Oberammergau
The Passion Play and its History
Nestled among the craggy peaks and rolling meadows of the Bavarian Alps, the picturesque village of Oberammergau – with a population of around 5,000 – has been known for its exquisite woodcarving tradition for more than 500 years. But a tradition of another kind has made this little alpine hamlet famous the world over.
In the 17th century, the black plague ravaged Europe, killing one third of its population. By the 1630s, the village of Oberammergau had lost over 20% of its population to the plague. The villagers prayed to be spared, vowing that every decade they would present a play depicting the passion of Jesus Christ. Not another villager was lost to the epidemic. So, generation after generation of villagers have kept the vow since 1634, coming together every 10 years to create a unique and moving performance event that travelers come all over the world to see. The story unravels before your eyes, from His triumphal entry into Jerusalem to his resurrection.
The roles have been passed on from father to son, mother to daughter, strictly adhering to the traditions of the forefathers. This is truly an event to behold.
Today’s Passionsspiele – based largely on text and music created in the early 19th century – employs enacted scenes portraying the life and Passion of Jesus (spoken in High German), orchestral and choral music, motionless actors in tableaux vivants of Old Testament stories, and modern theatrical technology to create a spectacular performance event that is second to none in its power and scope. The 2010 Passionsspiele will be held in a theater that seats 4,700 and will involve some 2,100 actors, singers, musicians and technicians. And every one is a village resident; only those born in Oberammergau or who have lived there for more than 20 years are eligible to participate.
The 2010 plays will be held between May 16 and October 30, on Sundays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays.
Featured suppliers hosting tours featuring Oberammergau and its passion play in 2010 are:
Tauck World Discovery
Tour name: Bavaria, the Dolomites, and Venice (8 days)
Itinerary includes: Munich; Oberammergau; Innsbruck; the Dolomites (Italian Alps); Lake Garda; Venice
Departure dates: May 21, 28; June 4, 11, 18; Jul 2, 9, 23, 30; August 6, 13, 20, 27; September 3, 10, 24
Tour name: Romantic Germany (14 days)
Itinerary includes: Frankfurt; RhineRiver day cruise; Heidelberg; Baden-Baden; Lake Constance; Oberammergau; Munich; Weimar; Dresden; Potsdam; Berlin
Departure dates: May 15, 22, 29; June 5, 12, 19, 26; July 3, 10, 24; August 7, 14, 21, 28; September 4, 11, 18, 25
Tour name: Alpine Interlude (12 days)
Itinerary includes:Zurich; Berne; Interlaken; Liechtenstein; Bavaria; Oberammergau; Innsbruck; the Dolomites; Salzburg; Vienna
Departure dates: May 23, 30; June 6, 13, 20, 27; July 4, 18, 25; August 1, 8, 22, 29; September 5, 12, 19, 26
Tour name: Munich/Oberammergau Passion Play Extension (makes a perfect add-on to any other Tauck tour)!
Itinerary includes: 2 nights Munich, 1 night Oberammergau featuring the Passion Play.
Princess Cruise Lines
Cruisetour name: Oberammergau and Highlights of Germany (18 days total; 8-day land portion)
Itinerary includes: Frankfurt; the Black Forest; Oberammergau; Munich; Nuremberg; Berlin.
In conjunction with: Scandinavia/Russia cruise, aboard the Star Princess (10 days)
*2 different cruise itineraries/dates available:
Option #1: Copenhagen; Stockholm; Helsinki; St. Petersburg, Russia; Tallinn, Estonia; Gdansk, Poland; Berlin; Helsingborg, Sweden; return to Copenhagen. Departs 8/2/10.
Option #2: Copenhagen; Stockholm; Helsinki; St. Petersburg, Russia; Tallinn, Estonia; Gdansk, Poland; Oslo; return to Copenhagen. Departs 8/12/2010.
Regina Catholic Tours
Tour name: Catholic Germany (7 days)
Itinerary includes: Munich; Freising; Alotting; Marktl; Neuotting; Prien; Oberammergau.
*Note: This tour departs from New York.
Tour name: Italian Renaissance
Itinerary includes: Rome (4 nights); Florence; Padua; Venice; Bolzano; Innsbruck; Oberammergau (2 nights); Neuschwanstein castle; Lugano; Milan.
Tour name: Bible Lands
Itinerary includes: Tiberias (3 nights), Jerusalem (3 nights) and Bethlehem; flight to Munich/transfer to Oberammergau (2 nights).
Steps of Paul
Tour Name: Oberammergau 2010
Itinerary includes: Munich or Zurich (depending on U.S. departure city); Innsbruck; Salzburg; the Passion Play; Italy and the Brenner Pass; Neuschwanstein castle (optional).
Departure dates: 5/21/2010; 6/1/2010; 6/8/2010; 9/21/2010.
Add-ons:
- Pre-tour: Italy, including Rome; Florence; Venice (6 nights).
- Pre- or post- tour: Germany/Reformation tour (7 nights).
