Oberammergau is a city with a lot of character and the famous ‘Passion Play’, performed every ten years in honor of the almighty who spared the locals from the fatal bubonic plague in 1634. The surrounding areas of city are as gripping and fascinating as Oberammergau itself. Here’s a guide to day trips from this distinct German town.

Ettal Abbey

Ettal Abbey is a favorite with day trippers from Oberammergau. Benedictine monastery is nestled in a quiet corner of Ettal village and is a magnificent Gothic structure with Baroque touches. The double-shelled dome and pretty frescoes under it are worth seeing, along with an evocative Pulpit Statue. The adjoining Knights Academy of Ettal has burgeoned into a significant and important center for education in the town. There is also a nice local brewery and an old mill in the vicinity.

Acheleschwaig

This former village, famous for its cattle, has now been ingeniously transformed into an important horse breeding and research center that sees horses from some of the finest pedigrees and lineages. The place was in possession of Ettal Monks for a long time before ownership was passed to the Schwaiganger military. In the 20th century the Bavarian government authorities took over the place and started breeding and researching horse breeding techniques on it.

Monument of Crucifixion (Kreuzigungsgruppe)

Enjoy a view of the ‘Passion Play’ village from the Kreziunngsgruppe Mountain, over the Kolbem slope.

The rock walls of the mountain provide a great opportunity for hiking along the rugged trail. Explore the intriguing petroglyphs of the Roman Era at the Mahlesstein rock site. There are several more 18th century petroglyphs as visitors trek towards the Langer Kofel wall. A St. Mary shrine and the Kalberplatte plateau complete the sightseeing at Kreziunn.

Oberammaergau is a region that has a vast archeological heritage and rich performing arts culture that manifests itself in the form of the ‘Passion Play’. The regions surrounding the highly cryptic town are equally mysterious with their ancient ruins, old gothic-style churches, stone petroglyphs and charming vintage villages.