Reformation Tour

with Rhys Bezzant, Principal of Ridley College

Duration
12
Departure
17 June 2026
Price from
$9,648

INFORMATION SESSIONS

Sorry you missed this - lucky we recorded it! Please email us at [email protected] to request a copy.
City Location Date Time Booking
Zoom Click to request a free copy of the recording. Request free recording

OVERVIEW

In the Footsteps of the Reformers – with Ridley College
Join Ridley College in June 2026 for a spiritually enriching tour through Germany, Switzerland, and France, exploring the legacy of the Protestant Reformation. Led by Dr Rhys Bezzant, theologian and expert in Reformation and Early Church history, this journey offers rare insight into the lives and locations of Luther, Zwingli and Calvin. From Wittenberg to Geneva, enjoy guided tours, worship opportunities, and stimulating reflection with like-minded travellers. Whether you’re a student of theology or a lifelong learner, this unique pilgrimage will deepen your faith and understanding of church history. Don’t miss this unforgettable journey of discovery and discipleship.

Revd Canon Dr Rhys Bezzant

Principal, Ridley College

Rhys studied German at the Universities of Melbourne and Cologne, graduating with an MA, before commencing theological studies at Ridley where he gained his MTh on Austrian revivals of the eighteenth century. His doctorate investigated the ecclesiology of Jonathan Edwards, the eighteenth-century leader of the Great Awakening in colonial America.
Rhys joined the Faculty at Ridley in 2004, after working in both parish and student ministry. He was ordained priest in the Diocese of Melbourne in 1997, and he has served on the ministry teams of both small and large Melbourne Anglican parishes, including Heidelberg and Carlton, as well as Prahran and Brimbank. His heart for student ministry began with involvement in the AFES while as an undergraduate, and continued as Anglican Chaplain amongst tertiary students at Latrobe University and then at the University of Melbourne. He also serves on the General Synod Liturgy Commission, the General Synod Doctrine Commission, and he is a Canon at St Paul’s Cathedral, Melbourne.

BEZZANT_Rhys_2020

ITINERARY

Tonight, your incredible journey begins as you depart from Australia.

Included Meals: None

Tonight we will meet in the hotel for a welcome and orientation meeting at 6pm, followed by dinner.

Hotel: NH Berlin Potsdamer Platz, Berlin

Included Meals:

D
Meet your local guide for a tour of Berlin including the Marienkirche (St. Mary’s Church) one of Berlin’s oldest churches. Visit Nikolaikirche (St. Nicholas’ Church)
The oldest church in Berlin, tied to early Protestant services after the Reformation spread into the city. Walk through the Unter den Linden boulevard: Frederick the Great promoted religious tolerance here later, heavily influenced by Reformation ideas.
Visit the Berlin Cathedral (Berliner Dom), although it was remodelled later, it's the main Protestant cathedral of Berlin.
After lunch we visit Humboldt Forum / Former Berlin Palace & reflect on the legacy of the Hohenzollerns (who were key in promoting Lutheranism in Brandenburg-Prussia).
Visit the German Historical Museum (Deutsches Historisches Museum) with their excellent exhibits on Martin Luther, the Reformation, and its impact on German and European society.

Hotel: NH Berlin Potsdamer Platz, Berlin

Included Meals:

B
Farewell Berlin and travel to Wittenberg.
Enjoy a walking tour of the historic city centre of Wittenberg with a local guide, including the Schlosskirche (Castle Church) and its famous door where Martin Luther nailed his 95 theses. Stroll around the streets where Martin Luther and his colleagues walked many years ago. Included is a visit to the Luther House, the largest museum dedicated to the history of the Reformation, the Melanchthon House and the City Church St. Marien.
We attend the Wittenberg English Church service at 5pm before dinner at a local restaurant.

Hotel: Best Western Soibelmanns Lutherstadt, Wittenberg

Included Meals:

B
D
Today we check out of our hotel and travel to Eisleben (also called Lutherstadt Eisleben), a town founded more than a thousand years ago.
Luther was born here on November 10, 1483 and died here on February 18, 1546. During a guided tour you will visit Luther’s birthplace and last residence, the Luther monument, Church of St. Peter and Paul where he was baptised as well as the Church of St. Andrew’s where Luther gave his last sermons.
This afternoon we travel to Eisenach to visit the Wartburg Castle. This UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site stands atop a 200-meter high rock above the town of Eisenach. The Wartburg’s most famous resident was Martin Luther, who lived here in protective custody in 1521-1522 after refusing to retract his writings. It was here that he translated the New Testament from Greek into German.
Continue to our hotel in Erfurt.

Hotel: Intercity Hotel, Erfurt

Included Meals:

B
D
Today in Erfurt, we will enjoy a guided tour of the Augustinian Monastery before a guided walk of the town including the Luther Monument and Mariendom Cathedral. In the afternoon we travel to Mainz for an overnight stay.

HOTEL: Garner Hotel, Mainz

Included Meals:

B
D
Start the day with a guided city walking tour in Mainz, where we will take you to the Gutenberg Museum, home to the most famous Bible in the world, and the Cathedral near the Rhine. The rest of the day is at leisure.

