German Mural Art in Garmisch, Germany

Julie Conover: Throughout Claveria you’ll find colorful Murals adjourning the building. Here in Garmisch Partenkirchen we let the artist to bring these walls to life.

Mark Jennings: Gerhard Ester has been called the Michael Angelo of Garmisch, he’s a modern day Renaissance man whose work is displayed throughout the region.

Julie Conover: How many buildings have you painted in this town?

Gerhard Ester: Many.

Mark Jennings: His hardest commission to create frescoes on building around the globe and is entrusted with restoring this historic murals which date back to the 1500’s.

Julie Conover: You sign each building that you paint?

Gerhard Ester: That’s good idea.

Julie Conover: How long do you take me to do this building?

Gerhard Ester: I think three months.

Mark Jennings: The murals often represent local lodging or historical figures.

Julie Conover: Tell me about this one.

Gerhard Ester: This house is built in 1611 but the painting it’s been 1800. This piece over here nothing out from window, it’s the time from Napoleon.

Mark Jennings: Gerhard took us to one of his favorite restoration projects.

Gerhard Ester: So now I will show you the oldest painting in Garmisch, many businessmen from Germany into Italy and seen in Italy painting on the living. They bring it to Germany to pay all.

Julie Conover: You said you like to drink beer. Tell me what your favorite place is.

Gerhard Ester: Next place and I’ll show you.

Julie Conover: This way?

Mark Jennings: Stepping into another building that Gerhard had painted, we have the distinct impression that this was not a tourist establishment. His characters were as open as they come.

Julie Conover: Something important to know when you’re traveling in Germany and you see a table with this Stammtisch sign on it, we can’t sit there you have to be with an important local. Invitation only.

How long have you been sitting at the same table?

Gerhard Ester: Not, exactly think 30 years.

Julie Conover: 30 years, that’s respectable.