Oberammergau is famous for its Passion Play which was first performed in 1634. In the middle of the 30 Years War, after months of suffering and dying from the the "Black Death," or plague, surviving villiagers swore an oath to perform a "Play of the Suffering, Death and Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ" every ten years.  The Play, originally made up of just actors from the villiage itself, has grown to a stage production comprised of almost 2,000 performers, singers, musicians and stage technicians.  The Play is performed in the 5,000 seat Passion Play Theater with it´s open air stage.  The next Passion Play is in 2010.

Oberammergau is also world famous for its woodcarvings and "Luftmalerei," or frescoes, of traditional Bavarian or religious-themed scenes found on many home and buildings.

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If you are interested in visiting Oberammergau, then this Oberammergau Travel Guide can provide you with some basic information to pique your curiosity and provide you with a good starting point for your trip. Most people come for the wood carvings, "Luftlmalerei," and the Passion Play. However, there is more to see and do than just those activities.

How to Get There

You can easily drive to Oberammergau or take public transportation. It is a small town found in the Bavarian Alps in Germany. If you want to explore more than just the town, it is best to have your own car. This way you can easily see all the sites. The closest cities are Munich in Germany and Innsbruck in Austria. Oberammergau is about 9 minutes from Innsbruck and 60 minutes from Munich. There are trains that run from Munich and Innsbruck. You will have to transfer at Oberau, Murnau and Garmisch-Partenkirchen. You can also pick up the bus from these three transfer spots.

Famous Attractions

The Passion Play is only performed once every 10 years, and 2010 will see another performance. If you visit at a different time, it is still possible to take a tour of the theatre. The Luftlmalerei are murals found on the walls of most buildings in the town. These mainly depict Biblical scenes. Schloss Linderhof is a dream castle that was one of the few completed by King Ludwig II. The admission fee is quite low for this attraction, and it is also open during the winter.

Artisan Woodcraft

If you are in Oberammergau, then you want to pick up a wood carving. This is an artisan craft in the town, and you can even learn wood carving at one of the many schools. The main pieces available are crucifixes, but you can also find wooden cuckoo clocks and Bavarian clocks. Bavarian clocks run differently from all other types of clocks.

Accommodation Choices

There are many accommodation options available, which can be a bit surprising for a small town. The price will range from 45 to 200 Euros per night. The Maximilian Hotel is a five-star hotel choice, and there are many bed and breakfasts to choose from as well. The Youth Hostel is a favorite of backpackers and has 29 rooms, meals, conference rooms, and winter equipment for rent. Some accommodations are a bit more suited for families than others, but you can easily find accommodation for your needs.