Damon Mcknight
The Eagle's Nest, or Kehlsteinhaus in German, is a chalet perched atop the Kehlstein mountain in Obersalzberg, a scenic mountainside area near the town of Berchtesgaden. The building was constructed by the Nazis as a gift to Adolf Hitler on his 50th birthday and was used for government and social meetings. Today, it is a popular tourist destination and restaurant, offering panoramic views of the Bavarian Alps and the surrounding area. The Eagle's Nest is accessible by a special bus or a strenuous hike, and visitors can explore the rooms and learn about its history. Located near the border with Germany, the Eagle's Nest is a short distance from the city of Salzburg in Austria.
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What You'll Learn
- The Eagle's Nest is in the Bavarian Alps, near the German town of Berchtesgaden
- It was commissioned by Martin Bormann and built by 3,000 workers from five countries
- The Kehlsteinhaus sits on a ridge atop the Kehlstein, a 1,834-metre subpeak of the Hoher Göll
- Hitler visited the Eagle's Nest 14 times. He was afraid of heights
- The Eagle's Nest is now a restaurant, beer garden, and tourist site
The Eagle's Nest is in the Bavarian Alps, near the German town of Berchtesgaden
The Eagle's Nest, or Kehlsteinhaus, is a Nazi-constructed building in the Bavarian Alps, near the German town of Berchtesgaden. It is perched on a mountaintop above the Bavarian resort of Berchtesgaden, a few miles uphill from the market town. 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 Kehlsteinhaus was commissioned by Martin Bormann in the summer of 1937 as a gift for Adolf Hitler's 50th birthday. It was built under the rule of the National Socialists and was used exclusively by members of the Nazi Party for government and social meetings. Hitler visited the Eagle's Nest on 14 documented occasions. The building was constructed in 13 months, during which 12 workers lost their lives.
The Eagle's Nest is accessible by a special bus or a strenuous three-hour walk to an elevator shaft set deep in the mountain. The bus takes visitors to the Kehlstein car park, where a 124-metre tunnel through the mountain rock leads to a lift that takes guests up to the Eagle's Nest. The building is now a restaurant, offering panoramic views of the Bavarian Alps.
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It was commissioned by Martin Bormann and built by 3,000 workers from five countries
The Eagle's Nest, or Kehlsteinhaus, is a Nazi-constructed building commissioned by Martin Bormann, who was Hitler's personal secretary. It was built by 3,000 paid workers from Germany, Austria, Italy, Czechoslovakia, and Poland. The workers were housed in five barracks across the mountain and immediately set to work on the access network necessary to facilitate construction.
The Kehlsteinhaus was Hitler's 50th birthday present from his inner circle. It was constructed atop the summit of the Kehlstein, a rocky outcrop that rises above Obersalzberg, near the southeast German town of Berchtesgaden. The Kehlsteinhaus was used exclusively by members of the Nazi Party for government and social meetings. It was visited by Hitler on 14 documented occasions, although he was afraid of heights.
The building was completed in 13 months, with work beginning in April or June 1937. Twelve workers died during its construction. 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. A 4-metre-wide approach road climbs 800 metres over 6.5 kilometres and includes five tunnels and one hairpin turn.
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The Kehlsteinhaus sits on a ridge atop the Kehlstein, a 1,834-metre subpeak of the Hoher Göll
The Kehlsteinhaus, known in English as the Eagle's Nest, is a Nazi-constructed building that sits on a ridge atop the Kehlstein, a 1,834-metre (6,017-foot) subpeak of the Hoher Göll mountain. It is located in the German town of Berchtesgaden, near the border with Austria.
The Kehlsteinhaus was commissioned by Martin Bormann in the summer of 1937 as a gift for Adolf Hitler's 50th birthday. It was designed by architect Professor Roderick Frick and built under the supervision of Dr Fritz Todt, the chief engineer of road construction in Germany at the time. The project involved the construction of a challenging access road, with five tunnels and one hairpin turn, climbing 800 metres over 6.5 kilometres. Despite the challenging terrain and harsh winter conditions, the Kehlsteinhaus was completed in just 13 months.
Perched atop a rocky outcrop, the Kehlsteinhaus offers panoramic views of the surrounding Bavarian Alps and the town of Berchtesgaden below. It was used exclusively by members of the Nazi Party for government and social meetings, with Hitler visiting on 14 documented occasions. The building's sturdy construction and remote location made it a difficult target for Allied bombers during World War II, and it survived intact.
