MOST travel agents who arc arranging visits to Oberammergau next year have acquired a very happy and personal touch in the presentation of their plans. They have visited the town, conic back with on-the-spot reports and are doing everything possible to ensure that difficulties experienced by Oberammergau organisers on previous occasions will be smoothed away for the 1960 traveller. But one thing is already very clear: it will he difficult for the individual visitor to obtain tickets for the Play. It is therefore advisable for those who are planning to see this superb spectacle to hook through recognised travel organisations.
To this end the advertisements in these pages will provide a variety of suggestions for our readers. Oberammergau has advantages peculiar to itself for it can give a pilgrimage-cum-holiday. Arrangements as stipulated by the Oberammergau authorities for visits to the Passion Play are for dinner at the hotel the evening before the performance, the day of the performance at Oberammergau, and breakfast the day afterwards before departing. The pilgrimage part of it is thus only one day, certainly a strenuous day with a performance lasting from 8-12 and continuing from 2-6 p.m. But unlike say, Lourdes, where the usual time spent is a week. Here is an opportunity for a day's pilgrimage. as it were. with a most beautiful performance "thrown in," and then a normal holiday elsewhere.
REFORE briefly mentioning a " few of the arrangements from which one can choose. it is fair to warn readers that bookings and reservations for Oberammergau are unprecedented in volume. It is therefore advisable to make preliminary enquiries immediately.
It is also well to bear in mind that from July 31 to August 7 the International Eucharistic Congress is to be held in nearby Munich.
Travellers may therefore be able to make arrangements for at least a day's excursion to the Eucharistic Congress, for any longer stay it is important to mention that hotel accommodation in Munich is already very limited. Here is an alphabetical list of agencies travelling to Oberammergau, who have already sent details to us: AUSTRIA TRAVEL has long specialised in tours to Germany and Austria in particular. and as a company with an Austrian threetor it is in a fortunate position. One tour offered is for a holiday of 14 days in the Tyrol. including a visit to the Passion Play at Oberammergau; from 20-29 gns. CONTRAVEL has a Director with personal ties in Bavaria, It quotes a visit to the Passion Play, 7 days in Bavaria. followed by a coach visit to Salzburg and the Austrian Tyrol. Italy. and Switzerland-15 days for 49 gns. There is an opportunity here to combine a visit to Oberammergau and Rome in the same year. FOURWAYS TRAVEL are another company with a reputation for coach tours. They offer a variety of arrangements including air/coach tours. and holiday centres. ranging from 8-14 day tours. with prices ranging from 43 to 69 gns.
GERMANIA TRAVEL with an ex-employee working in Oberam mergau illustrates again the intimacy of this Passion Play occasion. Gcrmania offers 22 inclusive tours from 22 to 40 gns.. according to whether travel is by train or air.
'Co CONTINENTAL': Visit to Passion Play followed by holiday in Austrian Tyrol. £32 10s. -for 12 days. HAROLD INGHAM whose Fatima pilgrimages are wellknown is making arrangements for visits to Oberammergau. with inclusive costs from 29 guineas upwards. LEROY TOURS. In Mr. Leroy's attractive brochure. close ties with Oberammergau are again evident for in 1950 Mr. John Leroy, Jnr. stayed at Oberammergau for the Passion Play throughout the year, as did Mr. Preisinger's son. with the Leroy family. on another occasion Costs from 30 gns for an R day tour to 80 gns. for a 3 week tour. LUNNS and KING FLIGHT HOLIDAYS have three different centres from which you visit Oberammergau, prices ranging from £41 10s. to £53.
GERARD McDONALD are preparing a number of tours to include Oberammergau, linked with Innsbruck. Seefeld. in the Tyrol. and an inclusive holiday centred on Steinach.
PILGRIMWAYS known for their pilgrimages to Lourdes. are also making arrangements for visits to Oberammergau during 1960.
TYROLEAN TRAVEL have made 5 different holiday arrangements to include a visit to the Play. ranging from 27 to 38 gns.
THIS gives some little indication of the great interest the travel companies have taken in the Oberammergau Passion Play centred as it is in the Catholic community of the Bavarian Alps. It will be found that most cornpanics' quotations include the price of tickets for the Play, but further details will be found in the very attractive brochures these companies have published and which are available on application.
Further information may also be obtained from "Going Away,"
THE CATHOLIC HERALD. 67 Fleet Street, London, E.C.4.
0.H.