The Passion Play was first performed by Oberammergau´s citizens in 1634, after the village escaped a local plague epidemic. Today the play is major cultural event involving over 2,000 Oberammergau residents as actors, singers, musicians and technicians.

The Passion Play recounts the life and crucifixion of Jesus Christ, and is performed in Oberammergau every ten years. For most people seeing the Oberammergau Passion Play is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

The Oberammergau Passion Play is the centerpiece of this summer´s tour through Bvaria, through the Austrian and Italian Alps and the spectacular Dolomite Mountains to romantic Venice! Spend a night in Munich, Bavaria´s capital, before continuing on to Oberammergau, where you´ll spend two nights near the Passion Play performance venue at the boutique Hotel Maximilian and watch the spectacular Passion Play unfold premier seats in the best category available.

You’ll also explore Austria´s famous alpine playground, Innsbruck, and attend a very special evening at a grand castle in the Italian Alps.

2010 Daily Tour Activities

Willkommen nach Manchen!
Welcome to marvelous Munich, the capital of Bavaria and one of the most enchanting cities in Germany. A transfer from Munich´s airport to your five-star hotel in the center of the city is included.

Your Oberammergau travel adventure begins in in Bavaria at the Bayerischer Hof hotel with a welcome cocktail reception where you´ll meet for dinner at a traditional Bavarian restaurant across the square from the State Opera House.

Meals: Dinner Lodging: Bayerischer Hof, Munich, Germany

Behold Bavaria
A walking tour of Munich´s Old Town reveals a fascinating history as you stroll through the bustling Marienplatz, the heart of the city where the lively marketplace buzzed with buyers and sellers and where tournaments, festivals and the occasional execution took place during the Middle Ages.

View the Altes Rathaus (The Old Town Hall),
first built in 1474 and reconstructed according to the original architect´s specifications in the 1970s. The same architect, Ja von Halsbach, guided the construction of the huge Frauenkirche (Church of our Lady).

Leaving the city center behind, travel to Schloss Nymphenburg, the palatial summer home built by Ferdinand Maria and Henriette Adelaide of Saxony, members of the ruling Wittelsbach family, in honor of the birth of their son Maximilian II Emanuel in 1664; tour the palace and the elaborate gardens.

Then, it´s on through the picturesque countryside and into the Bavarian Alps to the village of Oberammergau and the Hotel Maximilian, your stylish accommodations for the next two nights of your ultimate Oberammergau travel experience.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner Lodging: Hotel Maximilian, Oberammergau, Germany

The passions of Oberammergau
The charming Bavarian village of Obermmergau is, of course, world-famous for the Passionsspiele Passion Play, but did you know that its residents have been passionate about producing intricate and beautiful woodcarvings since the Middle Ages? Today, there are approximately 120 active wood sculptors in the village.

The house facades decorated with the traditional art form art of Lüftlmalerei, or frescoes, depicting fairytales or religious scenes enhance the town´s charm.

After a morning at leisure to explore Oberammergau on your own and lunch at your hotel, the event that you’ve come so far to see.

Beginning in the afternoon and continuing after a break for dinner, the Passion Play features dramatic
scenes of the Passion performed in High German, musical performances and Old Testament scenes.

Over 2,000 actors, musicians and technicians, all of whom must be residents of the village, are involved in staging this huge production. You´ll see it all from Tauck´s premier seats, in the best category available – a highlight of Tauck’s Oberammergau travel experience.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner Lodging: Hotel Maximilian, Oberammergau, Germany

Alpine Innsbruck and the Italian Alps
Leaving Germany behind, your Oberammergau travel experience continues through Austria´s awesome Alps to the town of Innsbruck, well known as the host city for the 1964 and 1976 Winter Olympic Games. But, there´s more to Innsbruck than just winter sports.

The town was the Imperial capital of Habsburg Emperor Maximilian I during the 15th and 16th centuries and its architecture from the period is a delight to behold.

Visit the Hofkirche, the Court Church, and see the ornate black-marble tomb prepared for Maximilian, that he never occupied, and the 24 larger-than-life statues of his ancestors, both legendary and real, surrounding it.

