"Oberammergau : an artistic village in... " a Oberammergau Travel Page by ptitetoile

I visited Oberammergau on the advice and with my Municher friends who just get married. A really interesting destination...even when it rains ! The village deserves will its art and painting reputation! There are so may nice painting on the walls!

It´s now more than 200 years ago that people who could afford to fancied to have their houses painted by artists - the result of this fashion can be seen today when you have a stroll through Oberammergaus "Dorfstrasse": colourful pictures on pretty facades, something what is called in Bavaria "Lueftlmalerei". But fortunately this fashion continued even in the 20th century, when the "Haensel und Gretel Haus" in Ettaler Strasse (see picture) was built.

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The village of the passion play

Oberammergau is also known for its passion play.
In 1633, In the middle of the Thirty Years War, after months of suffering and death from the plague, the Oberammergauers swore an oath that they would perform the "Play of the Suffering, Death and Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ" every ten years. At Pentecost 1634, they fulfilled their pledge for the first time on a stage they put up in the cemetery above the fresh graves of the plague victims. In the year 2000, the Community of Oberammergau has performed for the 40th time the play they have preserved throughout the centuries with singular continuity.

In this spirit, during a work period of several years, the text and music were fundamentally revised, new settings and costumes designed and a new production created in countless rehearsals. Now, more than 2,000 Oberammergauers, actors, singers, instrumentalists and stage technicians, in approximately six hours of playing time bring to the stage those events that Christianity regards as its central source of life and hope.

The next Passion Play takes place in the year 2010. Ticket sales start in the year 2008.

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A village full of arts and handicraft

Being the village of woodcarvers made Oberammergau worldfamous - already before the Passion Play. And even today the village is home of approximately 100 woodcarvers. They do not only religious subjects but a lot more from toys to humoristic portraits. If you are keen on getting to know more about the handicraft of today step into the Pilatushaus - there craftsmen explain their work and technique and give you a bright look into the world of arts (open Tue - Sat 1 - 6 p.m.)