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Germany with Kids: The Passion Play and Painted Houses in Oberammergau

This picturesque village in the Bavarian Alps, with a little over 5,000 residents, welcomes thousands of visitors every year but is also well-known worldwide. Oberammergau is famous as the host of the Passion Play that occurs every ten years. We spent an afternoon in this lovely town in between our castle hopping in Germany last summer.

Oberammergau town

I have wanted to visit Oberammergau ever since I heard of the Passion Play tradition. There was more to this charming town beyond the play and it exceeded my expectations. We found a friendly village with windows overflowing with colorful flower boxes, wood carving at its finest and elaborate paintings on their walls.

Oberammergau window statue

The Passion Play

Bubonic plague was rampant in this region during the 1630’s. After seeing their fellow villagers suffer and die, the town made a vow that if God spared them from the plague, they would perform the “Play of the Suffering, Death and Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ” every 10 years as gratitude.

The first Passion Play was performed here in 1634 with 60-70 actors. It was held on a cemetery on a makeshift stage above the graves of the plague victims. It sounds morbid but they kept their promise and the town was spared. Generations have carried on this promise and tradition. This unique fountain showed the vow the villagers made to save them from the plague and the origin of the Passion Play.

Oberammergau fountain

The play has been a scheduled performance for almost 400 years with only two years of interruption due to church interventions. It has evolved into a major production with over 2,000 performers, full costumes, music and choir attracting a worldwide audience.

The play occurs during each decade’s first year from May to October and performed five days a week. The Passion Play in 2010 started at 2:30 PM and ended at 10:30 PM with a three-hour intermission during the 102 performances. It is performed in German but the audience is given an English textbook as well. I can’t even begin to imagine the pageantry.

Oberammergau rottwagen

The amateur performers have to be born in the village or have been a resident for 20 years. Some parts are played by members of the same family spanning generations. It’s such a great tradition to pass on. Rehearsals are for 10 months and they don’t get paid. Its residents’ dedication and commitment was just one of the many things we admired about this community.

Oberammergau street

Don’t let this simple facade of the Passion Play theater fool you. Behind these doors is a theater that houses over 4,700 people with modern stage mechanics and amenities and even a stage that can accommodate up to 200 performers at one time.  There are guided backstage tours of the Passion Play Theater throughout the year to learn more about the Passion Play’s history. Unfortunately, we didn’t get the chance to do the tour and missed the opportunity to see the inside of the theater.

Oberammergau passion play theater

But, there really is more to Oberammergau other than the Passion Play. After all, it has the other nine years to attract tourists. The village is also known for its colorful painted houses and the residents’ wood carving skills. It is also surrounded by many hiking trails and various natural attractions.

Kofel Mountain looms on top of the village. The cone-shaped mountain had crosses on top with many trails around it. It is a favorite among hikers and I can imagine the unspoiled, panoramic beauty of the valley and villages from the top.

Oberammwegau mountain Kofel

The Painted Houses

We loved walking around and admiring all the Luftl (Lüftlmalerei) or fresco paintings on the houses and buildings. These colorful frescoes on house facades were once used to show the owner’s status and wealth in the Alps’ foothill region. Businesses, restaurants and hotels now occupy these painted houses.

Oberammergau frescoes luftl

We found many stunning painted houses around Oberammergau with some dating back to the 18th century. This hotel’s colorful exterior was one of the first things we saw in town.

Landhotel oberammergau

There were religious paintings with saints and scenes from the Passion Play.

Oberammergau frescoes luftl

There were also paintings portraying festivals or fairy tale scenes.

Oberammergau frescoes luftl

The colors were still so vivid even after being exposed to varying weather conditions all these years.

Oberammergau frescoes Luftl

Lüftlmalerei was a painting method where water colors were applied quickly to the wet plaster. Work had to be done quickly since the frescoes were painted in the open air or Luft. The name and method was attributed to the most famous of the Luftl painters, Franz Seraph Zwinck. He lived in Oberammergau in a house called “Zum Luftl” and was called “the Lüftlmaler” or “Lüftl” painter.

Oberammergau frescoes luft

Zwink’s many years in the village led to some of the most well-known facades here. These are only a small sample from various painters in a two-block radius.

Oberammergau Post Hotel

It was like strolling through an outdoor art museum that left us in awe.

Oberammergau frescoes luftl

It was amazing to see how the windows, balconies and doors were integrated into the paintings. These pictures don’t do them any justice.

Oberammergau frescoes3

For anyone who likes taking pictures of windows, this town had some of the best vibrant ones we’ve ever seen.

Oberammergau window

We found this house with a summary of Cinderella’s story. The kids enjoyed looking up and spotting familiar fairy tales.

Oberammergau Cinderella fresco

The Art of Wood Carving

Oberammergau is also known for their history and art of wood carving. There were countless shops selling a variety of wood carved merchandise that included crosses, angels, religious figures, ornaments, toys and nativity scenes.

Oberammergau merchandise

Some shops greeted us with life-sized and intricate wood carvings.

Oberammergau wood decorations

Handmade cuckoo clocks were in many shops too, much to my kids’ delight. The craftsmanship on these clocks were amazing. It’s no wonder they cost from several hundred to thousands of euros. I constantly wished I had a bigger luggage and a whole lot more money as we walked along all the shops here.

Oberammergau cuckoo clocks

There were many displays that caught our kids’ eyes. I think we spent more time inside the shops while we were in town.

