PASSION PLAY 2022 The Definitive Travel Guide - The most famous religious drama in the world, a once-in-a-decade event, will draw the faithful to ...
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PASSION
PLAY 2022
The Definitive Travel Guide
The most famous religious drama in the world, a once-in-a-decade
event, will draw the faithful to a picture-perfect Bavarian village
that honors a commitment townspeople made centuries ago
Content
Why You Should Go............................................ 4
Oberammergau - What to Expect.....................5
Booking Early Is Critical.....................................6
Essential Travel Tips for Germany...................10
Oberammergau, The Town.............................. 12
Nearby Attractions in Germany......................14
Destinations Beyond Germany........................ 16
Randy Mink, Managing Editor
Don Heimburger, Contributing Author
Jeffrey Gayduk, Publisher
Email: Jeff@ptmgroups.com
Phone: 630-794-0696
Lance Harrell, Senior Project Manager
LeisureGroupTravel.com
The Oberammergau
Passion Play,
one of Europe’s greatest
pageants and tourism
draws, is held every 10
years in the German
town of Oberammergau.
Recounting Jesus Christ’s
final days on Earth, the
dramatic spectacle will
be performed 103 times
between mid-May and
Why You Should Go
early October of 2022.
T
his whitepaper is aimed at faith-based organizations
that would like to incorporate the Passion Play into
their spiritual programs for 2022. Besides pro-
viding information about the play itself, booking details
and other attractions in Oberammergau, the following
pages offer additional ideas that will help planners craft
an itinerary. Included, for example, are facts on nearby
attractions in southern Germany and general tips on travel
to Germany, plus brief descriptions of cities in surrounding
countries that typically are included in an Oberammergau-
inspired trip.
The Oberammergau Passion Play is always a bestseller, so
early planning is essential. After being delayed two years due
to COVID, now is the time to act and ensure your groups a
spot in the theater.
3
PASSION PLAY 2022 – The Definitive Travel Guide
Oberammergau - What to Expect
T he excitement mounts as you The play lasts approximately
near the Ammergau Alps five hours and is divided into
and the picture-perfect Bavarian two parts by a three-hour break
music. The colorful costumes
are rich, well-made and realistic
to Biblical times. Most fabrics
village where the play has been for eating, relaxing or exploring for the costumes are purchased
taking place every 10 years since the village. From May 16 to Au- in India because of the vivid
1634. There will be 103 perfor- gust 16, Part I is 2:30-5 p.m., with colors and elaborate designs
mances of the play in 2022, with Part II running from 8-10:30 available there. Costumes are
major roles double-cast. What p.m. It starts an hour earlier be- made right at the theater, are
is truly unbelievable is that tween August 7 and October 4, stored there and can be seen as
the Passion Play is a local pro- when days are shorter. The 2019 part of a guided tour offered in
duction, performed entirely by play was divided into 11 acts. German and English on certain
amateur actors who have been days of the week.
“
residents of the village
for 20 years or more. Actors begin growing
When the play gets close every their beards and mus-
When you enter Oberam- 10 years, we get excited and taches beginning on
mergau, right away you’ll can’t wait for the play to begin,” Ash Wednesday the
notice the hustle and previous year, the cos-
says Oberammergau Mayor
bustle surrounding the “ tumes are made locally
village, which prepares Arno Nunn. “Everyone—the by residents, and the
diligently for the influx actors and the townspeople— production includes live
of thousands of daily vis- hope the play will be a success. animals such as donkeys,
itors. As you step off the sheep and doves. About
tour bus, you’ll be hand- 2,200 of the town’s 5,500
ed a ticket that will have your Ample restrooms are located on residents will have some part
section and seat numbers. the auditorium grounds, and in the play you’re about to wit-
there’s a staff of 80 medical per- ness, either on stage or behind
The 4,500-seat Passion Play sonnel and other first respond- the scenes, and about 450 of
Theater, the largest of its kind ers. Stern Apotheke, a pharmacy, them will be children. There are
in the world, has an open-air is a block from the theater should 20 main roles in the play, plus
stage that holds hundreds of you need it. The Tourist Infor- another 120 speaking roles as
people at a time and a roof that mation Center is close by on well as an orchestra, singers and
shelters the audience. Seats are Eugen-Papst-Strasse, and the other actors who are part of the
set on an incline, so everyone Passion Play Information Center crowd scenes.
has a good view. is located on Dorfstrasse.
