The city
Oberammergau, world famous for its Passion Play and a leading tourist town, is situated at an altitude of 2,746 feet. It is surrounded by mountains, of which the Laber, elevation 5,531 feet, is the highest while the Kopfel, elevation 4,400 feet, is its landmark.
Below the Kopfel, on Grottenweg, are the Mariengrotte (St. Mary`s Grotto) and the Malenstein (Malen Rock), the latter probably once a pagan sacrificial rock. Opposite, in the crumbling rock of the Laber, about ten minuits walk above the road, is the Bärenloch (Bear`s Cave) with a Resurrection statue in the cave.
The Romans called the Ammer river Ambre, from Celtic Ambara; from the era of the Guelphs we have the name of Ambrigov Wether Guelph count Ethico and his twelve paladins settled into monastic solitude here or on the Kappel in Unterammergau has not been determined.
Oberammergau has been ravished repeatedly over the years: by the Thirty Years`War (which brought the plaque in 1633 and a Swedish attack in 1647); the Spanish War of Succession (1703-1704); the French Revolutionary War (1800); the Napoleonic Wars (1805 and 1809); and various conflagrations in the village and inundations from the Laine and Ammer rivers:
When the railroad line was completed in 1900, tourist traffic and the Passion Play increased. After the Second World War, guest amenities were greatly improved. A vast net of hiking trails is available, as well as the Wellenbad, the Laber Cable Car, the Kolben Chair Lift, nine ski lifts, and ski runs measuring from 1.5Km to 50Km for the King Ludwig Loop Run.
The term „Lüftlmaler" is assumed to be derived from open air painting, or from the one time home of Zwinck, which was called „zum Lüftl", today Judasgasse No. 7, with frescoes by Malerhans.
The Pilatushaus of 1784, Ludwig-Thoma-Str. 19, with its rich frescoes is considered to be Zwinck`s masterpiece. On the garden side, steps lead up to an estrada where Jesus is brought before Pilate. On the East side, Christ boldly floats upward while the soldiers guarding the tomb flee across the balustrade in terror.
These frescoes were renovated in 1899 by F. Hartmann, and in 1909 he extended them West to the adjoining farm annex.
