Frederic Mayet, me and Christian Stuckl at the U.S. press tour event when it came through Dallas on April 4, 2019. Frederic will be one of the cast members who portrays Jesus in the 2022 Oberammergau Passion Play. He played the role in the 2010 as well. Christian will direct the play for the 4th time in 2022.
The year 2022 (originally scheduled for 2020) will mark the 42nd time the Passion Play has been held in the small Bavarian village of Oberammergau. Since my Mother was from Oberammergau, how to attend this historic event is one of the most asked questions I get. I thought I would detail my own experience as well as what you need to do NOW to get there! Let’s dive into the best way to attend the 2022 Oberammergau Passion Play. Advance sales for the play begin October 5, 2020.
If you are new around here, I am half German. My Mother and Father met while my dad was stationed in the Army in Germany. While mostly being raised in the United States (I’m a U.S. citizen because I was born here), we did live in Oberammergau for four years during my childhood. In fact, I attended the second – fifth grade in the Oberammergau Elementary School (not the NATO School) which forced a German language immersion. I have written several blog posts about this quaint little town and you can read them here and here. Living in this beautiful small town are some of my favorite childhood memories!
I have personally seen the Oberammergau Passion Play in 1990 and 2000. Hear me loud and clear – this will be the most moving performance you will ever attend! Realize that all the actors are not professional thespians, instead they are the citizens of Oberammergau fulfilling an oath made to God made in 1633. The town was spared from the black plague when it was widespread throughout the area and the villagers vowed to hold a passion tragedy play once every ten years to never forget how God helped protect them. The play is performed in German but given the subject matter, it is easy to follow along. The men start growing their hair and beards one year before the play begins.
I’m excited to return to see the 2022 Oberammergau Passion Play, visit my German relatives and explore the area. I’m attending the Opening Night performance on May 14, 2022. Below are some helpful hints to planning your trip.
2022 Oberammergau Passion Play Details
WHAT: The Oberammergau Passion Play is a passion play performed since 1633 as a tradition by the inhabitants of the village of Oberammergau, Bavaria, Germany. It was written by Othmar Weis, J A Daisenberger, Otto Huber, Christian Stuckl, Rochus Dedler, Eugen Papst, Marcus Zwink, Ingrid H Shafer, and the inhabitants of Oberammergau, with music by Dedler. Since its first production, it has been performed on open-air stages in the village. The text of the play is a composite of four distinct manuscripts dating from the 15th and 16th centuries. The play is a staging of Jesus’ passion, covering the short final period of his life from his entrance to Jerusalem (Palm Sunday) and leading to his execution by crucifixion, burial and rising.
WHEN: May 14 – October 2, 2022. The play DOES NOT run on Monday and Wednesday. On show days, the play has the following performance times. The 3 hour intermission is designed for meal time, shopping and exploring of the small town. There are 103 performances.
May 14th to August 14th:
Part I 2.30 pm – 5.00 pm
Part II 8.00 pm – 10.30 pm
August 15th to October 2nd:
Part I 1.30 pm – 4:00 pm
Part II 7.00 pm – 9.30 pm
WHERE: The Passion Play theater in Oberammergau, Germany. The town is located in southern Bavaria near the Austrian border. The play is performed in the Passion Play Theater.
HOW: The best way to book the Passion Play and Oberammergau travel experience is with an authorized travel/tour operator. They are the experts at packaging the play with travel. Click here to get started. Most people book a 2-day or 3-day package. This is the easiest way to guarantee seeing the Passion Play and having accommodations nearby. Typically, they also arrange your meal during the 3-hour break between Act 1 and Act 2. Tickets go on sale on October 5, 2020.
WHO: Director Christian Stuckl will again direct the 42nd installment of the Passion Play. This will be his 4th time to direct, previously helming the plays in 1990, 2000 and 2010. All major roles for the play are double cast and the cast list can be viewed here. The entire history of the play can be seen here. For more information about the directing team, orchestra and choir click here.
I also noticed other travel agencies and tours offering 2022 Oberammergau Passion Play packages. Check out how Viking Tours is incorporating it into several tours they already offer (they will announce the itinerary as the date gets closer). You might remember that Pete and I did the Budapest, Hungary – Nuremberg, Germany on the Danube River with Viking Cruises. Click here to read more about that experience. Whatever you do, I highly recommend using a travel agent for this trip. Since Oberammergau is a small village of 5,000 inhabitants, making your own arrangements can be a bit daunting.
