Courtesy – “Zugspitze Airview 01” by Africaspotter – Own work.
An overnight stay in Garmisch-Partenkirchen at the hotel Obermujle gave us our first view of Zugspitze, Germany’s highest mountain at 2962 m (9,718 ft) above sea level, and the highest peak of the Wetterstein Mountain range. Zugspitze is on the Austrian – German border and lies south of Garmisch- Partenkirchen.
Hotel Obermuhle – under the towering Alps – Garmisch-Partenkirchen
It was quite exciting to look at the snow-capped mountains and sleep under the towering peak of Zugspitze and the Alps. The hotel was very pleasant and full of old world charm. The mist descended over the Alps as evening fell and it began to rain. We hoped for a fine day tomorrow to see the mountain again.
Hotel Obermuhle-dining room-full of old world charm
Next morning we enjoyed a delicious breakfast with fresh yogurt, fruit, cereal, some hot dishes and of course hard-boiled eggs, which seem to be a popular item on most breakfast menu’s in Europe. The hard-boiled eggs were in a silver dish shaped like a nesting hen, and soft-boiled eggs in a silver dish in the shape of a duck, rather quaint.
Breakfast-Obermuhle-Hotel
Popular Ski Resort – Olympic Ski Stadium of 1936
Very cold and dismal, the mist hung low over the valley all day, not even a glimmer of Zugspitze mountain or any other mountain for that matter. In the vicinity, a visit to the Olympic ski stadium built for the 1936 Winter Olympic games held in Garmisch-Partenkirchen. I found the modern Ski Jump interesting, otherwise the place looked as grim as the weather. Today, Garmisch-Partenkirchen is known as a popular Ski Resort and holiday place for skiing, snowboarding and hiking in the alps. An annual ski jumping contest is held in the village traditionally on New Year’s Day as part of the Four Hills Tournament.
Garmisch-Partenkirchen Village – Ski Jump Olympic Stadium
Oberammergau Village
Next stop, the home of the famous Passion Plays in the village of Oberammergau. The weather improved slightly, fog lifted and the rain cleared. We had a brief look inside the theatre where the Passion Play is held every ten years (the last in 2010). Renovations being carried out so we didn’t stay long.
It is hard to believe that the Passion Plays began in 1634, the result of a vow given by the villagers of Oberammergau, ‘that if God spared them from the effects of the Bubonic plague, the villagers would perform the passion play every ten years’. The play is performed in the years ending in zero and involves over 2000 actors,singers musicians and technicians, the entire village takes part, and people from all over the world come to watch and listen.
Oberammergau Village – religious fresco
Village Frescoes
Apart from the Passion Play, Oberammergau is well-known for the beautiful frescoes or “Luftlmalerei” painted on homes and shops throughout the village. The frescoes are usually based on traditional Bavarian themes, fairy tales or religious scenes. We had an hour or so to wander through the village and admire the painted frescoes on the shops and houses, a very attractive and interesting village.
Oberammergau Village – Pilatshaus
Pilatushaus
I love the way this building is painted, it looks so attractive and the perspective is pretty amazing. Pilatshaus is the work of a famous fresco artist of the district, Franz Seraph who painted the facade of the building in 1784. The building is beautifully maintained as you can see. The ground floor is known as a “Living Workshop” and is home to the village wood-carvers, painters, potters and sculptors. It is open to the public and as it names suggests visitors can watch the artists at work. The glass painting collection on the first floor has links to famous artists of “Blue Rider” fame, Wassily Kandinsky and Franz Marc.
Pilatushaus – rear view – Oberammergau Village
It was now raining again. One last stop at Ettal Abbey before we leave the alps, the beautifully painted houses of Garmisch-Partenkirchen and Oberammergau village. Then on to Munich….
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