Exploring Hitler's Eagle's Nest In Austria's Mountains

The Eagle's Nest, or Kehlsteinhaus, is a building constructed by the Nazi Party during World War II, located on a mountain summit near the German town of Berchtesgaden, close to the Austrian border. It was commissioned by Martin Bormann in 1937 and used by Adolf Hitler and other Nazi Party members for government and social meetings. The Eagle's Nest is known for its unique architecture and engineering, featuring a 124-metre tunnel, an ornate elevator, and a panoramic view of the Bavarian and Austrian Alps. Today, it operates as a restaurant and tourist site, attracting visitors interested in its historical significance.

The Eagle's Nest is a Nazi-constructed building

The Eagle's Nest, or Kehlsteinhaus, is a building constructed by the Nazi Party. It sits atop Mount Kehlstein, a rocky outcrop that rises 1,834 metres (6,017 feet) above Obersalzberg, near the German town of Berchtesgaden, close to the Austrian border.

The Kehlsteinhaus was commissioned by Martin Bormann in the summer of 1937 and completed in 13 months. It was paid for by the Nazi Party and cost 30 million Reichsmarks (around $247 million USD in 2022). The building was intended as a gift for Adolf Hitler's 50th birthday, which he celebrated there on 20 April 1939.

Hitler used the Eagle's Nest to host government and social meetings, as well as to entertain important guests. He visited the site on 14 documented occasions.

The Eagle's Nest is known for its impressive engineering. A 4-metre-wide approach road climbs 800 metres over 6.5 kilometres and includes five tunnels and one hairpin turn. From the car park, a 124-metre tunnel leads to an elevator, which ascends the final 124 metres to the building. The elevator is surfaced with polished brass, Venetian mirrors, and green leather.

Today, the Eagle's Nest operates as a restaurant and beer garden, offering panoramic views of the Bavarian and Austrian Alps. It is a popular tourist destination and can be reached by a special bus from the Documentation Centre or on foot.

It was commissioned by Martin Bormann and completed in 13 months

The Eagle's Nest, or Kehlsteinhaus, was commissioned by Martin Bormann in the summer of 1937. It was paid for by the Nazi Party and completed in 13 months. The building, which sits atop Mount Kehlstein, was used exclusively by members of the Nazi Party for government and social meetings.

The Kehlsteinhaus sits on a ridge atop the Kehlstein, a 1,834-metre (6,017-foot) subpeak of the Hoher Göll that rises above the town of Berchtesgaden. The building is accessible by a 4-metre-wide approach road that climbs 800 metres over 6.5 kilometres. The road includes five tunnels and one hairpin turn.

The Kehlsteinhaus was a significant engineering feat, and its construction cost 30 million ℛ︁ℳ︁ (about $247 million USD in 2022). Hitler's birthday in April 1939 was considered a deadline for the project's completion, so work continued throughout the winter of 1938, even at night with the worksite lit by searchlights.

The building features a large elevator surfaced with polished brass, Venetian mirrors, and green leather. The main reception room is dominated by a fireplace made of red Italian marble, a gift from Benito Mussolini. The fireplace was damaged by Allied soldiers, who chipped off pieces to take home as souvenirs.

The Kehlsteinhaus was intended as a diplomatic teahouse for Hitler and a place to entertain important guests. It was visited by Hitler on 14 documented occasions and was used for state occasions and government meetings during World War II.

Today, the Kehlsteinhaus operates as a restaurant and beer garden and is a popular tourist attraction due to its historical significance.

It is now a restaurant and tourist site

The Eagle's Nest, or Kehlsteinhaus, is a restaurant and tourist site. It is located atop Mount Kehlstein, near the German town of Berchtesgaden, close to the border with Austria. The Eagle's Nest was originally built by the Nazi Party as a diplomatic teahouse for Adolf Hitler and was used for government and social meetings during World War II.

The building is known for its unique engineering, featuring a 124-metre tunnel and an ornate elevator with a polished brass interior. The Eagle's Nest offers breathtaking panoramic views of the Bavarian and Austrian Alps, the Bavarian Lake Königssee, and the town of Berchtesgaden.

The road to the Eagle's Nest is an attraction in itself, climbing 800 metres in altitude with five tunnels and a hairpin turn. Since 1952, this road has been closed to private vehicles due to its narrow width, and tourists can now access the site via a special bus service or on foot. The bus ticket also serves as an entry ticket to the elevator.

The Eagle's Nest is typically open to visitors from May to October, depending on weather conditions. Visitors can enjoy a meal at the restaurant, which offers both indoor and outdoor dining options. The site provides an opportunity to learn about its historical significance during World War II, with some tours providing additional context about the Nazi Party's activities in the region.

The Eagle's Nest has a fascinating history and now attracts tourists from all over the world who come to admire the architecture, enjoy the food, and take in the stunning views.

The road to the Eagle's Nest is closed to private vehicles

The Eagle's Nest, or Kehlsteinhaus, is a building constructed by the Nazi Party during World War II, situated atop Mount Kehlstein near the German town of Berchtesgaden, close to the Austrian border. It was commissioned by Martin Bormann in 1937 and gifted to Adolf Hitler for his 50th birthday in 1939. The Eagle's Nest was used by Hitler and other Nazi Party members for government and social meetings. Today, it is a popular tourist destination, offering panoramic views of the Bavarian and Austrian Alps, as well as a restaurant and beer garden.

The road to the Eagle's Nest, also known as Kehlsteinstraße, has been closed to private vehicles since 1952 due to safety concerns. The narrow, winding road is too dangerous for regular vehicles and is only accessible by special bus or on foot. The road climbs 800 metres in altitude over a distance of 6.5 kilometres, with a width of just 4 metres. It includes five tunnels and one hairpin turn, making it a unique and adventurous ascent.

To reach the Eagle's Nest by bus, visitors can purchase tickets at the Documentation Centre, which also serves as the coach station. The bus ticket includes entry to the building's elevator, which takes visitors up to the Eagle's Nest from the car park. The elevator is adorned with mirrors, polished brass, and green leather. Visitors can also choose to hike to the Eagle's Nest from Obersalzberg, which takes approximately two hours.

The Eagle's Nest is typically open to the public from May to October, depending on weather conditions. During the off-season, the high mountain road leading to the building is cleared of snow and checked for safety hazards. The exact opening and closing dates may vary depending on early or late snowfall.

The Eagle's Nest is accessible by bus or on foot

To get to the Eagle's Nest by bus, you can take the RVO 840, the Watzmann Express, which leaves hourly from near the Salzburg Hbf. This bus makes several stops, including at Mirabell Palace, on its way out of town to the Berchtesgaden Hbf. From there, you can take another RVO bus to Obersalzberg, where you can buy a ticket for the special mountain bus that takes you up to the Nest. The ticket for this bus also includes use of the elevator from the bus parking lot to the Nest itself.

The buses are specially modified to ascend the steep road leading to the peak and have been fully electric since 2023. The bus ticket serves as an entry ticket, permitting entry to the building's elevator.

If you choose to walk, the journey from Obersalzberg to the Eagle's Nest takes approximately two hours. The road is 6.5km long, rising 800m in altitude and includes five tunnels and one hairpin turn. It is worth noting that the road has been closed to private vehicles since 1952 due to its narrow width.

Once you arrive at the Eagle's Nest, you can explore the building's history and enjoy panoramic views of the Bavarian and Austrian Alps, the Bavarian Lake Königssee, and the town of Berchtesgaden. The site also features a restaurant and an outdoor terrace.

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