Oberammergau, << `oh` buhr AH muhr `gow` >> (pop. 5,150), is a Bavarian village 45 miles (72 kilometers) southwest of Munich in southern Germany. It is famous for its performances of the Passion Play, which normally take place every 10 years. This pageant, which attracts thousands of tourists, portrays the suffering and death of Jesus. Residents perform all the parts. The play was first performed in 1634 (see Passion Play ).
Oberammergau lies in a valley at the foothills of the Bavarian Alps. Bible scenes cover the outside walls of many of the village’s buildings. Some of these painted scenes date back to the 1600’s. Many people of Oberammergau produce fine wood carvings. Much of the village’s income comes from the tourist trade and the sale of carvings.
