[Jerry_K]

My wife and I get to fulfill a lifelong dream of making a trip to Germany early this summer. We are going to spend a day or so in and around Oberammergau, where, there is a wood carving school that is supposed to be well known. Can any of you give me some suggestions for Oberammergau or some other places in Southern Germany that would be of interest to a wood carver?

[AlArchie]

Wow. Jerry, what an opportunity. I can't help you ot a bit, but would you give us all an update when you get back?

Al

[Colin_Partridge]

Jerry,
There is a place in Germany and I cant think of the name of the town. It is close to the black forrest. When I was there as a young soldier years ago( I mean 40+ years ago) I went there and they carve these woodspirit faces out of tree roots. It was where I initially introduced to woodcarving although it took me another 45 years so act on the inspiration that I got from going there. You may want to inquire through the travel and information in Germany I am sure they would be able to direct you. It was well worth the visit as I remember and that area is a beautiful part of Germany.
Colin

[Alice in Wonderland]

Where ever you travel by car, all through Bavaria and Black Forrest you will see Wood carvings displayed beside the road, ( unless it has changed a lot since I was there) there are Woodcarving schools too , most Bavarian Woodcarvers do biblical statues,I have seen beautiful carvings , except the wood they use there is so differerent than what we get on this Continent, the wood they use has very thick grooved bark on already good looking with out putting the knive to it a lot of people speak english especially the younger group, also go to "Googles German site "and put your question of "Carving " in or other Southern german Newspapers which come mostly in different languages on the www.Search through german sites for what you are looking, I see what I can find for you.
I hope this helps,
Alice from Germany

[woodknomb]

I was In hamburg in the 80s but of no help, unless they were carving my bar stool legs LOL while I was on it or had fallen off lol

[Alice in Wonderland]

http://www.oberammergau.de/ot/kunstk...chnitzerei.htm
there are some links for you . As you can see "Holzschnitzerei" is the word you are looking for , this will get you going.
Alice
http://www.holzschnitzer-peter-vogler.de/
http://www.schnitzerei-demetz.de/
http://kunst.freepage.de/wjerjen/
http://members.aon.at/birkenbach/kay...irueberuns.htm
http://www.woodart.ch/

[macktruck]

Ashaffenburg Germany has on old catholic church built in the old roman stone. It has numerous carvings and statues(most of those are gilded) one of the tomb stones has a died date of 738. Great town afew of the buildings have small(18inch) saints carved in stone just below the roof lines. There is a walk path along the river.spent two years there as a GI(pretty good beer too!)
macktruck

[rolds]

I spent one year in Germany April 1970-71 (GI) in a little town between Ashaffenburg and Darmstatt (sp) Babenhausen. I use to ride the train to these bigger towns. I remember there was a hill near Ashaffenburg called three cross hill it was said three American tanks leveled the town during WWII from this spot.
I don't remember anything about woodcarving being done in the area I was in but I did make my first cane/walking stick from a small tree I aquired when playing war games.

[Jerry_K]

Colin, Al, Alice and all; thanks for your responses. Alice, I do think I remember from one of your early posts that you are "Oma". I should have known from that, that you are from Germany. I did look at all of the sites that you posted. I wasn't able to understand everything because they were written in German. But, I got the main drift.

I am hoping that when I get to Oberammergau that it is not just a retail shop where carvings can be purchased. If it is a place where people are actively carving, I will certainly enjoy seeing it. I don't know what to expect, but if I am able, I will take some pictures that may be of interest to all.

[Andre]

http://www.nga.gov/exhibitions/tilmanimg.shtm
http://www.footloosetravel.com/photopage69.html
http://www.reformationtours.com/site/490868/page/180554

I have live in Germany for 4 years and if you have the chance I would go to Rothenberg that is if you like woodcarving art, visit St. Jakob cathedral where Tilman Riemenschneider's wood carved the alter, Holy Blood.

Oberammergau is a must for woodcarvers, there are about 120 wood sculptors in Oberammergau, actively carving and selling a large variety of wooden artefacts, from figures of saints to household goods. Furthermore, a Carvers School in town offers courses providing specialist training for wood carvers.

I hope to be in Oberammergau myself this fall.

Good luck and good travelling, and a great carving experience is waiting for you in beautiful Germany,

Andre