There are more picturesque villages in Bavaria than you can count. In some of these places, you can even take the adjective “picturesque” literally, because here, colorful images on the facades of houses bear witness to days long past. Here you can stroll through the alleys and marvel at the colorful and detailed paintings, some of which have survived for around 250 years. Take a trip to the district of Garmisch-Partenkirchen and discover the home of the painter who even gave this art form its name.
A village shaped by arts and crafts
Photo: Igor Levitsky/Pixabay
The painting of house facades, as found in some villages in Upper Bavaria and Tyrol, is known as Lüftlmalerei. The term goes back to the Oberammergau artist Franz Seraph Zwinck, whosehouse was nicknamed “Zum Lüftl” because he is said to have painted even when a “Lüftl” (breeze) was blowing around his house. He worked mainly in his hometown of Oberammergau, but you can also admire his art in other places such as Mittenwald. His paintings are particularly notable for the fact that he often treated the facades as a whole, unlike his contemporary Karner, who also worked in Mittenwald.
The Lüftl paintings are applied to the houses using the fresco technique, which causes a chemical reaction between the paints and the plaster, making them particularly weather-resistant. This is why many of the paintings are still well preserved today. They often depict religious scenes, such as the Passion of Christ, but also tell of the everyday life and occupations of the house’s inhabitants. Fairy tales are also depicted pictorially. When you visit the Lüftlmalereck in Oberammergau, you will feel like you are in an open-air museum.
However, Lüftlmalerei is not the only art form for which Oberammergau is known. Wood carving has a much longer tradition, dating back to 1111, when monks brought it to the village. The residents traded in the products and later even established their own carving school, which still exists today. Here you can train to become a wood sculptor in three years.
The world-famous Oberammergau Passion Play
Photo: Alexandra Zelena/Unsplash
While you can admire the enchanting Lüftlmalerei murals at any time, the Oberammergau Passion Play only takes place once a decade. The tradition dates back to 1633, when the plague struck the village. The residents vowed to hold Passion Plays whenever they were freed from the plague. From that point on, no one in Oberammergau is said to have died of the disease.
The Oberammergau Passion Play is the most famous in the world and has undergone several adjustments over the centuries to better reflect the spirit of the times. Every ten years, you can be there when the village is completely dominated by the play. In 2010, the play took place on a total of 109 days and was attended by several hundred thousand people. The production consisted of eleven acts and lasted from 2:30 p.m. to 11 p.m., including a three-hour intermission. The next opportunity to attend the spectacle will be in 2030.
If you would like to visit Oberammergau outside of the Passion Play season, you can reach the village from Munich in about 70 minutes by car. Alternatively, take the train towards Murnau, where you can change to the RB63. In winter, the Oberammergau ski area is particularly attractive, boasting Germany’s steepest slope with a gradient of 42°. Those who prefer a less action-packed experience can stay in the village and admire the beautiful Lüftlmalerei frescoes.