Day 1 – Sep. 13

Afternoon departure from Ottawa via Toronto to Madrid.

Day 2 – Sep. 14

Late morning arrival in Madrid. Transfer to our hotel, some time for rest, Mass, dinner and overnight.

Day 3 – Sep. 15

Morning sightseeing tour of Madrid takes us to Puerta del Sol, Plaza Espana with its monument to Cervantes, Celebes fountain, elegant Calla Alcala and Paseo Castellana. We also see the Royal Palace and visit recently completed cathedral. In the afternoon excursion to Toledo, the ancient capital of Castille. We visit the old city, Moorish bridge and spectacular 13th century Cathedral, where we celebrate Mass.

Day 4 – Sep. 16

After breakfast we travel to Lourdes in France. En route we stop in Burgos for a short visit of its old city and magnificent Gothic cathedral. Upon arrival in Lourdes Mass, dinner, procession with candles and overnight.

Day 5 – Sep. 17

Full day in Lourdes. Time to visit the Grotto and the Basilicas. We will have Mass and The Way of The Cross, time for individual prayer and bath, dinner and overnight.

Day 6 – Sep. 18

After breakfast we travel through the splendid vineyards of Languedoc-Roussillon to Avignon. En route we stop in a mediaeval fortified city of Carcassonne. Dinner and overnight in Avignon.

Day 7 – Sep. 19

This morning we visit the old city of Avignon with its exceptional complex of monuments listed by UNESCO as World Heritage sites. Continue to La Salette for dinner and overnight.

Day 8 – Sep. 20

After breakfast we visit the Shrine Our Lady of La Salette where we celebrate Mass. Continue to Turin in Italy for dinner and overnight.

Day 9 – Sep. 21

Full day in Turin. The walking city tour includes Piazza San Carlo, Piazza Castello, Vio Po, Royal Palace and Monte dei Cappuccini. Afternoon we visit St. John the Baptist Cathedral, where the Shroud of Turin is located. Mass, dinner and overnight.

Day 10 – Sep. 22

Today we travel to Einsiedeln in Switzerland. En route we stop in Milan where we visit imposing 14th century Duomo (Cathedral) and Corso Vittorio Emanuelle II. Dinner and overnight in Einsiedeln.

Day 11 – Sep. 23

After breakfast we visit the mediaeval Shrine of Our Lady of Hermits. Later we travel to Lucerne where our sightseeing tour takes us to Lion Monument by B. Thorvaldsen, the Cathedral of St. Leodegar and the Kapellbrucke, old bridge originally built in 1333. Some free time for leisure before returning to our hotel for dinner and overnight.

Day 12 – Sep. 24

This morning we travel to Fussen in Germany. En route we visit Neuschwanstein to see the fairy-tale castle of King Ludwig II of Bavaria. Mass, dinner and overnight.

Day 13 – Sep. 25

This morning we travel to Oberammergau to participate in the Passion Play performed every 10 years in this small town. This wonderful spectacle of pageantry takes place outdoors where the sky and mountains are the back drop, world renown for the costumes and music presentation, performed by more than 2,000 citizens. Dinner and overnight in special accommodation in Oberammergau or its surroundings

Day 14 – Sep. 26

After breakfast we are transferred to the airport in Munich for a flight back to Ottawa via Toronto. Afternoon arrival.