Recently updated on August 30th, 2022 at 05:29 pm
Swathed in colourful lüftlmalerei murals and shouldered by the tall peaks of the Ammergau Alps, the enchanting Oberammergau is as modest as it is picturesque. Yet despite its quiet airs and reserved demeanour, the Bavarian town hosts an astonishing once-a-decade marathon performance that attracts crowds from all over the world. Passion Play is a captivating show celebrating the suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Witness the Immense Scale
Devastated by the plague in 1633, the people of Oberammergau performed the first Passion Play in a profound expression of repentance, vowing that if they were spared, natives of the town would perform the play every ten years.
The highly-sought event is regarded as the most important passion play in the world. The Bavarian village expects almost half a million people to attend one of the town’s 102 performances. From the scale of the 2,000-strong cast, which includes many of the Oberammergau residents, to the haunting set design and costumes, it’s truly the spectacle of a lifetime for attendees.
Labour of Love
Preparations for each Passion Play tend to start almost as soon as the last one has finished, and there’s an edict within the village that commands all male actors to grow and thicken their beards a full year before the show. This means that on Ash Wednesday 2019, local males will be ditching their razors.
By Autumn 2019, rehearsals will have begun for the 42nd Oberammergau Passion Play, which will premiere on May 16, 2020. Good stamina is required of both audiences and actors as each performance lasts over six hours. The programme spans an incredible five months and ends in early October.
Extra-Curricular
Even after the curtain falls, there’s plenty to occupy visitors hoping to see a little more of Oberammergau. Hike the lofty mountains, walk along the Ammer’s breezy riverbank, or examine the work of local artisans in a landscape that is as close to the Sound of Music‘s wonderland as one can hope to get. In terms of local crafts, Oberammergau’s not just synonymous with the skill of wood carving, but pottery, drum-making, and stained glassmaking, too. Discover these local works of art all over town, and perhaps pick up a memento to remind you of your trip.
Eat & Drink
If all the spectating and exploring leaves you hungry, Oberammergau’s gastronomic scene is designed to please. From traditional haunts like the Berggasthof Kolbenalm, with its lederhosen-clad customers, cosy atmosphere and German classics (like schnitzel), to the suave Ammergauer Maxbrau and its large cellar of fine wines, there’s plenty of opportunities to enjoy some classic Bavarian cuisine.
Renowned for its Biergartens (beer gardens), no trip to Oberammergau would be complete without a long afternoon spent with a refreshing stein of Veltins or Erdinger.
If you fancy visiting Oberammergau, why not book a place on the 2020 trip to see the famous Passion Play, here?
Image Credits: All images © Oberammergau Passion Play