The European witch craze unleashed a whirlwind of suspicion, accusation and the macabre. A tour of enchanting Bamberg and Wurzburg transports students to the centre of that complex web of religion, fear and magic.
Bamberg & Wurzburg
- 4 days
- +1
- Germany
- Approx. 2 hrs
- Wurzburg witch hunts guided walk
- Bamberg witch hunts guided walk
- Hexenturm documentation centre
- Marienberg Fortress
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Sample itinerary
This sample itinerary is offered as a guideline. The trip focus, length and itinerary/activities can be tailored to meet your learning objectives.
- Day
Day 1 - Fly to Germany
Overview
The Reformation unleashed a period of ever-escalating conflict between Catholics and Protestants. Where the two groups clashed, at state borders or in towns and villages, accusations of witchcraft flew. Early Modern Europe experienced intense persecution of alleged witches with Bamberg, Würzburg and Zeil notorious for the frenzy of fear and violence against predominantly women.
Day 1
Travel by air into Frankfurt and transfer to your accommodation in the Bamberg/Wurzburg region by coach. Evening at leisure.
Day 2 - Würzburg witch tour
The morning begins with a coach ride to Würzburg, a hotbed of witch trials in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. Your students will delve into the dark history of witch burning with a guided walking tour of the city. Learn about the trials that took place here, and the conditions under the rule of Prince-Bishop Julius Echter that allowed such persecution to flourish.
After lunch move on to Rothenburg ob der Tauber for a self-guided visit to one of Germany’s best preserved medieval walled towns. Rothenburg had a strategic location, connecting trade routes between northern and southern Europe and remains a popular tourist attraction with cobbled streets and half-timbered houses.
Return to accommodation for dinner.
Day 3 - Zeiler Hexenturm & Bamberg
Today travel to Zeil am Main by coach. The region's unrestrained witch-hunting fervour was fueled by the widespread belief in supernatural powers and the fear of witches' malevolent influence. Students can visit the ‘Hexenturm’ (Witch Tower), receive a guided tour by local historicals on the Zeil witch craze and explore the adjoining documentation centre which explores the historical background to the craze.
Later, transfer by coach to Bamberg. Here Prince-Bishop Johann Georg II Fuchs von Dornheim led a zealous campaign against witches, resulting in the execution of hundreds of individuals accused of practicing witchcraft and making Bamberg the most active centres of witch trials during the 17th century. Students can visit Bamberg Cathedral and LangeStrasse and hear stories about the infamous witch-hunter Friedrich Förner.
Return to accommodation for dinner.
Day 4 - Marienberg Fortress, Fly Home
Check-out this morning is followed by a trip to Festung Marienberg, the fortress that housed the Prince Bishop. After some free time for souvenir shopping and lunch, transfer to Frankfurt airport to make your way back home.
Includes your group invitation, support letter, processing fees, consular fees and support throughout the application process and provision of biometric data
Return flights, 1 piece of hold luggage per person, airport taxes and security charges and ATOL Protection Contribution
Airport transfers upon arrival and departure with your local TCBC guide. We can also arrange your UK airport transfers if you wish
Experienced local TCBC guide in Moscow for all your excursions. Will accompany your group full time from early morning until late evening
Coach, fitted with seat belts, at your disposal throughout, including evenings
4 nights accommodation at 3 or 4 star hotel, twin rooms for students and single rooms for teachers
Breakfasts and dinners daily at the hotel, but sometimes in local city centre restaurants depending on your schedule
Guided tours of Red Square, Lenin’s Mausoleum, the Kremlin, Armoury, Novodevichy Cemetery, Gulag museum, Moscow metro, Victory Park, Great Patriotic War museum and Stalin’s Bunker
All entrance fees are included, there will be no hidden costs. The only money your students will need on tour will be for lunches and souvenirs.
24 hour emergency contact details of TCBC's office and your local guide's mobile number
The normal free staff place ratio is 1:10 but this is flexible and we'll work to whichever ratio you require
We'll visit your school and give a presentation to parents before departure. We introduce TCBC, run through the itinerary and what to expect and answer any questions
Free to download tour app to take with you on tour, providing you and group with important tour info
Please check with your school to ensure you are covered by an adequate travel insurance policy which we will need to see a copy of. We can help you source cover if you need
We generally don't include lunches unless requested. We prefer to let the students explore the local options and choose for themselves
If you feel you have received excellent service, then our local guides and drivers will appreciate being tipped. Guidelines will be outlined in your quote
We will inform you of the availability of ballet, opera, circus, folklore show and sports events closer to departure and invoice you at that stage
Reasons to travel with us
We honestly believe we are the best in what we do. We'd love the opportunity to show you.
Safety & reliability
The safety of all our travellers is our number 1 priority. We have a robust Safety Management System in place to ensure that our tours are run to the high levels you expect.
Experience & expertise
We have years of experience in planning school tours. Our expertise lies in our organisational skills, attention to detail and an understanding of what you need to make your trip a success.
TCBC local guides
Our guides are our greatest assets and consistently lauded. Highly experienced, knowledgeable and trustworthy, most are hand-picked and have worked with us for years.
Complete peace of mind
Our accreditations (ATOL, ABTA, STF, LOtC) provide you with the reliability, assurance and financial security expected from a specialist tour operator.
Customer
service
Our dedicated team is on hand to offer help and advice at every stage. We are positive you will be impressed with the high level of service you receive from us.
Flexibility & customisation
We customise every trip to suit your needs and offer maximum flexibility in planning your itinerary. We won’t rest until we get it right!
The personal touch
Getting to know our clients is very important to us. It’s very likely therefore that you’ll meet one or several of us at some point, either at school before departure or on the tour itself.
Total transparency
We include as much as possible in our quotes and are very transparent about what is and what is not included. There will be no hidden or surprise costs.
Pre-departure support
We understand how much work goes into planning a school trip. You will be dealing with the same people throughout the pre-departure process allowing us to respond quickly and accurately.
Repeat business
99.9% of teachers are so happy with our tours and our service that there is no need to travel with anyone else. We are confident you will feel the same way.
The trip to Bamberg and Wurzburg was one of the best yet with TCBC! The walking tour guides were exceptional and the sites we visited really added to the students' knowledge for their NEA. I am so grateful to TCBC for organising the visit to the Hexenturm and I am already looking forward to taking the next cohort next year!