Oberammergau with kids

We even found the German version of what looked like Humpty Dumpty.

Oberammergau humpty dumpty

Let the kids loose and they’ll find a way to entertain you. I loved this expression on my silly boy’s face. What are the odds of ever running into a large wooden owl again?

Oberammergau owl

After spending some time in this enchanting village, I’m more determined than ever to return and watch the Passion Play in 2020. I just have to convince my daughter it will be a great high school graduation gift. Sometimes, I do plan way ahead. Oberammergau was beyond the play that catapulted it into worldwide status. One can’t help but marvel at the town and its people’s history, artistry and devotion to tradition.

Visiting Oberammergau Basics and Tips

  • Oberammergau is about 56 miles (90 km) from Munich. Trains are available. Though, we highly recommend renting a car and seeing the Bavarian countryside on your own schedule especially if you have kids.
  • Make it a day trip or two to see Ludwig’s castles (Neuschwanstein and Linderhof) while visiting Oberammergau.
  • Visit the Oberammergau Museum with special exhibits on the history and art of wood carving and the village’s past and present.
  • See the wood carvers in action at the living workshop at Pilatushaus (Pilate’s House).
  • It’s never too early to start planning for Passion Play 2020. Here is more information with video trailers of the play.

Oberammergau fresco luftl

 *Have you visited Oberammergau or seen the Passion Play? Who wants to join me here in 2020?

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Oberammergau Germany

41 thoughts on “Germany with Kids: The Passion Play and Painted Houses in Oberammergau”

  1. I love the frescos in central Europe, though the ones I’ve seen tend to be more subdued in colour. My favourites, so far, are in the little Swiss town Stein-am-Rhein. These in Oberammergau look unusually vivid. Very cool.

  2. I have heard about the play but didn’t realize its’ fascinating history. Nor had I appreciated just what a destination the town itself would be aside from the play. The buildings are beautiful and I’d include it now on a trip to Germany.
    Even with a 3 hour intermission I’d have a hard time sitting through a play of that length!!

    1. I know the length seems daunting and I don’t know if my kids could ever sit through one even when they get older. We’ll see. You’d love this little town especially all the surroundings and hiking trails.

  3. Wonderful post, I have been here once but not during the Passion…I forgot how stunning the buildings were and the elaborate painting process….gorgeous, thanks for sharing.

  4. Hi Mary…the building are just so photogenic. I can see myself walking for hours, camera in hand. I have read about the passion play, and have always thought it would be fun to plan a trip that concides with when it is being performed. That’s definitely a once in a lifetime
    opportunity. The history your provided here is very interesting.

  5. Would be lovely to go, Mary.
    The painted homes do look like an open air museum…so beautiful, so elaborate! I’m surprised that it’s still so vibrant after all those years’ exposure to the elements.

  6. Great post, I’ve been wanting to stop by this town. I’ve been to Garmisch and that is pretty close, they have the same types of painting on their buildings. I’ve seen Neuschwanstein and Hohenenschwangau but still need to see the Linderhoff!

    -Brittany Ruth

  7. I have been privileged to see the Passion Play on three occasions, 1990, 2000, and 2010. In the latter year I stayed in the house which belonged to the composer of the Passion Play music, Rochus Dedler. That was special. Wonderful!

  8. We’ve been to Bavaria twice but not to Oberammergau. Several relatives have seen the Passion Play and were thrilled with the performance. We will put it on our list of things to do! Don’t you just love Bavaria? It’s so charming!!! Thanks for your great photos! Makes me want to go back soon!!

  9. Nice pictures! Those colors are even more vivid on a sunny day. I lived near Oberammergau for 12 years. Other villages and towns in the area also have beautiful frescoes. Kochel-am-See, Bad Kohlgrüb, Peißenberg, and, of course, Garmisch-Partenkirchen along with Mittenwald are worth visiting. Upper Bavaria and the Allgäu have a lot of picturesque scenes.

  10. Thank you yes i was unaware of the facinating origins of the passion play my job in munich was removals in 1973/4 was removals and i delivered many beautiful large crucifixes for peoples gardens in rural bavaria lovely place it is my ambition to attend the passion play but dont think ill get there now !

  11. I’ve always heard of Oberammergau. It sounds quite amazing.

    Wonderful to have you at Oh the PLACES I’ve been.

    – The Tablescaper

  12. I’ve known of the Passion Play in Oberammergau, but really nothing else about the town. What a charming place. I also don’t recall hearing the background of why the play is held there. Interesting!

  13. i think we stayed at the hotel you have pictured above. Oberamergau certainly is unique for its murals. it was probably the quaintest town i’d been to in bavaria…until I got to Mittenwald just a little further south!

  14. I am planning to visit this place next summer as my sister lives nearby. The whole
    are is so cozy and charming and locals are extremely hospitable. Have you tried German sausage yet?

  15. Those painted houses are so charming. I love the way that even the windows have decorations painted around their frames. If I ever head to this town, I’ll have to leave some empty space in my luggage for some of the wood carvings. I’ve always wanted one of those things with the propeller fan on top. But I suppose that the wooden owl would be much too big to bring home.

  16. I visited in 2018 and fell in love with the town. Went back in 2019 and stayed a couple of days. The town people were so friendly, I would love to go back for the passion play. They didn’t hold it in 2020, because of COVID but it is scheduled for 2022.

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