Social Programme

A variety of events is offered to bring together delegates from all over the world - an excellent occasion to renew old friendships and make new acquaintances in an informal environment.

• Nuernberg: Documentation Centre "Nazi Party Rally Grounds" and theatre performance DIE ERMITTLUNG by Peter Weiss, July 26
• Munich Kammerspiele: Theatre performance DER STURM by William Shakespeare, July 26
• Sunset Cruise with dinner on Lake Starnberg, July 29
• Salzburg Festival: bus tour (buy theatre tickets on your own), July 31
• Garmisch-Partenkirchen: Hiking tour “Schachenhaus” of King Ludwig II, July 31
• Oberammergau Passion Play, August 1

Get the Social Programme Guideline with detailed information about departure times, meeting points etc. A print version will be provided at the conference registration desk.

Please note:Delegates with German visa cannot participate in the Salzburg tour (visa not valid for Austria)!

If your own travel schedule might affect a tour of our Social Programme, please note that all assigned times can only be approximated due to traffic conditions and unforeseen circumstances. The congress management does not take any responsibilities for personal travel arrangements.

Nuernberg: Documentation Centre "Nazi Party Rally Grounds" and theatre performance DIE ERMITTLUNG (The Investigation)

Monday, July 26, 2010, day/evening tour

To this day in Nuernberg's southern districts, the remains of the buildings on the former Nazi Party Rally Grounds with their immense proportions are a vivid testimony to the megalomania of the National Socialist regime. This area of eleven square kilometres intended as an impressive backdrop for the Nazi Party Rallies staged here to demonstrate their power.

The excursion includes a guided tour around the Nazi Party Rally Grounds (2.30 p.m., duration 90 min), a visit of the Documentation Centre and, in the evening at 7.00 p.m., a visit of the theatre performance DIE ERMITTLUNG by Peter Weiss, directed by Kathrin Mädler (in German language only) in the ruins of the Congress-Hall:
DIE ERMITTLUNG is a journey into a man made hell. Written and premiered at 15 theatres in Germany at the same day in 1965 it focuses on the Frankfurt Auschwitz Trials (1963-1965). In court the survivors of the death camps were forced to relive their unimaginable suffering. They were faced with cynically triumphant defendants who had been able to take up an untroubled life in postwar Germany and who were laughing in the survivors` faces. Like no other play DIE ERMITTLUNG is attempting to lead us to the abyss of Auschwitz, the dehumanization of the suffering and death of millions. Peter Weiss` unsettling play is shown in an unusual performance at an exceptional location: Five Actors take the audience on a theatrical passage through the monstrous ruins of the Congress Hall on the former Nazi Party Rally Grounds.

An almost magical performance. Beyond theatre. (Bayerischer Rundfunk)
Most likely „Die Ermittlung“ can only be shown like this: You are not allowed to get out, you have to confront it. (Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung)
Very risky, but bold and intelligent. Best performance of the year. (Abendzeitung)

***Please be prepared for walking and steps and bring a jacket***

Before the performance we will have dinner (not included) at Nuernberg's famous Wirtshaus "Gutmann am Dutzendteich" with a lovely beergarden and outdoor lounge, serving Frankonian specialties and seasonal cuisine.

Further Information
Documentation centre
Staatstheater Nuernberg
Wirtshaus Gutmann

Timing
11.00 a.m. Departure from Munich / conference venue by bus.
02.30 p.m. Guided tour around the Nazi Party Rally Grounds (duration 90 min).
04.00 p.m. Visit of the Documentation Centre.
06.00–07.00 p.m. Dinner at Wirtshaus “Gutmann am Dutzendteich” (not included).
07.00 p.m. Theatre performance DIE ERMITTLUNG (Kongresshalle Nürnberg, Bayernstrasse 100).
Back in Munich / conference venue approx. 11.00 p.m. (not guaranteed, due to traffic conditions etc.).