After the play is over, you will
At the door you’ll be handed The pageantry of the play itself have been one of the lucky ones
a complete play booklet in is stunning, with many scenes who witnessed this ambitious
English; booklets in Spanish, from the Bible portrayed with and rare production, presented
Italian and French will likely special lighting effects and only once every 10 years.
be available as well.
4
PASSION PLAY 2022 – The Definitive Travel Guide
Booking
Early Is
Critical
E xcitement for the Passion
Play is building and as
one of the biggest items on the
European travel calendar,
demand for tickets is high,
with some dates are already
sold out. The season of 103
performances runs from May
14 to October 2, 2022.
For this once-in-a-lifetime, bucket-list event, it’s obvious that church group leaders, travel agents
and other group travel organizers should book their Oberammergau tours sooner than later.
Tumlare Destination Management, a worldwide company with an office in Waltham, Massachusetts,
is the sole officially authorized general sales agent for Passion Play 2022 in North and South America, the
Philippines and Japan. It arranges ticket-hotel packages for groups of 10 to 1,000; anything over 1,000
for a single group goes directly through the Passion Play office in Oberammergau.
“As time ticks off, space is getting harder and harder to get,” said Darin Minghella. Tumlare’s U.S.
director of sales. May and September dates are selling quickly, a reflection of the fact that demand for
spring and fall is heavier than summer because many of the playgoers are seniors, a group that tends
to travel off-season. Category 1 tickets, the best seats, are limited, so Tumlare is now selling mostly
Category 2. (There are six categories in the 4,500-seat theater, a perfect venue for the play as there are
no bad seats.) Groups do not have a ticket-only option—they must book a hotel with play admission.
The Passion Play is expected to draw 450,000 visitors in 2022, and nearly half the village of 5,500
(including about 450 children) takes part. Only Oberammergau natives or residents who have lived
in the village for at least 20 years can be part of the amateur cast of 2,000-plus, whether as actors,
singers or musicians. Lead actors prepare for their roles with a September 2019 trip to Israel
5
PASSION PLAY 2022 – The Definitive Travel Guide
accompanied by theologians. Rehearsals for
the play’s 42nd installment begin in November
2019. While it’s an entirely local production,
the level of staging, music and costuming
would meet professional standards anywhere.
In the recent past, more than 50 percent of
playgoers have been from English-speaking
countries. The drama is performed in
German, but an English text is provided.
However, the sheer power and pathos of the
story of Christ’s last days on earth—from
the entry into Jerusalem to the Last Supper,
Crucifixion and Resurrection—transcend any
language barrier.
6
PASSION PLAY 2022 – The Definitive Travel Guide
The townsfolks’ commitment The town of Oberammergau, in Germany and nearby coun-
dates back to 1633, when they a star in its own right, “over- tries like Switzerland, Austria
vowed that if God would spare whelms visitors with cute- and Italy. Some operators
them any more deaths from ness,” writes guidebook author build Oberammergau around a
the plague that had ravaged Rick Steves, who calls it “the Danube cruise.
the community, they would Shirley Temple of Bavarian
Two-night packages that tour
perform a passion play every villages.” Tourists snap away
planners book through Tum-
10 years. Their prayers were at half-timbered houses dec-
lare include play ticket, hotel
answered, and the first play orated with biblical scenes,
accommodations in Oberam-
was presented the next year. vignettes of Bavarian life, and
mergau or a nearby town, a
It shifted to decennial years in Grimm fairy tales like Han-
breakfast, two dinners, shuttle
1700 and has been performed sel and Gretel and Little Red
bus to and from the play, pro-
according to schedule, with Riding Hood. You’ll see locals
gram book and local tourism
the exceptions of 1870 during dressed in dirndls, lederhosen
tax. One-night packages also
the Franco-Prussian War and and Alpine hats.
