Oberammergau, situated in a wide basin in the Ammer valley, surrounded by the foothills of the Ammergau Alps, is a popular altitude and winter sports resort, famed for its wood carving (with a state school of wood carving) and still more widely known for its Passion Play.
The wood-carving tradition goes back to the 17th century, as does the Passion Play, which was first performed in 1634. The Passion Play was instituted in fulfillllment of a vow made in 1633, when the town was stricken by plague. Since then it has been performed every ten years (next in the year 2010).
The sumptuous Roccoco parish church (1736-42) of Oberammergau is one of the finest creations of Josef Schmuzer; good ceiling paintings by Matthäus Günther.
At the north end of Oberammergau is the Passion Play Theater (1930), with seating for 4,800 spectators and an open stage with the natural setting as a backdrop.
The Passion Play depicts the suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus. The play includes over 2,000 actors, singers and stage technicians.
Address: Passion Play Theater, Passionswiese, D-82487 Oberammergau, Germany
Tips: The play takes place every 10 years. Next play is 2010.
Many houses in the town of Oberammergau are decorated externally with frescoes by Franz Zwirk (1748-92) in the technique known as lüftlmalerei, such as the Pilatushaus (1784; now a craft center) and the Geroldhaus (1778).
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