Oberammergau

Oberammergau is a small town in southern Germany in the region of Bavaria. The town is known for its Passion Play which is performed every 10 years in years ending in zero. The tradition dates back to 1633 when the town's citizens made a pact with God to perform the Passion of Jesus Christ every 10 years if the plague would pass them by. Miraculously they were spared the plague, and the tradition of this play has continued for centuries. The stage where the play takes place was specially designed to hold 800 people, and the performance involves over 2000 actors, singers, instrumentalists and technicians who all live in the town.
The town is worth visiting even when the Passion Play is not being performed. Oberammergau is also known for woodcarving, a craft that has been here since the medieval times. The town's location gives visitors a sense of a typical Bavarian Alpine village, whether it's winter or summer. Another interesting attraction is the Linderhof Castle, which was built by King Ludwig II as a hunting lodge in the 19th century.

Practical Info

Oberammergau is located 55 miles south of Munich.