are available. In addition,
during World War II, when
While the Passion Play is the Tumlare can arrange tours in
religious plays were banned by
chief selling point of the one to Germany and other countries
the government. The play was
two-week itineraries wrapped before and after the big event.
staged in the cemetery over
around it, Oberammergau is
plague victims’ graves until 1820,
just one stop on an overall tour
and in 1830 a stage was erected
that visits many other places
on the site of today’s theater.
7
PASSION PLAY 2022 – The Definitive Travel Guide
Group planners booking with Tumlare
should be aware that a 10 percent
non-refundable deposit is due at
time of booking, and an additional
15 percent non-refundable deposit will
be required. (For Oberammergau
inquiries, call 978-579-0020, ext. 24,
or use the dedicated email address
passionplay@tumlare.com. The website
is www.tumlare.com).
Promising to be a highlight on the 2022
travel calendar, this big-time passion
play in little Oberammergau will have
no trouble filling seats. Groups wishing
to witness the momentous event should
start making their plans for Europe
as soon as possible. Or risk settling
for 2030.
8
PASSION PLAY 2022 – The Definitive Travel Guide
Essential Travel
Tips for Germany
A ir travel: Munich is the closest major
airport to Oberammergau. The 62-mile
drive between the Munich Airport and
Oberammergau takes about 1½ hours; by
train it’s about 2½ hours, with transfer in
Murnau. From Zurich Airport, the drive to
Oberammergau is 3 hours and 15 minutes.
With seven hours difference between the
U.S. and Germany, expect your body to signal
different eating and sleeping patterns for a
while until it adjusts. On your return, you’ll
likely also feel some jet lag for a few days.
Public transportation: Germany’s trains,
buses and trams are unusually prompt. If a
train is scheduled to leave at 5 p.m., it’s best
to be on the platform a few minutes early.
Hotels: In 2022, hotels and bed-and-break-
fast accommodations for Passion Play-goers
will fill early, so it’s wise to book as soon as
possible. In this part of Bavaria, smaller
hotels, youth hostels and pensions are the
norm, and they are spread out. A tour oper-
ator can arrange flights, land transportation
and accommodations, plus meals, sightsee-
ing and tickets to the Passion Play itself. In
fact, it may be difficult to obtain Passion Play
tickets and rooms if you aren’t part of a group.
Medical concerns: If you have special
What to pack: Bring a variety of clothing
medical needs or favorite brands of
that can be worn in dry or wet, and warm or
medicines, be sure to pack those with
cool weather. Oberammergau is located in
you, as they might not be available
the mountains; you can shed clothing or add
overseas.
layers as temperatures warm up or cool down
Check with your medical insurer to make during the day. A travel umbrella is always
sure your policy applies to overseas, a good idea.
especially if an emergency arises. You
Good walking shoes are a must—there are
may want to temporarily expand your
lots of cobblestone streets in Europe, and
medical coverage.
even large city sidewalks can be uneven.
9
PASSION PLAY 2022 – The Definitive Travel Guide
A money belt worn under clothing—con-
taining cash, credit cards, passport and any
important papers—is wise. Bring along sev-
eral copies of your passport and put them
in different places in your luggage and
purse; you might even put a copy of it on
your smartphone.
Travelers from North America will need
an electrical outlet adapter to use devices
in Europe and a power converter to operate
such appliances as a shaver or hair dryer.
You can find these items online or in elec-
tronics stores; just be sure you purchase
the correct ones for the countries to which
you’re traveling.
Money matters: Check with your bank
to see if you can withdraw money from an
ATM in Germany and the fees involved.
Before arriving in Europe, you can exchange
your dollars for euros at most airports
and at some banks. Smaller businesses in
Germany often do not accept credit cards,
so having a supply of euros or access to
euros at an ATM is a good idea.
