Exploring Hitler's Eagle's Nest In Austria: A Visitor's Guide

Hitler's Eagle's Nest, also known as Kehlsteinhaus, is a historic landmark located in Berchtesgaden, Germany. It was originally constructed as a gift for Adolf Hitler's 50th birthday, and now serves as a popular tourist destination and restaurant. The Eagle's Nest is perched atop Mount Kehlstein in the Bavarian Alps, offering breathtaking panoramic views of the surrounding mountains and valleys, as well as the city of Salzburg. The journey to the Eagle's Nest is an adventure in itself, involving a scenic bus ride up the mountain, followed by an elevator ride through the mountainside. Visitors can explore the building, which includes a sunroom, a famous Italian marble fireplace, and several dining areas. The site is generally open to the public from mid-May to mid-October, weather permitting.

Hitler's Alpine Retreat

The Eagle's Nest was constructed as a birthday gift for Hitler, who spent a quarter of his time between 1933 and 1945 in the nearby Berghof, his 30-room holiday home. The Eagle's Nest was commissioned by Hitler's personal secretary, Martin Bormann, and completed in 1938. Hitler, however, rarely visited due to his fear of heights. The site was mainly used to entertain foreign dignitaries and was also frequented by other Nazi officials, including Eva Braun, who enjoyed sunbathing on the terrace.

Today, the Eagle's Nest is a popular tourist attraction, offering a unique combination of stunning views and dark historical significance. Visitors can take a special bus to the site and then enter through a tunnel and an elevator, which was once reserved exclusively for Hitler and his guests. The elevator, with its brass lining and velvet seating, is an attraction in itself. At the top, visitors can explore the rooms, which now house a restaurant and exhibits detailing the history of the site and the region. The famous Italian marble fireplace, a gift from Mussolini, remains a notable feature.

The Eagle's Nest is only open to the public from May through October and may close during inclement weather. Visitors are advised to check the weather conditions before planning their trip and be prepared for crowds, especially during the summer months. Despite some negative reviews criticising the site as a "tourist trap", many visitors appreciate the history and the opportunity to experience this unique piece of World War II history.

Kehlsteinhaus

The Kehlsteinhaus is perched on a ridge at an elevation of 1,834 metres (6,017 feet) and offers panoramic views of the surrounding countryside, including the towns of Berchtesgaden and Salzburg. It can be reached by taking a special bus to the base of the mountain, where visitors enter a tunnel and then an elevator to reach the summit. The elevator is brass-lined and was originally used by Hitler and other high-ranking officials.

Today, the Kehlsteinhaus operates as a restaurant, beer garden, and tourist site. Visitors can explore most of the rooms, including Hitler's study, now used as a storeroom, and the main reception room, which features a red Italian marble fireplace presented by Benito Mussolini. The site also offers informal tours that can be booked through the official website.

The Kehlsteinhaus is a popular day trip from Munich and Salzburg, and can be reached by car or public transport. The road to the Eagle's Nest, Kehlsteinstraße, is considered an engineering marvel and offers stunning views of the surrounding Alps. Visitors should note that the Eagle's Nest is typically only open from May through October and may close during inclement weather.

The Eagle's Nest Restaurant

The Eagle's Nest, also known as Kehlsteinhaus, is a historic landmark located in Berchtesgaden, Germany. The site was originally built as a diplomatic teahouse and summer retreat for Adolf Hitler, but now serves as a popular tourist destination and restaurant. The Eagle's Nest is perched atop Mount Kehlstein in the Bavarian Alps, offering breathtaking panoramic views of the surrounding mountains and valleys, as well as the neighbouring city of Salzburg.

History

The Eagle's Nest was constructed in the 1930s on the summit of Kehlstein Mountain, at an elevation of 6,017 feet (1,834 meters). It was intended to be a gift for Adolf Hitler's 50th birthday and a place to entertain dignitaries and state guests. The building is located on a steep road with a gradient of 22%, featuring a 124-metre tunnel and an ornate elevator that takes 41 seconds to reach the summit.

Hitler, who was known to be afraid of heights, only visited the Eagle's Nest a handful of times. However, other Nazi officials, including Eva Braun, frequented the site and treated it as their private party house.

During World War II, the Eagle's Nest served as a headquarters for the Nazi Party, with Hitler's home and office located nearby in Berchtesgaden. The town was a critically important hub for Nazi activity and a seat of power outside of Berlin.

Visiting the Eagle's Nest

The Eagle's Nest is typically open to the public from mid-May to mid-October, depending on weather conditions. To access the site, visitors must take a special bus to Kehlstein, followed by a walk through a tunnel and a ride in the brass-lined elevator. The elevator, which was once reserved for Hitler and his VIP guests, takes only 14 seconds to reach the 6,000-foot summit.

