Oberammergau 2022 Passion Play

The Oberammergau Passion Play, it’s one of the biggest theatrical extravaganzas this decade, and the good news is, we’ve got a collection of holidays which feature top tier tickets to the Passion Play! Each tour visits different destinations, letting you pair your Oberammergau experience with a visit to a classic European nation. Discover our fantastic range below

BEST SEATS
Category 1 or 2 seats included, which are the best positioned seats in the auditorium

RAIL OR CRUISE
We have Passion Play tours with both rail and river cruise options to choose from

TOUR MANAGER
On every tour you have a professional and dedicated Tour Manager

Discover the spectacular, once-in-a-decade theatrical sensation that is the Oberammergau Passion Play with Rail Discoveries. We have an exciting range of holidays to some truly stunning destinations, each culminating with a performance of the iconic Passion Play – with top tier tickets guaranteeing you the best seats in the house! Join us in 2020 and witness this unique event for yourself.

Oberammergau by Rail

Oberammergau Village

Once every ten years, an unassuming village in the heart of the Bavarian Alps holds an event that draws eager crowds from across the world.

Oberammergau is now synonymous with its famous decennial passion play. Telling the story of the life and death of Jesus Christ, it's a wonderful community achievement that sees a cast of more than 2,000 local actors, musicians and technical crew come together for each sell out performance from May through to October. It takes two years to prepare for such a huge event, held in the town's specially constructed 4,700 seat, outside auditorium, and the scale of the project is quite something to behold. Backstage there are 16 wardrobe rooms housing over 1,000 costumes as well as a myriad of props, many of which date back centuries.

The history

During the Thirty Years War, Oberammergau was afflicted by the 'Black Death', along with much of Europe. As the town's population dwindled, the local government vowed that they would perform the 'Play of the Suffering, Death and Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ' every ten years if God was to spare them from the plague ravaging the region. The death rate slowed to a halt and the following year, the townsfolk performed the first Passion Play on a stage erected above the graves of their countrymen who had been claimed by the deadly disease. The Oberammergau villagers believed that they had witnessed a miracle, and have held up their end of the pledge ever since, performing the Passion Play 41 times so far with 2020 marking the 42nd time these experienced performers will take to the stage.

Oberammergau in 2022

Oberammergau isn't the world's most famous Passion Play for nothing, and every ten years more than 500,000 visitors descend on this picturesque Bavarian village, the majority coming from abroad for a taste of one of the most renowned cultural events in history. 2020 looks to be no different, and preparations are already well under way to make sure plans for the upcoming extravaganza go off without a hitch.

In 2015 the Oberammergau Council appointed a production team who will oversee all the administrative, creative and technical aspects of the show - everything from casting to marketing and admission prices. Things start to ramp up in 2019 with parts being allocated to the actors who, from Ash Wednesday onwards, will not be allowed to cut their hair and for the men, shave their beards, until November 2020, thereby adding that extra touch of historical authenticity.

The Passion Play

Soon the curtain will rise on over 2,000 participants who'll bring the story of Jesus of Nazareth to life over the course of a five-hour performance on the imposing open-air stage. The play covers the period of time from Jesus entering Jerusalem, and continues up to his death on the cross and subsequent resurrection. The new production, under the direction of Christian Stückl and his artistic team including stage designer Stefan Hageneier and musical Markus Zwink, reflects this tremendous community achievement.

For ten months the villagers will rehearse the newly revised script, which has been adapted from the Joseph Alois Daisenberger text written between 1860 and 1870, whilst the orchestra and singers study the exceptional music created for the performance by the composer Rochus Dedler in 1820. A three-hour interval provides plenty of time to enjoy a meal served in a local restaurant before the dramatic culmination of the second half.

Oberammergau and the Castles, Mountains and Lakes of Bavaria

Taking place just one summer every decade, the Oberammergau Passion Play truly is a once in a lifetime experience.

After two years of delays, this unique spectacle is going ahead this year, and we have just a few spaces left on our Oberammergau and Bavaria rail tour. With guaranteed Tier 1 and Tier 2 tickets available, you’ll have the best seats in the house, as well as plenty of time to explore Bavaria’s fairytale castles and brooding forests.

Oberammergau Coach Breaks - Oberammergau Escorted Tours