Oberammergau is a small town in the state of Bavaria, in Germany. This small German town has become internationally famous because of the Passion Play, a story of Jesus of Nazareth from the Bible, which is performed every 10 years by the townspeople. As a family destination, Oberammergau is a great choice. Obviously the best time to travel here is for the Passion Play, the nearest occurrence of which will be in 2010. But even if you miss the Passion Play, this picturesque little Bavarian town is still a delight for the whole family.

The Passion Play

At the beginning of the 1630's, the villagers of Oberammergau made an oath to God that if they were spared from the plague, they would perform a play of the events of the life of Jesus every ten years from then on. Little did they know what they were starting when they performed the play for the first time in 1634, after the death-rate from the plague had subsided significantly. The grounds and the theater that the play is performed in have been modernized and restored throughout the years, but the play remains a production of the village, and close to half of the residents of Oberammergau will participate in the 2010 play. Tickets are frequently sold as a package with rooms in the village.

Ettal Abbey

A short trip from Oberammergau is Ettal Abbey, a Benedictine monastery founded in 1330. A beautiful building, the abbey is well worth a visit just to see the architecture and the art of the building. To get to Ettal Abbey from Oberammergau, just head south down the 23 and then head east on Ammergauer Street. Like much of this area, Ettal Abbey is rich in history, from the Middle Ages to World War I and II and into the modern day, making it a rewarding experience for the whole family. If your kids are old enough, the abbey also contains a brewery as well.

Sightseeing

Oberammergau is a great town to just walk around and enjoy the sights of Bavaria. It's small enough that you can walk pretty much everywhere, and the town is full of old buildings, shops and churches that are well worth the walking. Other sights include the Kreuzigungsgruppe in the nearby Oberammergau mountains, and the Linderhof castle, which offers guided tours around the grounds. Oberammergau has plenty of family-friendly places to stay and to eat, from local to international food, and moderate to expensive hotels, as well as some beautiful bed and breakfasts.