Today, the Kehlsteinhaus has been transformed into a restaurant and beer garden, attracting tourists from all over the world. Visitors can take a special bus or hike to the location, enjoying the dramatic scenery along the way. The site offers a unique opportunity to explore a well-preserved piece of World War II history while also taking in the spectacular views of the surrounding mountains and landscape.
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Hitler visited the Eagle's Nest 14 times. He was afraid of heights
The Eagle's Nest, or Kehlsteinhaus, is a Nazi-constructed building erected on the summit of the Kehlstein mountain, a rocky outcrop that rises above Obersalzberg near the southeast German town of Berchtesgaden. The building was commissioned by Martin Bormann in the summer of 1937 as a 50th birthday gift for Hitler, and it was completed in just 13 months. The Eagle's Nest was intended to be an official mountain retreat for Hitler, who was looking for a Camp David-like location for his Nazi regime. The region, a finger of Bavarian territory that extends into Austria, was known for its dramatic scenery and had inspired Hitler as he finished his manifesto, Mein Kampf.
Hitler, however, is said to have visited the Eagle's Nest only 12 or 14 times, despite its close proximity to his residence in Berghof. This was reportedly due to his fear of heights, as well as the rarefied mountain air, and claustrophobia. The Eagle's Nest was instead used to entertain visiting foreign leaders and other VIPs with fascist tendencies. It was also used by other Nazi officials, including Eva Braun, who was allegedly fond of sunbathing on the terrace.
Today, the Eagle's Nest is a popular tourist attraction in Berchtesgaden, Germany. The chalet has been converted into a reasonably priced restaurant, offering magnificent panoramic views on clear days. The tunnel, elevator, and mountain road leading to the Eagle's Nest are dramatic features that enhance the overall experience for visitors.
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The Eagle's Nest is now a restaurant, beer garden, and tourist site
The Eagle's Nest, or Kehlsteinhaus, is a mountaintop chalet built in 1938 for Adolf Hitler. It is perched on a mountaintop above the Bavarian resort of Berchtesgaden, near the German-Austrian border. The Eagle's Nest was constructed by the Nazis and used exclusively by members of the Nazi Party for government and social meetings. It was visited on 14 documented occasions by Hitler, who is said to have been afraid of heights.
Today, the Eagle's Nest is a popular restaurant, beer garden, and tourist site. It is accessible to the public from mid-May to mid-October and offers both indoor and outdoor dining. The site is known for its spectacular views, dramatic mountain road, and historical significance. The road to the Eagle's Nest is narrow and has been closed to private vehicles since 1952. Visitors can reach the site on foot or by taking a specially modified bus from the Documentation Centre, where tickets are purchased. The bus ticket serves as an entry ticket and includes a ride on the elevator to the top.
The Eagle's Nest features a terrace with panoramic views on clear days. The lower rooms can be visited with a guide and offer a glimpse into the building's past through plate-glass windows. The surrounding woodwork still bears graffiti left by Allied troops, and the red Italian marble fireplace remains damaged by Allied souvenir hunters. Hitler's small study is now a storeroom for the cafeteria.
The Eagle's Nest is a symbol of the power and engineering capabilities of the National Socialist Regime. It is located atop the Kehlstein mountain, rising 1,834 meters (6,017 feet) above sea level. The construction of the Eagle's Nest and the road leading to it was a significant feat of engineering, requiring the labour of thousands of workers and the cutting of miles of access roads into the mountain.
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Frequently asked questions
The Eagle's Nest is located in the Bavarian Alps, in the town of Berchtesgaden, Germany. It is a few miles uphill from the market town of Berchtesgaden, near the German-Austrian border.
The Eagle's Nest, or Kehlsteinhaus in German, is a chalet perched atop the Kehlstein mountain at a height of 1,820-1,834 metres (6,000 feet) above sea level. It was constructed by the Nazis as a gift to Adolf Hitler on his 50th birthday.
The Eagle's Nest is accessible by a special bus or a strenuous hike. The bus departs from the city of Salzburg, and visitors can opt to take a trail from the upper bus parking lot to the Eagle's Nest instead of taking the elevator.
