One of the first places we would visit from our base of operations at Murnau would be Oberamergau. This Bavarian town is known for three things: exquisite wood carvings, the reenactment of the Passion (including actually nailing an actor portraying Christ onto the cross,) and very elaborately painted houses.

Hansel and Gretel House

Tiny wood carvings don't photograph well, and the Passion plays weren't being held while we were visiting, so the only one of these things I can show on this page are the painted houses. But that alone is spectacular. This house situated near the edge of town depicts the story of Hansel and Gretel. The story starts near the ridge at the top of the house, and progresses reading-fashion above each window on the side of this house.

A closeup shows the detail to which these stories are painted. I should point out that everything you see, except the shutters, are painted on. That includes the scrollwork beneath the windows, and the escuteon between the two scenes.

Hansel, Gretel, and the Witch

Across the street you could see the story of Little Red Riding Hood, and elsewhere in town assorted other stories were told on the fascades of buildings.