The closest airport is Munich, Germany. If you take the time to visit Oberammergau, I highly suggest spending some time exploring Germany. Perhaps take the romantic road up and visit Schloss Neuschwanstein, Rothenburg, Wurzburg and Augsburg. Or head south and explore Austria and Switzerland. There is so much to do and see that you will have no trouble falling in love with this beautiful region of Germany.
I hope this blog post is helpful in planning your 2022 Oberammergau Passion Play experience. Please leave me a comment and let me know if you have ever been or plan to go next year. Let’s share some memories!
xoxo – Tanya
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This blog post was updated to reflect to the Passion Play postponement from 2020 to 2022 due to Covid-19.
Tags: Germany, Oberammergau
Oh my — what a wonderful trip. Please take me with you!
Ha!
Listen, I can barely get myself there.
xoxo- Tanya
Hi,
Our tickets are bought. Hubby and I are bringing a friend whom we travel well with.
Our plan is a 3 week self guided tour. Round trip from DFW to Ams. Visit Amsterdam a few days, round trip to Scotland for a week and then rent a car and see Germany. My husband and I toured Germany w a car numerous times, our favorite country. The play will be the highlight but lots of fun along the way. Been planning for over a year already! Already have an air bnb for 3 nights around the play.
Safe travels!
Terry
P.s we just got back from China—- great tour through Groupon
I’m planning the same thing – an airbnb and buying the tickets myself. Do you see any downside to this? The author of this blog seems to say its not possible. Thanks.
Dawn,
Have you already secured your tickets and AirBNB? I suggest doing so fairly quickly. It’s not impossible but just harder.
The tour groups gobble up a lot of accommodations and restaurants.
xoxo- Tanya
Terry,
Your plans sound wonderful! Glad you got your tickets and AirBNB early.
Best wishes-
Tanya 🙂
Hi Tanya, thank you for this blog entry. I’m very excited; we just received our Passion Play 2020 tickets in the mail. My husband and I have both lived in Germany and are excited to take our kids to see our old houses, schools, work places, etc. We are not going through a travel agency and are making all of our arrangements ourselves.
I’m wondering if you have any suggestions for where we can eat during the three hour break of the Passion Play. The tours have meals included, but like I said, we are doing this ourselves. I emailed one restaurant, but they declined my reservation request without a reason. Any advice?
Thank you!
Shelley
Hi Shelley-
I’m so excited for you. I would with the local Oberammergau website or the Passion Play website for suggestions.
The restaurants have buy-outs from all the tour packages so that might prove to be a bit hard…
xoxo- Tanya
Just purchased the tix last week for May performance. There’s still some good seats!! Also, BA is having a good deal on business seats….so we’re flying into London (for post Christmas shopping!)
Husband doesn’t like to do tour packages, so our only “package” is the B&B stay/Pageant. We’ve been to Munich before so wouldn’t be spending a lot of time there, so we’re thinking of the event historically chronologically by going to the Holy Land first then flying into Munich to Oberammergau
Can I ask where you bought your tickets, independent of the Tours? I will be in Germany the forst week of June, already, and am looking for independent ticket outlets? Thanks.
Hi Patrick!
You can get your tickets directly from the Passion Play Oberammergau website.
https://www.passionsspiele-oberammergau.de/en/home
I hope that helps!
xoxo- Tanya
Hi Tanya,
Do you know if there are any seats in the theater that have an obstructed view or have an opinion on seats to avoid?
Thanks!
Sara
Hi Sara,
I’m not sure about that. In general, I try to buy the best seats/section in the theater. The Passion Play is only performed every 10 years and you never know if you will be back to Oberammergau…
xoxo- Tanya
I cannot find a hotel in Oberammergau proper but have found one a couple of miles away. Since we will not have a car, do you know if there will be taxi’s in the area to provide transportation?
Hi Angela,
I’m sure there will be. Oberammergau and the surrounding areas are prepared for this. Also, contact the hotel that you booked. They should be able to answer this question for you.
xoxo- Tanya
what about the seating? are they comforable.
Bob,
Great question. I haven’t attended since the 2000 play. But you can go to this website to see the theater. It might shed some light on the seats.
https://www.passionsspiele-oberammergau.de/en/home
I don’t remember anything about the seats other than it’s like sitting in a theater.
xoxo- Tanya
Be aware, that the play takes about 5 ½ hours. With a break.
The seats are standard wooden seats with thin seat pads. It’s a good idea to bring along some more thin cushions. Maybe your hotel, travel agency or B&B provides for some.
Tanya,
Thank you for this article. I have booked tickets with Mayflower tours for the May 2020 performance.
Do you have any comments on the types of foods for dinner that this tour group may book ?
Thanks,
Donna Cecil
I must add a small correction. The play was performed since 1634. The oath to perfom was sworn 1633.