Oberammergau - Small Town With Earthly Passion

Just 62 miles to the south of Munich is the village of Oberammergau, set in the lush meadows and foothills of the Bavarian Alps. The village has grown up alongside the River Ammer and today is home to some 5,300 inhabitants. 

It is a pretty village, with leafy parks and typical Bavarian houses
- their carved wooden balconies and gardens bright with summer flowers. Many of the buildings are noted for their very special
and ornately painted exteriors, some of them dating back to the 18th century. These Lüftlmalerei, or frescoes, are usually religious themes or scenes from fairytales. 

Oberammergau is famous for its woodcarvers and its Passion Play, performed every 10 years in the purpose-built theatre.  The Passion Play, based on the life of Christ, dates from the 17th Century. It was first performed in 1634, following a vow taken by the people of Oberammergau during an outbreak of bubonic plague, which killed 15,000 nearby Munich residents in 1634 – 1635 alone. The frightened population of Oberammergau prayed to be spared, taking a vow to be fulfilled not by a few but by the whole community. They vowed to do something in which everyone, rich and poor alike, would have a part: a Passion Play, the most sacred of all stories. They would present the story of Christ to the world every 10 years forevermore if the Lord would remove the plague from their people. The town was spared, and a tradition was born.

The play is now performed at the start of each decade. Since 1860 the German text has remained virtually unchanged. The production is done in native German, but an English translation is available. 

Though the cast is huge — 1,700 parts — performers must be Oberammergau natives, or have lived there for 10 years, or been married to a native and lived there for at least 10 years.

Performers consider it an honor to participate and leave their businesses to do so. The men even start growing full beards a year out to look authentic. The play is performed in the Passion Play Theatre on an open stage, which incorporates the natural setting into the backdrop and seating for 4,780 spectators. 

There are regular guided tours of the theatre. Also worth a visit are the Pilatushaus to see craftsmen at work and the museum with its fine examples of folk art and woodcarvings and unique collection of Hinterglasbildern - paintings on the back of glass. 

The villagers are passionate about music and theatre; apart from folk groups, the village also boasts a brass band and orchestra as well as a choral and music society

Apart from being rich in art, culture and tradition, Oberammergau also has the friendliest of people and a great reputation for hospitality. Thousands of visitors flock to Oberammergau every 10 years to see the village's famous Passion Play.However, even when the Play is not being performed there is plenty to see and do in this pretty village and the surrounding Ammergau region. 

Oberammergau is situated in Bavaria, in the south of Germany, near to Garmisch-Partenkirchen, famous for its winter sports attractions such as skiing or ski jumping, with the Zugspitze, Germany's highest mountain, and the Austrian border a few kilometres away. Close to Oberammergau are a number of enchanting lakes, like the Staffelsee or Kochelsee, set amidst the beautiful Bavarian scenery 

There is also the church of Wies (Wieskirche) in Steingaden, declared a UNESCO World heritage Site in 1983. The former abbey of the Steingaden Premonstratensians was founded in the 12th century. The somewhat plain exterior of the church does not prepare the visitor for the splendour and magnificence of the rich and shimmering interior. 

Also high on the list of places to visit are Ettal and Linderhof Palace and for sheer relaxation one of the region's spas.