Sunset Cruise with Dinner on the beautiful Lake Starnberg


Thursday, July 29, 2010, evening tour

Join our conference dinner party in a unique setting: Together we will enjoy a three hour cruise on a modern 56 m catamaran with a large two-floor salon and gallery. On the decks you can enjoy beautiful sunset views of picturesque villas and castles with an Alpine mountain range in the background. A Bavarian dinner buffet, live music and performances will contribute to a joyful and unforgettable evening.


Lake Starnberg is the second biggest lake in Bavaria, just 20 km southwest of Munich.

More infos and photos

Timing
06.45 p.m. Departure from Munich / conference venue by bus.
Cruise from 8.00 until 11.00 p.m.
Back in Munich / conference venue around midnight (not guaranteed, due to traffic conditions etc.).

Oberammergau Passion Play


Sunday, August 1, 2010, afternoon/evening tour

Do not miss this unforgettable performance together with other conference delegates – a once-every-ten-years-opportunity! 2000 actors, all of them Oberammergau residents, will act in a breathtaking five hour performance on the life and death of Jesus Christ. During the intermission we can stroll around the typical Bavarian village Oberammergau with its woodcarving shops and splendid examples of Lüftlmalerei amidst beautiful mountain scenery. A wide choice of Bavarian as well as international restaurants is worth a visit before being captivated by the second part of the play after 8.00 p.m.

About the Passion Play

In the middle of the Thirty Years War, after months of suffering and death from the plague, the Oberammergau residents swore an oath that they would perform the „Play of the Suffering, Death and Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ“ every ten years. At Pentecost 1634, they fulfilled their pledge for the first time on a stage they put up in the cemetery above the fresh graves of the plague victims. In the year 2010, the Community of Oberammergau will perform the Passion Play they have preserved throughout the centuries with singular continuity for the 41st time. Today Oberammergau Passion Play is considered an international event that attracts audiences from all over the world.


Further information
Video and pictures
Oberammergau Map
Press reviews (English)
Süddeutsche online

The Oberammergau Passion Play provided our congress delegates with a contingent of tickets only for the date of August 1st, 2010. We appreciate the coincidence of our annual IFTR world congress with this unique occasion.
In case you are not able to extend your stay over this weekend, you may try to book tickets yourself at another date here, but be aware that the tickets are usually sold out long time in advance.

Timing
11.00 a.m. Departure from Munich / conference venue by bus.
The play starts at 2.30 p.m. and ends at 10.30 p.m., with an intermission of three hours. 

Back in Munich / conference venue around midnight by shuttle bus (not guaranteed, due to traffic conditions etc.).
No public transport back to Munich provided after the play!

Hiking Tour “Schachen” (Mountain refuge of King Ludwig II)

Saturday, July 31, 2010, day tour

Join a 3-4 hour hike up to an altitude of 1900 m (height difference 1150 m), with magnificent views of the surrounding peaks. We start our trip by hiking 700 m through the spectacular gorge "Partnachklamm". On the way up our guide will talk about the eccentric life of Bavaria’s famous King Ludwig II. At the "Schachenschloss", a guided tour will surprise us with the beautiful historic interior of this modest wooden building (optional). A nearby Alpine botanical garden shows more than 1000 high mountain species from all over the world. We will rest at a hut across from the lodge and enjoy hearty meals and cold drinks before making the hike back down.

This tour has some strenuous passages and is best suited for experienced mountain hikers (no climbing). Please bring your own hiking equipment (hiking boots, sun and rain protection, drinking water and snacks, daypack, optionally walking sticks).

The "Schachenhaus" is one of King Ludwig’s extravagantly designed buildings, a unique mountain retreat in the Bavarian Alps, formerly used for birthday celebrations and other parties.

Further information
German – with many pictures and video of the tour
English

Spectacular gorge "Partnachklamm"

Timing (new!)
08.30 a.m. Departure from Munich / conference venue by bus.
Back in Munich / conference venue approx. 09.00 p.m. (not guaranteed, due to traffic conditions etc.)