Sights in Oberammergau, Germany
See Lüftlmalerei Painted Façades, Woodcarvings, and Passionstheater
Mar 31, 2008
The small Bavarian village Oberammergau in Southern Germany is internationally famous for its Passion Play (Passionsspiele) generally performed every ten years. In the other nine years, the town is mostly visited for its lovely location, painted house façades, and woodcarvings.
Lüftlmalerei - Tromp l’Oeil Painted Façades
Oberammergau has a lovely natural location at the northern reaches of the Bavarian Alps. Mountain backdrops, forested hills, as well as rolling green meadows can be enjoyed in the direct vicinity of this small town. Many houses and hotels have typical Upper Bavarian architecture – using ample natural wood and balconies filled in summer with blooming geraniums.
Oberammergau is also famous for its numerous buildings with tromp l'oeil (Lüftlmalerei) painted façades. These painted façades can be seen on official and religious buildings as well as on hotels and private houses. Religious themes are most popular but the occasional beer hall and fairy tale scenes can also be enjoyed.
Woodcarving in Oberammergau, Germany
For centuries, Oberammergau has been famous in Germany for the variety and artistic quality of its woodcarvings. Traditionally woodcarvings were done by farmers and foresters as a commercial sideline during the long winters but nowadays it is mostly done by fulltime artists. Religious themes are once again the more popular but more secular subjects are not ignored either.
Many woodcarving studios and shops are open to casual visitors in Oberammergau. However, amongst the best works can be seen in the Pilatushaus, Ludwig-Thoma-Straße 10. This building not only has a very impressive painted façade but also has workshops of local woodcarvers. It is worth seeing the artistic quality here before buying elsewhere in town.
- The Pilatushaus is generally open Tuesday to Saturday afternoons from mid-May to mid-October and in winter around major holidays. Admission is free.
Oberammergau Museum
The Oberammergau Museum has exhibits of art and historical objects from the region. Religion has traditionally played a major role in local life and not surprisingly many of the objects are religious in nature. The emphasis in the museum is on woodcarvings with items from the Gothic period to the present. The museum also has a vast collection of cribs (Christmas nativity scenes) and locally produced glass works.
- Opening hours are generally Tuesday to Sunday from 10 am to 5 pm. The museum is mostly closed in November, February, and March. Admission is €4.
The Passionstheater in Oberammergau, Germany
The Passionstheater was specifically built to host the world famous Oberammergauer Passionsspiele (Passion Play). The theater is partly open air but all 4,500-spectator seats are covered by a roof. As a result, performances are never cancelled due to inclement weather. The theater is also used in summer for major concerts and operas.
- Tickets for the Oberammergau Passion Play Passionsspiele 2010 went on sale early in 2008.
Oberammergau has many excellent hotels, which are only expensive during the Passion Play. At other times, Oberammergau makes an excellent holiday base, especially for drivers although public transportation opens the region to day-trippers from Munich as well. Interesting sights in the immediate region include Garmisch-Partenkirchen with its excellent winter sport facilities, Zugspitze - Germany’s highest mountain, the lovely Rococo Kloster Ettal monastery, King Ludwig’s fantasy castle Schloss Linderhof, and the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage listed Wieskirche (Church in the Meadow).
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