Three years before the curtain rises on Oberammergau’s 2020 Passion Play, and two years after beginning preparations for this once-every-decade spectacle, Tauck has begun taking reservations on several 2020 itineraries that will feature Passion Play performances in the small Bavarian town.
In 2020 Tauck will include the Passion Play (or “Passionsspiele,” as it is known locally) on two of its European land tours and two European river cruises. Those land journeys are Tauck’s “Romantic Germany” and “The Ultimate Alps & Dolomites,” and Tauck’s river cruises featuring the Passionsspiele include “The Blue Danube” and “The Romantic Rhine.”
Each 2020 departure of the two land journeys will include the Passion Play as part of the tour itinerary. Performances will also be featured on selected dates of the two river cruises, and will be limited to 40 guests per-departure due to ticket availability. All guests visiting Oberammergau with Tauck will enjoy premier seating in the best available section of the Passion Play theater, private tours of must-see sights and attractions in the area, and other exclusive cultural experiences.
Those interested in experiencing the Passion Play with Tauck can reserve space on their preferred itinerary and departure date with a modest deposit. The play’s organizing committee will be confirming 2020 hotel allocations for all tour operators in 2019, and Tauck has requested accommodations in the region’s best properties. Once hotel arrangements and pricing are finalized, Tauck guests who have reserved space will be able to cancel and receive a full refund of their deposit if they wish.
STRONG INTEREST FOR 2020
For the past several months, those interested in attending the Passion Play with Tauck have been able to register their interest at the company’s website. According to Tauck, and based on the number of requests logged on its website, interest in Oberammergau for 2020 is running well ahead of 2000 and 2010, the last two occasions that Tauck included the Passion Play in its itineraries.
Oberammergau’s Passion Play dates back to 1633, when the village was suffering from a severe plague epidemic. Residents appealed to God to ease their suffering, offering in turn to stage a performance depicting the events surrounding the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. The plague subsided, the once-per-decade Passion Play debuted the following year, and it’s been an enduring tradition ever since (with the townspeople shifting the play’s performance to the first year of each new decade in 1680).
Today, the Oberammergau Passion Play is a major event involving over 2,000 local residents who participate as actors, singers, costume-makers, musicians, technicians and more. Preparations for the Passion Play begin on Ash Wednesday a full year before the first performance, when actors begin growing the long hair and beards required for their roles (no wigs are used in the production). Officials in Oberammergau expect approximately 450,000 attendees to view the Passionsspiele in 2020.
Those interested in more information can contact their local travel professional, call Tauck at 800 468 2825, or visit the company’s website at www.tauck.com.
