Oberammergau Passion Play

AND What Else To Find In Oberammergau

The Oberammergau Passion Play (Passionsspeili) is probably what put this little town on the map.

And its popularity is probably why any of us can pronounce the name!

The story is that the townspeople pledged to do the play every ten years...

This was inn grateful celebration for being mostly spared from the bubonic plague...

...in 1633!

It's been performed every ten years ever since with only a few exceptions.

Talk about a long running play!

A Little About The Play

When It's Performed

The spectacle was first performed at Easter. Now the performances go on for about five months...

But still, it only happens every ten years... at the end of the decade in the year that ends with zero, so 2010, 2020, 2030, etc.

When You Attend The Oberammergau Passion Play

The play lasts for six to seven hours. (Don't worry, you won't starve. A meal is served during the intermission.)

It's performed by about 1,400 amateur actors, not to mention a few hundred musicians and technicians.

All of them are local people or their family members.

Audiences come from all over the world to see the spectacle.

The play is performed in German.

There is a theater built just for the play. It is partially open-air, but the spectators sit under a partial roof, so it is never cancelled for rain.

What Else Is There In Oberammergau?

Other than Munich, Oberammergau is one of the best-known towns in Bavaria... right up there with Rothenberg ob der Tauber.

Beyond the Oberammergau Passion Play, it's famous for wood carved sculptures and painted houses.

Distinctive Painted Houses

Wait a minute, you're thinking, MY house is painted, so what's the big deal?

This is special.

It's the colorful style of Bavarian trompe-l'eoil house painting known locally as "Luftlmalerei".

The houses look like Bavarian chalets (well they are).

These chalets are painted with these characteristic frescoes which are mostly religious themes ...

Many of them based on the Oberammergau Passion Play.

There are also sometimes fairy-tale scenes or even beer hall vignettes.

Around these painted scenes, extravagant trompe-l'eoil "frames" surround the windows.

Wooden Balconies spill over with geraniums in the summer.

The whole package gives the town a distinctive look... a cute one.

You can see this type of house decoration in other areas of Upper Bavaria, as in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, but Oberammergau is the probably the best known for them.

Wood Carving

You can visit shops to see the wood carving art that is practiced here.

There have been wood carvers in Oberbammergau since the middle ages.

Traditionally the carvings were done by farmers during the snowy winter season for a little extra money.

Now there are full-time artists that produce religious art, toys, household goods, and humorous portraits... all for sale in shops in town.

Enjoy The Bavarian Alps

Oberammergau itself sits in a beautiful setting in the Bavarian Alps.

The third of Ludwig's castles, Schloss Linderhof is near Oberammergau. It was Ludwig's favorite castle.

Oberammergau
Worth Visiting Without The Play

Visiting the town is worth it even is you won't be going to the Oberammergau Passion Play....

That tongue-twister of a name is fun to use on your friends.

If you won't be visiting in a year that ends with "zero", there is plenty of charm here...

Spend the night in a cute little gasthaus for a giant dose of Bavarian charm.

Happy travels... even if you don't travel the world... just remember that life is a journey... embrace and enjoy it! Judy and Mark

Curious about what else we've written about?  Search our site for a destination or travel tip.

But... We'd love to have you share this page or comment on it…
Thanks, Judy and Mark

International Travel Tips l Europe Travel Tips
Hotel and B&B Tips l Packing Lists
Go from Oberammergau Passion Play to MouseToursTravels Home Page

ShareFacebookTwitterPinterestTumblrRedditWhatsAppMessenger

New! Comments

Have your say about what you just read! Did it help with your travel planning and preparation? Eager to leave on that next vacation? Please leave your tips or comments in the box below.