1. To take part in the legendary Passion Play, you must either have been born in the village of Oberammergau, married to a local for 10 years or have lived there for 20 years. No exceptions are made.

2. All costumes are made by villagers and no wigs are allowed, meaning that people have to grow their hair for accuracy and authenticity, according to the “Hair & Beard Decree”. For the 2020 performance, this came into force on March 6^th and will see participants growing their beards and facial hair according to the roles they are assigned.

3. Over 2,000 citizens take part in the performance, despite the fact that there are only around 124 speaking roles.

4. In the upcoming performance, some scenes will be accompanied by an incredible 64 vocalists, whereas normally there are just 4 vocal soloists and 44 choristers. There will be 55 instrumentalists sitting in the orchestra pit.

5. For the 2020 performance, Jesus will be played by both Frederik Mayet (who played the same role in the 2010 production) and Rochus Rückel. Ruckel has been confirmed as the second-youngest actor to play Jesus in the almost 400-year-old history of the Passion Play.

6. The first-ever performance, in 1634, took place at the cemetery next to the parish church, on the graves of the plague victims. Later, in 1830, the performance space relocated to the northern edge of the village, where it still remains today (pictured above, centre).

Enjoy an included excursion aboard the historic Zillertal Steam Railway. This nostalgic narrow gauge railway will take you from Jenback to Mayrhofen, a 32-kilometre route that opened first in 1902, and the charms of journeying through the glorious Zillertal Valley aboard a steam-powered locomotive is sure to enchant any traveller.

Take a themed excursion to the Austrian city of Salzburg. For the music lovers, choose Mozart. If you’re more of a movie aficionado, opt for our tour that centres around the iconic Rodgers & Hammerstein film, ‘The Sound of Music’. Both trips include visits to the Hohensalzburg Fortress and the stunning Salzburg Cathedral.

A trip to the Tyrolean capital of Innsbruck, where a guided walking tour of the beautiful Old Town awaits. Here, we can stroll down the famous Maria-Theresien-Strasse and gaze upon the magnificent Golden Roof. This landmark gets its name from the 2,657 fire-gilded tiles that adorn its roof and was built by Emperor Maximilian.

Visit Tratzberg Castle, a Renaissance gem among Austria’s castles. Here, you’ll see a splendid courtyard, exquisite parlours and interior walls decorated with images from the 1500s depicting life-sized animals and hunters. Original tools are on display within the castle’s rooms and portraits of Emperor Maximilian’s family can also be seen.