Destinations » Germany » Oberammergau Travel Guide
World famous for its Passion Play held every 10 years, Oberammergau in Germany offers classic Bavarian hospitality, numerous wood carving shops and much more.
A beautiful traditional Alpine village situated in a valley surrounded by mountains, meadows and forests, Oberammergau is a quiet and peaceful haven. Admire the painted houses, so typical for this region. Wherever you wander in the village there is something worth exploring whether it's the woodcarvers' workshop, the many secluded corners with religious carvings and paintings or one of the many local restaurants offering the finest local cuisine.
Oberammergau is surrounded by a network of well sign-posted hiking paths; you can hire bicycles and cycle to nearby bathing lakes or visit the 'Wellenberg', the local leisure swimming pool complex with indoor and 3 outdoor pools with a fantastic view over the valley. Oberammergau, situated near to the Alpine Road is an ideal place to base yourself on a motoring or car hire holiday.
Alte Post
You can enjoy carefully prepared local cuisine at the original pine tables in this 350-year-old inn. There's a special children's menu, and in summer meals are also served in the beer garden. The front terrace of this delightful old building is a great place to watch traffic, both pedestrian and automotive. A part of the café has been reserved for Web surfing.
Ammergauer Stubn
A homey restaurant with pink tablecloths and a lot of wood, the Stubn has a comprehensive menu that serves both Bavarian specialties and international dishes. You can expect nice roasts and some Swabian dishes, such as Maultaschen, a large, meat-filled ravioli.
Doppers
It looks rustic and Bavarian from the outside, and the small barbecue terrace suggests weighty local foods, but, with the exception of steaks, Doppers specializes in Thai dishes. The curries add to the warming effect of the old green Kachelöfen (enclosed, tiled, wood-burning stoves) in the ground-floor rooms
Oberammergau is a tourist haven, and it's no wonder why. There
are so many wonderful places to visit in the charming village and
nearby area. Castles, houses with painted facades, the
Passionplaytheater, the Oberammergau Museum and the incredible
views of the Alps are main reasons for traveling to this Alpine
paradise.
Passionplaytheater
Every ten years, the Oberammergau puts on its famous Passion Play.
The play tells the story of Jesus Christ from his entrance into
Jerusalem to his sacrifice on the cross. About half of the town's
population participate in the play that was first performed in
1634. The cast rehearses for ten months and the final production
takes place in a partially outdoor arena. The play, which lasts
five hours with a three-hour intermission for dinner, is the center
focus for the village the year before it is performed. The village
fills with visitors during the Passion Play's run, and rooms are at
a premium. People travel from all over the world to attend
it.
Painted Facades
Oberammergau is also well-known for its many buildings with their
wonderful tromp l'oeil images that are painted onto their facades.
Tromp l'oeil means "fooling the eye," and that's exactly what these
scenes do. They look unusually real to the observer. Most of the
images are on official and religious buildings, but some hotels
have painted scenes as well. Often religious in nature, a beer
garden scene can be spotted here and there too.
The Oberammergau Museum
Situated right in the village, the Oberammergau Museum has fine
exhibits of Bavarian art and other historical items. Because
religion was so important in the daily lives of the Bavarians, most
of the objects are religious in nature, including the fine
woodcarvings that extend from the Gothic period to modern day.
Besides the intricate wood carvings, there is a large collection of
nativity cribs and glass that's produced locally.
Castle Schloss Linderhof
A visit to Oberammergau would not be complete without a day trip to
castle Schloss Linderhof. Built by King Ludwig II, this enchanting
building speaks to the days of power unparalleled. With the Alps as
a backdrop, the building, which was originally just a cottage,
transforms the visitor back to the time when Ludwig, who was known
to be quite eccentric, received guests and entertained. The castle
is reachable by car or by a public bus from Oberammergau for those
who don't want to drive.