Also, call your credit card company prior to departure and let them know where you are going and
how long you will be gone.
Phone service: If you want to call or text friends or family back home, check with your phone com-
pany to learn if that’s possible with the package you currently have, or if you’ll need to add overseas
capabilities.
Language: You may want to brush up on some German words and phrases that will come in handy,
such as “Men” and “Women” when needing a washroom. “Danke” means “thank you” in German, and
“bitte” means “please”—two good words to learn. “Guten Tag” is “hello,” and “Guten Abend” is “good
evening.” Since school-age children in Germany are required to learn English, most people 30 years
old and under can speak some English, and many are quite capable of carrying on a conversation.
Read up: To make sure you get the most out of your trip, purchase a guidebook on Germany before
you leave and read up on its cities, history, culture, foods and events. If it’s lightweight, consider taking
it with you. Most guidebooks have a list of common German words and phrases.
In the end, you’re traveling to meet new people and see some amazing things, including the once-in-a
lifetime Passion Play. Travel writer Rick Steves says when traveling abroad be ready for new adven-
tures, and don’t expect things to be like they are at home. And that’s the reason we travel—to experi-
ence new places, new foods and new people. Gute Reisen! (Have a good trip.)
10
PASSION PLAY 2022 – The Definitive Travel GuideOberammergau,
The Town
O berammergau is not only the home
of the famous Passion Play, but this
town of 5,500 in the Bavarian Alps south
of Munich is also a standalone tourist
attraction.
Passion Play attendees will have time to
do some exploring around town because
there’s a three-hour intermission to eat,
take a break, shop and familiarize yourself
with the village’s highlights. You may also
explore the village and other close-by attrac-
tions before or after the play.
The town, at 2,700 feet in altitude and located
on the Ammer River, is widely known for its
frescoes, or Lüftlmalerei, with traditional
Bavarian themes such as religious scenes
and fairy tales. These colorful paintings on
various buildings add a unique flavor to this
little town.
Oberammergau is also well known for its
many wood craftsmen who carve intricate
pieces and sell them; many are of a religious
nature. Local merchants act as the outlet for
these carvings.
At the Oberammergau Museum you can
learn the history of wood carving and see
historical nativity sets, modern art and
special exhibitions.
The onion-domed Church of Saints Peter
and Paul is a local attraction that was conse-
crated in 1749 and designed by well-regarded
German architect Joseph Schmuzer. Admire
the grandeur of the interior and its ample
use of marble and gold. Striking murals, cre-
ated by the famed Matthew Guenther, depict
the Lord’s Prayer and Ave Maria. It’s worth
taking a short walk through the church cem-
etery with its interesting headstones.
11
PASSION PLAY 2022 – The Definitive Travel GuideFor alpine experiences and
great views, go to Berg
Laber, the mountain that
rises to the east of the town;
it’s a 10-minute ascent in
an enclosed gondola car. A
chairlift takes riders up Berg
Kolben, to the west of town.
The Pilatushaus, a large two-story structure, is known
The Alpine Coaster is a
as a “living workshop” with various artisans doing
favorite family activity
carvings, making pottery and producing other crafts
in town.
using traditional techniques.
Enjoying a traditional German meal is part of the fun
of visiting Oberammergau. During the play’s inter-
mission, you’ll find vendors offering light foods and
refreshments. If you’re with a group, your sit-down
meal will likely be pre-arranged. If you’re on your own,
chances are the major restaurants will not be able to
accommodate you during heavy traffic periods.
For a sweet taste treat, head to Brandmeier Bäckerei
(bakery). It is said the rolls and pastries here are
excellent because all the flour used comes from farmers
in the immediate area. The bakery also uses fresh milk
and cheese products from local farmers.
Baur Anton is a key decorative arts store with souve-
nirs, gifts, etchings, woodcarvings, madonnas, saints,
nativity scenes and ceramics. Many of the pieces are
roughed in by machine, then finished by hand.
