249
7 Oberammergau
Bavaria; 82487
Renowned worldwide for its Passion
Play, Oberammergau is also worth
a visit for its lovely setting in the
Ammergau Alps, its strong tradi tion
of handi crafts and woodcarving, and
its south ern German charm. The
town’s houses are deco ra ted with
some of the best Lüftmalerei work
9 Schloss Linderhof
Bavaria; 82488
In the early 1850s, Linderhof
was bought by the Bavarian King
Maximilian II. This mountain district
appealed to his young heir, who
later went on to become “Mad” King
Ludwig and was responsible for
Schloss Linderhof (open daily). Set in
terraced gardens, between Ettal and
the Austrian border, Schloss Linderhof
was originally built by Ludwig II as a
hunting lodge for his father. It was
transfor med into its current Neo-
Rococo appearance by Georg
Dollmann between 1870 and 1872.
ª Return to Ettal, turn right along
the B23, then right at Oberau to get
on the B2 for Garmisch-Partenkirchen.
Look out for signs for parking lots in
Garmisch and in Partenkirchen.EAT AND DRINKNESSELWANG
Brauerei-Gasthof Hotel Post
moderate
With its traditional tiled oven and
wood-paneled ceiling, the Hotel Post’s
dining room is an attrac tive setting for
hearty meals. Begin with pork with
onions and caraway followed by beer
goulash or Schnitzel (pork fillet) in
brewer’s malt and breadcrumbs.
Hauptstrasse 25, 87484; 08361 309 10;
http://www.hotel-post-nesselwang.deFÜSSEN
Gasthof zum Schwanen
inexpensive–moderate
This restaurant serves Schnitzel
along side regional specialities from
Swabia and the Allgäu, including
Maultaschen (Swabian ravioli) with
Emmenthal and salad and Kässpatzen
(cheese-topped noodles) with roast
onion and salad.
Brotmarkt 4, 87629; 08362 61 74;
closed MonOBERAMMERGAU
St. Benoît expensive
Oberammergau’s most elegant hotel,
Maximilian, is the setting for the
Michelin-starred St. Benoît, a renowned
gourmet restau rant. The cooking
incor porates French, Mediterranean,
and Asian influences. The hotel has its
own micro brewery, Maxbräu, which
serves refined Bavarian food.
Hotel Maximilian, Ettaler Strasse 5,
82487; 08822 94 87 40; http://www.stbenoit.
de; open Sun & MonLeft House decorated with Lüftmalerei,
Oberammergau Below Exterior of the
pilgrimage church of Wieskirche6 Wieskirche
Bavaria; 86989
About 3 miles (5 km) from Steingaden,
in the district of Pfaffenwinkel
(priest’s corner), lies the dazzling
Rococo Wieskirche, a UNESCO World
Heritage Site. Com pleted in 1754
by German archi tect Dominikus
Zimmer mann, this spectacular church
is a master piece of 18th-cen tury
southern German architecture.
ª Return to last junction, head east,
and pass Schwaig. Turn right on to the
B23 for Oberammergau. There is free
parking near the tourist office.
8 Ettal
Bavaria; 82488
Ettal, about 3 miles (4 km) from
Oberammergau, was founded by
Ludwig IV of Bavaria. It is best known
for the Benedictine monas tery of
Kloster Ettal, one of the most grand of
Bavaria’s Baroque abbeys. The domed
abbey church (open daily) assumed its
present form between 1744 and 1753,
when architect Joseph Schmuzer was
com missioned to com plete the fire-
dama ged church. The interior is deco-
rated with Rococo stuccowork.
ª Turn left from the western end of
Ettal. Get on to Linderhof Strasse to
Linderhof. Follow signs to park.DRIVE 24: The German Alps
Oberammergau’s Passion Play
Performed in the last year of each
decade – the next is due in 2020 –
the Passion Play has its origins in a
promise made by the villagers in
1633 during the Thirty Years’ War.
They pledged to perform a play
about the life of Christ if God would
spare them from the plague that was
ravag ing the surrounding district.
The play is still performed by locals
on an open-air stage in the town.
During the years when the play
is not being performed, it is still
possible to tour the Passionstheater.Eat and Drink: inexpensive, under €20; moderate, €20–€40; expensive, over €40in Bavaria, most notably on the
18th-cen tury Pilatushaus (open daily)
whose aston ish ing frescoes are the
work of Franz Seraph Zwink (1748–92).
ª Continue on the B23 to Ettal. There
is free parking in front of Kloster Ettal.In Steingaden, turn right and at the
next junction turn right again to Wies/
Wieskirche. There is paid parking
close to the church.