Oberammergau is a town in Bavaria, Germany. The small town on the Ammer River is known for its woodcarvers and woodcarvings, for its NATO School, and across the world for its 380-year tradition of mounting Passion Plays. The Oberammergau Passion Play was first performed in 1634. According to local legend, the play is performed every ten years because of a vow made by the inhabitants of the village that if God spared them from the effects of the bubonic plague then sweeping the region, they would perform a passion play every ten years. Oberammergau is also famous for its “Lüftlmalerei,” or frescoes, of traditional Bavarian themes, fairy tales or religious scenes found on many homes and buildings.