The Schnitzschule (Woodcarving School) in town
teaches students the woodcarving craft. Some of the
students’ works are put on exhibit, others are sold.
12
PASSION PLAY 2022 – The Definitive Travel GuideNearby Attractions in Germany
W hile Oberammergau has enough Bavarian charm to keep most travelers satisfied, there are
many area attractions worth visiting.
Ettal Abbey, just outside Oberammergau, only large palace King Ludwig II lived to see
resembles a castle and was built by Emperor completed. Also near Oberammergau, visit
Ludwig of Bavaria. The associated church Neuschwanstein Castle, King Ludwig’s
was completed after 40 years of construc- fairy-tale castle nestled in the Bavarian Alps.
tion in 1370. In 1710 the abbey functioned as It’s said to have been the inspiration for Walt
a school for knights and was one of the most Disney’s Sleeping Beauty Castle.
notable schools of higher learning of its time.
Garmisch-Partenkirchen is the jumping-off
Ornate Linderhof Palace, located in the point for a visit to the Zugspitze, Germany’s
middle of a beautiful parkland a few min- highest peak at 9,700 feet. Home to three gla-
utes from Oberammergau, is a must-see. The ciers and country’s highest ski resort, it is
palace developed around a forester’s house reachable by a cogwheel train and cable car
belonging to King Ludwig’s father, Maximilian offering spectacular views. At the top, you
II. Linderhof, the eventual result of a long can put one foot in Germany and the other
period of building and rebuilding, is the in Austria.
13
PASSION PLAY 2022 – The Definitive Travel GuideMunich, the heart of Bavaria, offers visitors a its Glockenspiel and other nearby attractions.
wide variety of things to do and see. Religion For an evening of fun, slip into the Hofbrauhaus,
has played an important part in Munich’s life, the 429-year-old brewery and restaurant that
and this is reflected in the city’s churches, uses original recipes handed down by Wilhelm
chapels and cathedrals. The Frauenkirche V, the Duke of Bavaria.
is the seat of the Archbishop of Munich and
A bit farther east is Altoetting, near the border
Freising. Its twin towers are city landmarks and
of Austria, where the “Black Mother of God”
command spectacular views of Munich and the
resides in the octagon of the Chapel of Mercy.
Alps. Marienplatz is a prominent public square
It was built around the year 700, and solemn
in the heart of Munich’s Old Town. The busy
masses and candlelight processions often take
square is a magnet for visitors who gather to
place there.
admire the Gothic facade of the Town Hall and
14
PASSION PLAY 2022 – The Definitive Travel GuideDestinations Beyond Germany
I n a wider circle around Oberammergau, there are numerous places of interest to visit while in
Central Europe.
Austria
- Maria Theresien Strasse Innsbruck. Credit: Austrian National Tourist Office
Innsbruck, 1½ hours south, is the capital of the Austrian federal state of Tirol. Nestled in an
Alpine valley, it’s a favorite destination for skiing in winter and mountaineering in summer. In addi-
tion, Innsbruck appeals to spiritually-inclined travelers and architecture buffs. The city has a lavish
Baroque cathedral with an opulent interior, massive dome and high-altar painting of Mary of Succor
by Lucas Cranach the Elder. There are other historic churches, and Innsbruck is just a short bus ride
away from the Catholic shrines of Absam and Seefeld.
15
PASSION PLAY 2022 – The Definitive Travel GuideSalzburg, Austria. Credit: Austrian National Tourist Office
Salzburg, an enchanting Austrian city known for its impressive Baroque architecture, is a little
over two hours away from Oberammergau, and its center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The
Domplatz (Cathedral Square), in the heart of the Old Town, is surrounded by the Dom (Salzburg
Cathedral); the Residenz Palace, once home to the prince-archbishops of Salzburg; and St. Peter’s
Abbey, the oldest monastery in the German-speaking world. Other attractions are Hohensalzburg
Fortress, one of the largest castles in Europe; Mozart’s Birthplace; and beautiful Mirabell Palace
and Gardens.
