OBERAMMERGAU - THE PAINTED HOUSES

Walking or driving through Oberammergau in Bavaria, you can't help noticing how the houses are painted. It is called "Lüftlmalerei" and is found in Bavaria and Tirol - but it originated in Oberammergau. One of the first painters to use this technique was Franz Seraph Zwinck (1748 - 1792), who lived in a house in the village that was called "Zum Lüftl." The name of his house gave the technique its name.

Religious scenes predominate, especially here, where the Passion Play is performed every ten years, but there are other motifs as well: fairy tales or even just creative ideas...

On our trip through Bavaria we walked all around the village one morning, taking photos of some of the more spectacular houses. Enjoy!

Parked in front of this house is a really lovely antique car that belongs to a brewery.

This one is fairly "simple" except for the bay window...

Here a bear is offering yarn for knitting

There are roadside shrines everywhere in Bavaria, an area in Germany that is predominantly Catholic. This one, in the middle of the city, is elegant and simple - and beautifully painted figures set off by the white walls.

When cows fly...

...and horses jump

Every window and door is decorated!

Another view of the brewery car - and the house it is parked in front of.

This flower shop has very simple painting, relying more on living decoration!

Of course there is a Käthe Wohlfart Christmas store here too... And with so much to see in the windows, the facade is kept rather more simple.

Spectacular again!

Real Estate offices...

Here, some of the figures go a bit beyond the "frame." This is quite common.

This painting has to do with the Passion Play.

A gorgeous painting, and beautiful woodwork too!

See Oberammergau: Passion Play Theater

Oberammergau: Flowers everywhere

Oberammergau: Woodcarving