Post~Conference Journey
Post-Conference
Post- Conference Journey
A Post-Conference Journey into the Beauty of the Alps, Serene Lake Lucerne & Rudolf Steiner’s Goetheanum near Basel
September 14~19, 2025
Our Post-Conference Journey begins with a drive from Ascona into the heart and beauty of the legendary Swiss Alps, through winding mountain passes and charming landscapes. We first arrive in Interlaken, between the emerald waters of Lake Brienz and Lake Thun, where we will spend two nights in its medieval atmosphere, surrounded by dense forests, alpine meadows and glaciers. In the morning, we will take the scenic mountain train to the peak of the Jungfrau and gaze out on the grandeur of the snowy Bernese Alps. After lunch, we will visit the wondrous Trümmelbach Falls, Europe’s largest subterranean, glacier-fed, waterfall, located in the Lauterbrunnen Valley. It was here in 1911 that J.R.R. Tolkien was inspired to imagine Rivendell, the magical realm of the elves in The Lord of the Rings. A century earlier, Goethe had also been inspired by the valley’s high waterfalls to write his poem, “The Spirit Above the Waters,” sometimes considered the first expression of the holistic worldview in modern times.*
The following morning we head to Lucerne, the beautiful and historic medieval city on the shore of serene Lake Lucerne. We will sail across the lake, a place where the stories of the Swiss hero, William Tell, were first heard by Goethe (and continued to inspire the Schiller drama that followed and the well-known, stirring, Rossini overture). After lunch in a lakeside village, we will return to the city for a walking tour of this evocative and charming city.
After a night in Lucerne, we then travel on to Dornach, just outside Basel and near the northern border of Switzerland, where we will spend the final two nights of our Post-Conference in a lovely medieval monastery-turned-hotel.
It is in Dornach that the impressive Goetheanum was built under the direction of Rudolf Steiner, both as a way to honor Goethe and to serve as a sacred site for the articulation of the deepest spiritual mysteries. Volunteers from all over Europe worked on the original structure throughout the First World War but, tragically, it was burned down at the end of 1922 in an act of arson. However, a new Goetheanum rose on the same hill not long after and today the great auditorium serves as the main center of anthroposophical wisdom, Biodynamic agriculture, Waldorf education and the many other fields where Steiner’s esoteric and holistic genius continues to inspire cultural and social renewal. We will learn about Steiner’s legacy from deeply informed presenters, and take a tour of the building which will include explications of the profound art in the great auditorium.
We will close our Post-Conference Journey with an afternoon and evening in nearby Basel, with its evocative medieval Old Town on the Rhine and art-filled public spaces before our journey concludes the following morning.
*Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749-1832) presented in the 18th century an alternative to the dominant mechanistic, materialistic, worldview and science of Galileo and Newton, what has come to be known as Goethean science – a contemplative participatory approach to nature. As early as 1832 Goethe stated, “Man in his misguidance has powerfully interfered with nature. He has devastated the forests, and thereby even changed the atmospheric conditions and the climate. Some species of plants and animals have become entirely extinct, although they are essential in the economy of nature.“ We can see in him the origin of the modern ecological, holistic, worldview.
Price: $2999 per person in double accommodations; $3399 in single accommodations
Includes five nights’ accommodations, all meals from lunch on the 14th through breakfast on the 19th, guided tour and all activities, entrance fees and ground transport through the end of day of the 18th of September. Participants will make their own way to Basel’s EuroAirport on the 19th of September.
HEALTH CONSIDERATIONS FOR OUR POST-CONFERENCE JOURNEY
Please note: Our Post-Conference Itinerary involves an excursion at a high altitude. There are certain health conditions/contraindications to consider to participate safely in this program.
Individual people respond differently to changes in altitude; some people might feel a bit short of breath with mild exertion.
The risk of altitude sickness is minimized by avoiding caffeine and alcohol, and hydrating well.
Certain medical conditions require checking in with your doctor before proceeding with this part of our journey. These include participants who have had heart surgery, who live with chronic breathing difficulties or blood disorders, or anyone at pronounced risk for cardiovascular disease (those with high blood pressure, diabetes, or smokers, for example).
This part of our program is not suitable for anyone pregnant or with serious health conditions of the heart, kidneys or lungs.
Anyone wishing to join our Post-Conference Journey but is unable to participate in the trip to the Jungfraujoch will be able to spend those several hours with our coach and meet the group upon their return.