Friday, January 02, 2009
A European adventure: Remembering a vow made to God
In 1634, the Black Death decimated Europe’s population. In the small village of Oberammergau, as the plague began taking lives, the villagers joined together and made a vow to God. They offered to perform a play every ten years depicting the life and death of Jesus if their village would be spared. The death rate subsided and the villagers knew God heard their plea and honored their vow.
The first Passion Play of Oberammergau was performed in 1634. It is now performed over the last five months of every year ending in zero, and will be performed again in 2010.
The Oberammergau Passion Play involves over 2,000 people, all of whom are residents of the village. Rehearsals begin at least one year before the event. The Passion Play Theater has an open-air stage framed by magnificent alpine scenery. The covered auditorium has almost 5,000 seats.
The play portrays the Passion of Christ, from the entry into Jerusalem to the Resurrection. Performances run over seven hours and are held in the afternoon and evening and include a dinner break in between.
Oberammergau is a modest, humble alpine village, where hotels are more like country inns, cozy and comfortable. Many tour operators do not offer rooms in Oberammergau, and most of those who do required double occupancy. In other words, if you are traveling alone you will be required to share a room for an overnight stay in Oberammergau.
In order to maximize this once in a lifetime opportunity, your viewing of the Oberammergau Passion Play should be combined with a tour of the region.
The European Reformation Tour begins in Geneva and also visits Zurich, Heidelberg, Worms, Mainz, Rhineland, Coburg, Erfurt, Wittenberg, Eisenach, Nuremberg, Rothenburg, and Augsburg with a grand finale in Oberammergau touring the town and viewing the Passion Play. This is a 12-day tour.
Catholic Germany and the Alps begin with arrival in Munich. Your group will visit Neuschwanstein, Oberammergau (two night stay here so you can experience the Passion Play and tour the town), Innsbruck, Liechtenstein, Einsiedeln, Lucerne, Karlsruhe, Trier, Aachen, Cologne, Rudesheim, and Frankfurt This is a ten- day tour.
Grand Catholic Italy is a 14-day tour beginning in Rome, and touring Montecassino, San Giovanni Rotondo, Monte Sant’ Angelo, Lanciano, Loreto, Assisi, Siena, Florence, Padua, Venice, Innsbruck, and the grand finale, Oberammergau.
Of course you may also enjoy Oberammergau as part of a secular tour, such as the 14-day Enchanting Europe, or 13-day Imperial Splendors. Munich, Salzburg and Vienna include Oberammergau in the 11-day tour, and The Best of Austria includes it in the 16-day tour. Oberammergau is included in an 11 day German Highlight tour and a 16 day Alpine Countries Tour. The 13-day European Charm Tour begins in Amsterdam, ends in Paris, and includes Oberammergau.
With so many ways incredible to experience the once-every-decade Oberammergau Passion Play, you need to begin your research now and book early. 2010 will be a great year to add the Oberammergau Passion Play to your life story.
The first Passion Play of Oberammergau was performed in 1634. It is now performed over the last five months of every year ending in zero, and will be performed again in 2010.
The Oberammergau Passion Play involves over 2,000 people, all of whom are residents of the village. Rehearsals begin at least one year before the event. The Passion Play Theater has an open-air stage framed by magnificent alpine scenery. The covered auditorium has almost 5,000 seats.
The play portrays the Passion of Christ, from the entry into Jerusalem to the Resurrection. Performances run over seven hours and are held in the afternoon and evening and include a dinner break in between.
Oberammergau is a modest, humble alpine village, where hotels are more like country inns, cozy and comfortable. Many tour operators do not offer rooms in Oberammergau, and most of those who do required double occupancy. In other words, if you are traveling alone you will be required to share a room for an overnight stay in Oberammergau.
In order to maximize this once in a lifetime opportunity, your viewing of the Oberammergau Passion Play should be combined with a tour of the region.
The European Reformation Tour begins in Geneva and also visits Zurich, Heidelberg, Worms, Mainz, Rhineland, Coburg, Erfurt, Wittenberg, Eisenach, Nuremberg, Rothenburg, and Augsburg with a grand finale in Oberammergau touring the town and viewing the Passion Play. This is a 12-day tour.
Catholic Germany and the Alps begin with arrival in Munich. Your group will visit Neuschwanstein, Oberammergau (two night stay here so you can experience the Passion Play and tour the town), Innsbruck, Liechtenstein, Einsiedeln, Lucerne, Karlsruhe, Trier, Aachen, Cologne, Rudesheim, and Frankfurt This is a ten- day tour.
Grand Catholic Italy is a 14-day tour beginning in Rome, and touring Montecassino, San Giovanni Rotondo, Monte Sant’ Angelo, Lanciano, Loreto, Assisi, Siena, Florence, Padua, Venice, Innsbruck, and the grand finale, Oberammergau.
Of course you may also enjoy Oberammergau as part of a secular tour, such as the 14-day Enchanting Europe, or 13-day Imperial Splendors. Munich, Salzburg and Vienna include Oberammergau in the 11-day tour, and The Best of Austria includes it in the 16-day tour. Oberammergau is included in an 11 day German Highlight tour and a 16 day Alpine Countries Tour. The 13-day European Charm Tour begins in Amsterdam, ends in Paris, and includes Oberammergau.
With so many ways incredible to experience the once-every-decade Oberammergau Passion Play, you need to begin your research now and book early. 2010 will be a great year to add the Oberammergau Passion Play to your life story.