HOTEL: Garner Hotel, Mainz

Included Meals:

B
Depart Mainz and travel to Worms. Martin Luther spent just ten days in Worms, but these ten days fundamentally changed the world. In 1521 the Augustinian monk from Wittenberg was summoned to the Imperial Diet where he was supposed to disassociate himself from what he had written. Luther asked for time to consider, and then decided not to compromise. He said that if he could not be confuted by the Holy Scriptures, which were his chief point of reference, then he did not want to and could not recant "because to go against one's conscience is neither right nor safe". We take a guided tour of the Worms Cathedral and the Reformation Monument. Continue to Strasbourg tonight.

Hotel: City Residence, Strasbourg

Included Meals:

B
Start at Strasbourg Cathedral (Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Strasbourg) Even though it's a Catholic church today, it's important because during the early Reformation, Strasbourg was a city of intense religious debate, and some Protestant services happened here.
Visit St. Thomas Church (Église Saint-Thomas) the key Protestant church in Strasbourg.
Stroll through the historic Petite France district. As you walk, talk about how Strasbourg became a "free city" that attracted Protestant refugees, especially from France (the Huguenots). The beautiful timbered houses reflect the era. In the afternoon we travel 200kms to Zurich.

HOTEL: Parkhotel Winterthur, Zurich

Included Meals:

B
D
It was in Zurich where the Reformation got its start under the leadership of Ulrich Zwingli beginning in 1520. We will visit the Grossmunster and see the Helferei (where Zwingli lived) and see the Zwingli Statue. We then travel to the alpine village of Wildhaus to visit Zwingli’s birth-house (group split into 2 smaller parts). Afternoon journey to Einsiedeln to visit the Abbey Church for Vespers (in Latin). Return to Zurich for overnight.

HOTEL: Park Hotel Winterthur, Zurich

Included Meals:

B
D
Today we enjoy a day trip to the village of Bäretswil and walk to an Anabaptist cave followed by lunch at a local restaurant.( Restaurant HAFENHALLE). Continue to Konstanz, where we see the Imperia, the city’s most famous statue representing the Council of Constance. We then visit the Jan Hus Museum, which has been for more than 200 years a place of reverence to the great Church reformer, a follower of John Wyclif and a predecessor of Martin Luther. No dinner included tonight so you can experience some local eateries. Return to Zurich.

HOTEL: Parkhotel Winterthur, Zurich

Included Meals:

B
After a local church service we will enjoy a guided walking city tour of Zurich and then drive via Gruyere with picture postcard scenery along the way to Geneva, where we can explore the old town to find some local eateries.

HOTEL: Mercure Annemasse, Geneva

Included Meals:

B
This morning, a Geneva city tour with a local guide includes seeing the Reformation Monument, St Peter’s Church, and Calvin’s grave. The afternoon is then free. Perhaps spend some time at the Reformation Museum with some shopping? Tonight we have a farewell dinner at a local restaurant to celebrate our remarkable journey.

HOTEL: Mercure Annemasse, Geneva

Included Meals:

B
D
Transfer to Geneva Airport for your flight back to Australia or beyond.

Included Meals:

B
Arrive Australia

Included Meals: None

Highlights

  • Wittenberg – Luther’s 95 Theses
    Stand before the famous Castle Church door where Martin Luther sparked the Reformation by nailing his 95 Theses. Visit the Luther and Melanchthon Houses and attend an English church service in this historic town.

  • Wartburg Castle – Luther’s Bible Translation
    Explore the UNESCO-listed castle where Luther, in hiding, translated the New Testament into German—an act that shaped both language and faith across Europe.

  • Zurich – Zwingli’s Reformation Legacy
    Walk the streets of Zwingli’s Zurich, visiting the Grossmünster and his residence, reflecting on the Swiss Reformation’s distinct theological contributions.

  • Geneva – Calvin and the Reformation Wall
    In Calvin’s city, see St Peter’s Church, his grave, and the striking Reformation Monument. Learn how Geneva became a hub for Protestant reform and training.

  • Led by Dr Rhys Bezzant – Expert Theological Insight
    Travel with Ridley College and Dr Rhys Bezzant, a leading scholar in Reformation and Early Church history, enriching each site with deep, engaging teaching and spiritual reflection.

Share on PinterestShare on LinkedIn
Map
Map

Destinations

TOUR INCLUDES

LINE-ICONS-02-FINAL

Travel with
like-minded people

LINE-ICONS-01-FINAL

Christian
Tour Leaders

LINE-ICONS-03-FINAL

Option of land
only package

LINE-ICONS-04-FINAL

Option of upgrading
to single room

LINE-ICONS-05-FINAL

Meals

LINE-ICONS-07-FINAL

Sights and entry
fees listed

OUR PRICING

Pricing
Pricing

Category Description Twin PP Single
Tour only Audit (non-student rate) $9,650.00 $11,200.00
Tour only Level 7 Student $11,500.00 $13,350.00
Tour only Level 8/9 Student $11,800.00 $13,650.00
Local payment Give to Rhys at the start of the tour EUR180 EUR180

FEE-Help may be claimed for eligible students. Please speak to Ridley College for details.

Pricing is based on a minimum of 20 and maximum of 40 passengers.

Inclusions
Exclusions
Departure Date Booking
17 June 2026 BOOK NOW

FAQ

I’m keen on this tour, keep me in the loop

SUBSCRIBE
Selah Australia