday, June 16th
Your flight home from Warsaw.

Price

$4,300 per person (land only)

$1,000 deposit secures your spot. Tour deposit is fully refundable for 14 days from the time you make your deposit.

Final payment of $3,300 is due March 1st, 2022. Final payment is nonrefundable.

This cost is for double occupancy. Traveling alone? No problem! You’ll have a chance to ‘meet’ the other solo travelers before the trip and pick a roommate. This usually works out well. If you really prefer to have your own single room, there is a single supplement of $1,200.

Included in the price

Accommodations for 12 nights
Munich: Marriott City Center (4 star)

Oberammergau:

Salzburg: Imlauer & Bräu (4 star)

Vienna: Mercure Wien City (4 star)

Prague: Majestic Plaza (4 star)

Krakow: Golden Tulip City Center (4 star)

Czestochowa: Arche (4 star)

Warsaw: Mercure Centrum (4 star)

Breakfast daily plus 7 additional meals
Drinks, including beer and wine, is included in our five restaurant meals. The lunch and dinner in Oberammergau do not include beer and wine as they are part of the Passion Play experience.

All group ground transportation
We’ll be traveling in a private motor coach.

Full time service of a tour director
Visiting new countries can be intimidating! That’s why you will have an experienced Catholic American tour director (me!) with you at all times.

Local guide
We will have local experts with us throughout the pilgrimage.

No hidden costs
If we do it as a group, it’s included in the price! You are responsible only for the meals you have on your own, souvenirs you wish to buy, and anything you want to do in your free time. Tips, air taxes, drinks with meals? Already included!

Guaranteed price
Once I receive your deposit, your tour price will not go up!

All tips for group meals, guides, and drivers
Would you believe that many tour companies require you to tip as you go? Not only does that add to the advertised sticker price of a tour, it’s also a huge hassle to you! No need to worry about that here. Tips are already included and we take care of that behind the scenes.

Entry fees and tours
All entry fees and tours to our included group activities.

Social planning
Plan your trip with your traveling companions before you leave! We set up private Facebook groups for each tour to give you a chance to meet before you meet!

You time
We have a lot planned, but time on your own is important. We take our time in churches to give you the opportunity for prayer and reflection. We also include free time for you to explore, shop and relax on your own.

Not Included

Your flights.

You should arrive in Munich no later than June 4th.

You should depart Warsaw no earlier than June 16th, our last group activity will be dinner on June 15th.

If you need to cancel your trip for any reason, if the situation in Europe changes and we need to cancel or postpone the trip, it’s your responsibility to work with your airline to cancel, reschedule, or request refunds.

Is this trip for you?

You should be in good physical shape.
We will do a lot of walking, much of it outside, and much of it on uneven ground. We average around 5 miles per day. Please do consider this before signing up.

You need to be able to carry your own luggage.
You are responsible for your luggage and getting it from the bus to your hotel rooms. I will provide a thorough packing list to help you pack lightly and efficiently.

You must be flexible.
This is Europe, things may close without notice, a protest could spring up without warning. But, it’s not all negative, great things come up unexpectedly as well. Being flexible is the key for happy travels!

Cancellations

When Oberammergau moved from 2020 to 2022 I offered full refunds to everyone who had signed up. Most pilgrimage companies did not because the trip was technically “postponed.”

For all my 2021 pilgrimages I am offering full refunds for any reason up to three weeks before departure.

I assume things will be back to normal by summer 2022, but I am going to continue offering a very generous cancellation policy. If you should need to cancel for any reason on or before March 1st, you’ll get a full refund. After March 1st, and until May 1st, you can still cancel for any reason and be refunded the full price minus the $1,000 deposit.

As countries reopen and get back to normal, we will keep a watch on requirements for entry and rules for visiting. If something comes up that makes you uncomfortable with how a country is handling things, refer to the cancellation policy dates, so you can get your money back.

Sign up

Use the form below to sign up for this pilgrimage. If you have any questions, email me at mtn@thecatholictraveler.com

Optional Trip Insurance
If you think there is any chance you may need to cancel, I recommend you purchase travel insurance. A “Cancel for Any Reason” plan will let you, well, cancel for ‘most’ any reason. Most plans should allow for at least a 75% refund should you need to cancel at any time before departure. I have a friend who specializes in trip insurance, you can contact him directly, but you are under no obligation to use him and I don’t get any sort of kick backs, so shop around and find what is best for you.

Deposit Info
You’ll be able to pay by credit card or check. Payment info will be emailed to you once you sign up.