Oberammergau Passion Play
The Oberammergau Passion Play theater. Photo © Galen Frysinger.
Side view of the theater. Photo © Galen Frysinger.
The stage during a 2000 performance. Photo licensed under GFDL.
Actors playing Christ and John the Baptist in 1900. Public domain.
Actor playing King David in another historical performance.
Location map and aerial view of Oberammergau Passion Play. For a larger interactive view, see our Oberammergau Map.
The Oberammergau Passion Play is the oldest festival in Germany and the most famous passion play that is still performed today. Especially popular in the late Middle Ages and Renaissance, passion plays reenact the suffering and Crucifixion of Christ as a form of devotion.
Oberammergau, a picturesque village in the Bavarian Alps, has faithfully performed its passion play every ten years since 1634 in fulfillment of a vow. The next performance begins on May 15, 2010.
History
The Oberammergau Passion Play was first performed in 1634. According to tradition, a traveling villager unknowingly brought the Black Death home with him, causing a local epidemic that killed nearly 100 people of Oberammergau.
The terrified survivors begged God to spare their town from further deaths, vowing to perform a passion play in their village every 10 years. The plague disappeared with no further deaths and the villagers of Oberammergau have faithfully kept their vow to the present day.
The Oberammergau Passion Play has been performed virtually every decade since 1634, with the only known exceptions being in 1870 during the Franco-Prussian War and during World War II, when religious plays were banned. The performances were shifted to every year ending in zero in 1700, so performance dates in the early 21st century include the years 2000, 2010, and 2020.
Offering all inclusive superior quality packages for the Passion Play in Oberammergau 2010. Celebrating our 25th Jubilee in 2010!
What to See
In keeping with centuries-old tradition, Obergammergau's passion play is an authentically local production. It is performed entirely by amateur actors who have been residents of Oberammergau for at least 20 years and are of good moral standing in the community. The actors begin growing their long hair and beards (no wigs allowed!) beginning on Ash Wednesday the previous year. The costumes are made locally by residents and the production includes live animals.
In 2010, performances will be held daily from May 15 to October 3. Each play is divided into two parts, the first at 2:30-5pm and the second at 8-10:30pm. Outside performance dates, visitors to Oberammergau can view the Passion Play Theater on a guided tour.
Quick Facts
Site Information |
| Names: | Oberammergau Passion Play; Oberammergauer Passionsspiele |
| Location: | Oberammergau, Bavaria, Germany |
| Category: | Festivals |
| Faith: | Christianity |
| Denomination: | Catholic |
| Status: | active |
Visitor Information |
| Coordinates: | 47.599935° N, 11.061494° E (view on Google Maps) |
| Address: | Theaterstrasse 16 D-82487 Oberammergau, Germany |
| Phone: | +49 8822 923 10 |
| Website: | www.passionplay-oberammergau.com |
| E-mail: | info@passionsspiele2010.de |
| Hours: | 2010: May 15 - Oct 3: daily 2:30-5pm and 8-10:30pm |
Travel Resources for Oberammergau
- Oberammergau Map - our detailed interactive map of Oberammergau, plus hand-picked links to more
- Getting to Oberammergau - directions by train, car and bus, plus location map and links
- Oberammergau Hotels - check availability, maps, photos and reviews, then book at the guaranteed lowest rate
- Oberammergau Travel Forum - tips, answers and advice on Oberammergau tourism
Article Sources
Article written by Holly Hayes with reference to the following sources:
- Personal visit (October 2000).
- Passion Play Oberammergau - official website of performances
- Passionstheater Oberammergau - official website of theater
- "Oberammergau." Encyclopædia Britannica Online (2009).
- Oberammergau Passion Play 2010 - Reformation Tours
Article last updated: 10/21/2009.