After lunch on your own, continue on into the Italian Alps to lovely Bolzano for a two-night stay at the Parkhotel Laurin in the historic center of the town. A special treat awaits you this evening at Castel Katzenzungen, first mentioned in the year 1244, with its splendid views of the Dolomites. You´ll be greeted with a trumpet fanfare, enjoy a regal reception, and partake in a four-course dinner in one of the castle´s richly historic rooms.

Meals: Breakfast, dinner Lodging: Parkhotel Laurin, Bolzano, Italy

Dolomite Delights
The Dolomites are named for the French mineralogist Deodat Gratet de Dolomieu, who was the first to describe dolomite, a type of rock that creates the characteristic color and shapes of the mountains in this part of the Alps. Everywhere you look today, you´ll see the alpine splendor that makes the Dolomites so astounding. Board a cable car at Passo Pordoi for a memorable ride through a wonderland of craggy, snow-capped peaks reaching toward the sky.

Stop in the lovely mountain village of Ortisei, with its lively historic pedestrian center, en route back to Balzano to enjoy the remainder of the day as you please.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch Lodging: Parkhotel Laurin, Bolzano, Italy

Romance is everywhere
Your Bavaria, Italy and Oberammergau travel adventure continues to Limone sul Garda on the shores of Lago di Garda in the Riviera Gardone.

Having carefully preserved its small-town charm, Limone´s historic town center, ancient homes and narrow streets invite your exploration.

Board a boat for a memorable cruise across the sparkling lake, Italy´s largest, surrounded by spectacular scenery and bordered by lemon orchards, charming villages and impressive villas. Then it´s on to your final destination for today magical Venice, where you´ll spend two nights at an opulent five-star luxury hotel.

Set directly on the Grand Canal in the heart of the city, the Hotel Danieli Venezia began life more than six centuries ago as the palace of the Doge Dandolo, one of the rulers of Venice.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch Lodging: Hotel Danieli Venezia, Venice, Italy

Venice awaits
Venice, the world-famous city of canals where the streets are paved with water, beckons today.

Accompanied by a local guide, begin your exploration in Piazza San Marco, the huge living room of Venice so popular with locals, tourists… and pigeons. Resplendent St. Mark´s Basilica will inspire you with its architecture, amazing gold-touched mosaics depicting stories from the Bible, numerous sculptures, and the Treasure of St. Mark´s consisting of gold and silver, precious stones, ornamental glass and painting and its centerpiece, the Pala de Oro.

As you discover the Doges´ Palace, you may think that you hear a sigh as you cross the Bridge of Sighs, linking the Ducal Palace with the prison section; the sighs of prisoners seeing the light of day for the last time as they crossed it gave the bridge its name. The remainder of the day is yours to savor Venice as you choose.

Please join us this evening to salute the end of your Oberammergau travel experience at our farewell reception followed by dinner.

Meals: Breakfast, dinner Lodging: Hotel Danieli Venezia, Venice, Italy

Homeward bound
The Oberammergau travel experience ends in Venice. An included transfer will take you from the Hotel Danieli Venezia to Venice´s Marco Polo Airport for your flight home.

Please allow 2 ½ hours for airport check-in formalities. We wish you a safe and pleasant journey home. Meals: Breakfast

3 Other Tour Packages

Romantic Germany

• 14 days
• Wiesbaden/Heidelberg/Baden-Baden/Lake Constance/Oberammergau/Munich/ Weimar/Dresden/Potsdam/Berlin
• Includes two nights at the five-star Hotel Maximilian in Oberammergau

Alpine Interlude

• 12 days
• Zurich/Bern/Interlaken/Oberammergau/Innsbruck/Salzburg/Vienna
• Includes two nights at the Hotel Obermuehle near Oberammergau

Munich/Oberammergau City Extension

• 4 days, dates TBA
• Munich/Oberammergau/Munich
• Includes one night at the five-star Hotel Maximilian in Oberammergau Introductory sightseeing, local concierge service and all ground
• transportation included

Tour packages have limited availability and can change without notice. For reservations, contact one of our European specialist and find the right Oberammergau tour package for you.