Discover Oberau: Nativity Scenes, Natural Lake and Local History

If you’re looking for a hotel in Oberau, it’s worth first taking a look at the themes that define the town: a nativity scene exhibition, a natural lake at the Alpine swimming pool and a themed trail exploring the municipality’s history. These attractions appeal to different interests and give your trip its own focus. The wider destination of Garmisch-Partenkirchen also offers its own cultural and nature-related highlights. For your planning, you can consider the attractions in Oberau separately from those there.

Oberau locally: nativity scenes, natural lake and history

The Oberau Nativity Scene Exhibition displays nativity scenes from Alpine, southern Italian and Oriental cultures across more than 100 square metres. The different traditions give the exhibition a broad thematic scope: alongside Alpine depictions, you’ll also encounter nativity scenes from southern Italy and the Orient. This makes it a specific place to visit if you’re interested in nativity scenes and their cultural diversity.

To find your way to the exhibition: from Oberau station, go through the underpass and turn right onto Schmiedeweg. After about 150 metres, the exhibition is on the left. The directions thus give the station as your starting point and provide an approximate distance for this section.

Another local highlight is the Oberau Alpine swimming pool, with its large natural lake fed by a spring.

Themed trail “Das goldene Au” (The Golden Au) conveys the rich history of the municipality of Oberau. It offers a distinct way to explore local history: while the nativity scene exhibition presents different cultural traditions, the themed trail focuses on the development and history of the municipality. Together, these attractions offer different points of interest for a stay in Oberau.

Culture and nature in the wider destination of Garmisch-Partenkirchen

In the wider destination of Garmisch-Partenkirchen, the highlights range from nature experiences to music and local history. At Partnach Gorge, visitors can experience massive rock faces and the water roaring below. The gorge is also notable historically: it was declared a natural monument and opened to visitors in 1912.

The Richard Strauss Institute, housed in the historic Villa Christina in Partenkirchen’s spa gardens, is dedicated to musical history. It features a permanent exhibition about the life and work of Richard Strauss. The Richard Strauss Festival takes place every June in Garmisch and includes performances of his works; the annual programme may change. The Werdenfels Museum in Garmisch-Partenkirchen was established in 1895 from a private collection and is now considered one of the most important museums of its kind in Bavaria.

Walks through Garmisch-Partenkirchen also offer a chance to see Lüftlmalerei murals on house facades. A dedicated walking route through Partenkirchen leads from the Garmisch Tourist Information Office along Ludwigstraße to the pilgrimage church of St. Anton. In Michael Ende Spa Park, the sensory herb garden engages the senses of smell, taste, touch, sight and hearing. These examples show different ways to explore art, music, history and sensory experiences in the wider destination.

Hiking and trails in the wider destination of Garmisch-Partenkirchen

At 1,780 metres, Mount Wank is Partenkirchen’s local mountain and is ideal for relaxed mountain hikes with far-reaching views. The Wank cable car takes you directly from Garmisch-Partenkirchen to the summit; its use is subject to operating conditions. Be sure to take these conditions into account when planning your trip.

The 1,237-metre-high Eckbauer can also be reached by cable car. It is suitable for hiking in both summer and winter and is considered a versatile hiking area. The Kramer Plateau Trail offers a different kind of walk: this panoramic trail lies at the foot of Mount Kramer and is described as having well-maintained paths and gentle gradients. The wider destination therefore offers a choice of both a summit with a cable car connection and trails with varying scenery and gradients.

Discover more destinations: Uffing am Staffelsee, Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Bad Kohlgrub, Krün, Unterammergau, Saulgrub, Seehausen am Staffelsee, Farchant

Go to the main travel overview: Garmisch-Partenkirchen.