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 Passion Play Theatre, the Oberammergau Museum and the incredible views of the Alps are the main reasons for travelling to this Alpine paradise.

Passion Play Theatre

Every ten years, Oberammergau puts on its famous Passion Play. The roots of this date back to a vow made by the citizens of Oberammergau in 1633. After numerous inhabitants had fallen victim to the plague, the citizens vowed to stage the Passion Play regularly.

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 and the cast rehearses for ten months before staging the final production in a partially outdoor arena. The play, which lasts five hours with a three-hour intermission for dinner, is the centre 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. Book your place here.

Painted Facades

Oberammergau is also well-known for its many buildings with their wonderful tromp l'oeil images that are painted onto the 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 finest example is the Pilatus House, which in a strange way gives the viewer the illusion of what appears to be architecture on the façade of the house.

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 these, there is a large collection of nativity cribs and glass that's painted locally using a special technique called 'verre églomisé' or reverse glass painting.

The Living Workstudio and the Sculpture Route

Verre églomisé pictures are painted on glass as seen in a mirror. Visitors who have become curious about this technique in the Pilatus House can visit the Living Workstudio next door to watch painters practising this technique. In the Living Workstudio, carvers joined forces with wax modellers and verre églomisé artists 30 years ago to form a craftsmen's family which paints and carves - and answers the visitors' questions.

Linderhof Palace

A visit to Oberammergau would not be complete without a day trip to Linderhof Palace. With the Alps as a backdrop, the building, which was originally just a cottage, transforms the visitor back to a time when King Ludwig II, who was known to be quite eccentric, received guests and entertained. The castle is reachable by car or by a public bus from Oberammergau.

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 served in the beer garden. The front terrace of this delightful old building is a great place to watch the world go by, whilst part of the café has been reserved for those wishing to use the internet.

S´Wirtshaus

Just across from the Pilatus House, in the centre of Oberammergau, you find this family-run restaurant. The menu contains typical Bavarian dishes as well as lovely vegetarian choices. S'Wirtshaus, which actually means 'Tavern' in English, opens daily and offers hot food all day long.

Gasthaus zum Stern

This is the spot to go when you want to discover a really traditional place to eat. In the middle of the 16th century, the Stern was already an inn, selling beer and meals for transients on the old trading route. Enjoy a savoury cheese snack or a typical Bavarian Sausage salad (made of strips of sausage, onions, gherkins and oil and vinegar dressing) in the beer garden.