Oberammergau

Oberammergau, a lovely Bavarian community with 5,300 inhabitants, is located within the Ammergau Alps.

This town owes its world-famous reputation to the impressive Passion Plays that have been performed every 10 years in the town since 1634 - the next will take place in 2010. The play tells, in grand and heart-wrenching form, of the suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

From May through October, the imposing 4,800 capacity Passion Play Theater offers English guided tours for individual travelers twice a day. A tour is a great way to find out more about the fantastic history of the Play and to stand on the stage on which innumerable generations have portrayed the life of Christ.

In Oberammergau, the traditional art of woodcarving is celebrated for its history and vibrant present, with religious figures and Nativity scenes from many centuries on display. About 120 wood sculptors work there today, selling carvings ranging from figures of saints to household goods.

The picturesque houses decorated with so called "Lüftlmalerei" (wall paintings) have also contributed to Oberammergau's popularity. From the peaks of the local mountains visitors can enjoy a spectacular view of the fabulous "King-Ludwig Country" with its fairy tale castles of Neuschwanstein and Linderhof. Oberammergau is also located near many pilgrimage sites, including Cloister Ettal (Kloster Ettal), a Benedictine Abbey with magnificent Baroque architecture. Just a short, half-hour drive away is the Rococo Wieskirche (a UNESCO World Heritage site).

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