Craftmanship

Oberammergau, a Bavarian village associated first and foremost with its famous Easter Passion Festival, taking place only once every 10 years, is also well-known for its artistic wood-sculpting tradition. It has an own trade school for artistic woodwork and is home to some 70 whittlers, who call themselves “Herrgottschnitzer” (God-carvers), since they mainly carve images of saints. For generations, these craftsmen have been perfecting their skills. Native wood is cut, dried, and transformed into beautiful works of art. Every sculpture is unique and taken care of with great passion and faith.

The Nymphenburg Porcelain Manufactory is located in one of the Cavalier Houses in front of the Nymphenburg Palace in Munich and since its establishment in 1747 has produced porcelain of the highest quality. It is one of the last porcelain producers in the world where every single part is made entirely by hand and their color storage is the largest in the world. A visit to the workshop provides an interesting insight into the production process

Schönwald, a small village located in the Black Forest of Germany, is known as the birthplace of the cuckoo clock, where in the year1737, the first cuckoo clock was developed by the clockmaker Franz Ketterer. The shape and design, lovingly detailed carvings, the cuckoo call system and the mechanical clockwork have been preserved to this day.

Gmund Paper, a manufacturer located at the shores of Lake Tegernsee, has been producing papers of the highest quality since 1829. The company offers a variety of paper in its product range for all needs and occasions. Gmund paper is made from plant fibers, a renewable raw material that can be recycled up to seven times, creating raw material for new paper and thanks to new technologies and processes, Gmund paper is becoming ever better and more environmentally friendly.

Mittenwald, a picturesque mountain village in Bavaria, is one of the most important centers of violin makers in the world with a history of more than three centuries of craftsmanship. Even Mozart played a violin „made in Mittenwald“. Numerous violin makers and a famous violin making school are situated there. The Geigenbaumuseum (Violin Making Musuem) was founded in 1930 and displays an extensive collection of high-quality Mittenwald violins. In its show workshop, you can watch a professional violin maker at work and ask questions about the technique and history of violin making. A special highlight is the so-called “sound experience”. On selected dates, you can listen to the wonderful sounds of some historical instruments in an intimate concert atmosphere.