16
PASSION PLAY 2022 – The Definitive Travel GuideGloriette in the gardens of Schönbrunn
Austrian Parliament Building, Vienna Palace in Vienna Österreich Werbung.
Credit: Austrian National Tourist Office Credit: Austrian National Tourist Office
Vienna, on the banks of the Danube, has many important and architecturally stunning build-
ings, along with a rich historical background. Baroque streetscapes and imperial palaces set the stage
for Vienna’s artistic and musical masterpieces, alongside its well-known coffeehouses with their deli-
cious Viennese cakes and pastries.
The powerful Habsburg monarchy made Vienna its home for more than six centuries. The sizable
Hofburg Palace complex incorporates the Imperial Chapel, where the Vienna Boys’ Choir sings
Sunday mass, and the famed Spanish Riding School, where Lipizzaner stallions perform. There is
also a treasure trove of museums, including the Habsburgs’ 1,441-room summer residence, Schloss
Schönbrunn; and Schloss Belvedere, the elegant palace of Prince Eugene of Savoy, with its collec-
tion of 19th and 20th century Austrian art, including Klimt. Other important Vienna sights are the
neo-Gothic Rathaus (City Hall) and the collection of monumental buildings along the magnificent
Ringstrasse, which encircles the inner city. The 12th century St. Stephen’s Cathedral is the symbol
of Vienna and one of the most important Gothic structures in Austria.
17
PASSION PLAY 2022 – The Definitive Travel GuideSwitzerland
Zurich, Old Town. Credit: Switzerland Tourism
Zurich, a little over three hours away from the Passion Play auditorium, is Switzerland’s largest
city. It was significantly influenced by religious leaders, including Ulrich Zwingli, a leader of the
Reformation in Switzerland, a movement that significantly changed civil life and state matters in
Zürich and then spread to other Swiss cantons. St. Peter’s Church, the Swiss National Museum and
the Helferei office building—all in Zürich—have something in common: they are all part of the reli-
gious heritage of Switzerland. The Old Town, near the Limmat River, is an inviting area with many
fine restaurants and shops.
18
PASSION PLAY 2022 – The Definitive Travel GuideBaroque Cathedral, St. Gallen. Credit: Switzerland Tourism
St. Gallen, Switzerland, holds much religious significance with its abbey and monuments
from the Middle Ages. The Abbey District with its magnificent Baroque Cathedral forms a
unique historical ensemble, which was designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Visitors
to the abbey’s Rococo library can see 170,000 medieval books and 2,000 original manuscripts in
changing exhibitions.
19
PASSION PLAY 2022 – The Definitive Travel GuideItaly
St. Peter’s Bacilica. Credit
Farther south, Italy holds many places of religious significance, starting with the Vatican in Rome,
headquarters for the Roman Catholic Church and site of St. Peter’s Basilica and the Sistine Chapel.
The Vatican Museums house ancient Roman sculptures, contemporary art, an ethnological museum,
a lapidary gallery, the Gregorian Etruscan Museum and many other collections.
20
PASSION PLAY 2022 – The Definitive Travel GuideCopyright © 2021 by Premier Travel Media. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, mechanical or electronic, including photocopying and recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. Requests for permission or further information should be addressed to our offices at: 630-794-0696 Legal Notices While all attempts have been made to verify information provided in this publication, neither the author nor the publisher assumes any responsibility for errors, omissions or contrary interpretation of the subject matter herein. This publication is not intended for use as a source of legal or accounting advice. The Publisher wants to stress that the information contained herein may be subject to varying state and/or local law or regulations may apply to the user’s particular business. The purchaser or reader of this publication assumes responsibility for the use of these materials and information. Adherence to all applicable laws and regulations, both federal and state and local, governing professional licensing, business practices, advertising and all other aspects of doing business in the United States or any other jurisdiction is the sole responsibility of the purchaser or reader. The author and Publisher assumes no responsibility or liability whatsoever on the behalf of any purchaser or reader of these materials.
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