Oberammergau

Oberammergau is a village 4 km north of Ettal, famous worldwide for its Passion Play — performed every ten years by the entire village community — and more quietly for its tradition of wood carving that fills the shops and the workshops behind them. Every surface that can be painted has been: the decorated house facades (Lüftlmalerei) are some of the finest examples of the painted alpine tradition.

The Passion Play runs in years ending in zero (the next performance is 2030). In the off-years the village is pleasant without being spectacular — worth a hour or two for the painted houses and the carving workshops. The craftwork ranges from tourist-grade to genuinely serious; find the workshop rather than the shop if you want to see the work being made.

The area around the village is good walking country, with trails into the hills in every direction and a cable car up to the Laber peak for views over the valley.

things to do sight
A story
In 1633, the villagers of Oberammergau vowed to perform the Passion of Christ every ten years if God would spare them from the plague that was sweeping Bavaria. The plague stopped at the village border. They have kept the vow ever since — the Passion Play has run every decade since 1634, interrupted only by the Second World War. The entire village takes part: the 2,000 performers are all residents of Oberammergau.