Oberammergau

In 1633, during a plague outbreak, the villagers vowed to perform a play of the Passion every ten years if the deaths stopped; the first performance was in 1634 and it has been staged nearly every decade since, with interruptions for war and, most recently, a two-year postponement to 2022. Only people born in the village or resident for a set number of years may take part, and around two thousand of the five thousand residents are involved as cast, choir or crew. Woodcarving is the other trade, taught at a state school here. Many houses carry painted facades in the Lüftlmalerei tradition.

History

The Passion Play was first performed in 1634, by tradition in fulfilment of a vow that, if God spared the village from the plague sweeping the region, it would stage the play every ten years; after a man returning home for Christmas brought the disease, the story goes, no one else died once the vow was made. It is now performed in years ending in zero, with extra seasons in 1934 for the 300th anniversary and 1984 for the 350th; the 1920 play was postponed to 1922 and the 2020 play to 2022, and it involves over 2,000 actors, singers, musicians and technicians, all from the village (Wikipedia, Oberammergau).

What to look for

• The Passion Play theatre - a purpose-built house used every ten years.
• The painted houses - Lüftlmalerei facades through the village.
• The woodcarving - workshops and a state school teaching the craft.
• The village museum - the play's history and carving collections.

When to go

May to October generally; the play itself runs from May to October only in years ending in zero, when the village is booked out far ahead. Otherwise it is quiet.

What to expect

The play happens once a decade and tickets sell years in advance. Outside those years there is only the empty theatre and museum. Much carving sold is imported.

Nearby

Linderhof lies southwest; Ettal Abbey is close.

Key facts