At the top, visitors can explore the historic building, which now houses a restaurant and gift shop. The former dining room, where Hitler held banquets, has been remodelled into a Bavarian-style restaurant with small tables serving a limited selection of food and drinks. The red marble fireplace, allegedly a gift from Mussolini, still stands in this room, although some pieces have been chipped off by souvenir hunters.

Outside, a path leads to a higher point offering incredible panoramic views of the Alps, with Germany and Austria visible in the distance. On a clear day, you can even see Salzburg.

Practical Information

The Eagle's Nest can be reached by car or public transportation from nearby towns such as Berchtesgaden, Salzburg, and Munich. There are various tour options available, including skip-the-line tickets to avoid waiting in long lines. It is important to note that private vehicles are not allowed on the road leading up to the Eagle's Nest, and only special public transport buses are permitted.

The Eagle's Nest is a unique site that offers a glimpse into the history of World War II and the Nazi regime. Whether you are a history enthusiast or simply seeking stunning views, a visit to the Eagle's Nest is a memorable and thought-provoking experience.

Getting There

The Eagle's Nest is located in the Kehlstein peak of Berchtesgaden National Park, in the state of Bavaria, Germany. It is accessible by car or public transport from Salzburg, Austria, and Munich, Germany.

From Salzburg, you can get to the Berchtesgaden HBF in less than an hour. From there, you can either take the local bus 838, which leaves once an hour and takes 15 minutes to get to the Eagle's Nest Bus Stop (Kehlstein Busabfahrt), or catch a 7-minute taxi ride.

From Munich, there are no direct trains to Berchtesgaden. You'll need to transfer in Freilassing. This trip is offered once an hour and takes about 2.5 hours in total.

Once you arrive at the Eagle's Nest Bus Stop, you'll need to take the Regionalverkehr Oberbayern (RVO) bus number 849 up to the Eagle's Nest. This is the only way up besides a strenuous 3-hour hike. The bus departs every 25 minutes and costs around €28 for a round trip.

Important Things to Note

• The Eagle's Nest is only open from mid-May to mid-October, depending on the weather.
• The local German name for the Eagle's Nest is Kehlsteinhaus, so look out for this name when checking transport timetables.
• The bus ride up to the Eagle's Nest is not typically included in tour prices, so factor that into your costs.
• Remember to reserve your bus for the way down upon arrival.
• The Eagle's Nest is dog-friendly, and both the bus and elevator are wheelchair accessible. However, there are no ramps inside the house itself.
• There is a restaurant and a few indoor and outdoor dining spaces at the Eagle's Nest, including a sun terrace with historical exhibits.

History

The Eagle's Nest, also known as Kehlsteinhaus, was commissioned by Martin Bormann in the summer of 1937 as a gift for Adolf Hitler's 50th birthday. It was constructed by the Nazi Party as a conference centre and was used exclusively by members of the Nazi Party for government and social meetings. It is perched on a mountain peak above the town of Berchtesgaden in the Bavarian Alps, and was designed to impress and dazzle people with its power and grandeur.

The Kehlsteinhaus sits on a ridge atop the Kehlstein, a 1,834-metre subpeak of the Hoher Göll. The building project was an ambitious and challenging feat of engineering. Over 3,000 men worked day and night, in harsh weather conditions and rugged terrain, to complete the project in 13 months. The road to the Eagle's Nest was blasted out of the mountainside and features five tunnels. The building itself has a 124-metre entry tunnel that leads to an elevator, which ascends the final 124 metres to the building. The tunnel is lined with marble and was originally heated.

Hitler first visited the Eagle's Nest on 16 September 1938 and returned to inaugurate it on his 50th birthday, 20 April 1939. He visited the site on 14 documented occasions. The Kehlsteinhaus was primarily used to entertain visiting dignitaries and foreign leaders. It was also the site of a wedding reception for Eva Braun's sister, Gretl, who married SS Obergruppenführer Hermann Fegelein on 3 June 1944.

The Eagle's Nest narrowly escaped destruction during World War II. It was a target for the 25 April 1945 bombing of Obersalzberg by the Royal Air Force but remained undamaged. After the war, Bavarian District President Jakob intervened to save the building from being razed, as many other structures with Nazi associations were. The building was used by the Allies as a military command post until 1960, when it was handed back to the State of Bavaria.

Today, the Eagle's Nest is owned by a charitable trust and operates as a restaurant and tourist site, offering indoor and outdoor dining, as well as panoramic views of the surrounding countryside. Visitors can reach the site by taking a special bus or hiking up a strenuous three-hour trail. The site provides a unique opportunity to learn about and reflect on the inhumane dictatorship it once served.

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