A historic viewpoint high above the Berchtesgaden area:
Eagle's Nest
Its construction ordered by Martin Bormann, the so-called Eagle's Nest teahouse was offered to Adolf Hitler for his 50th birthday with the aim of using it for representation purposes for official guests. The challenging construction of the Eagle's Nest was completed in just 13 months including the road, Germany's highest.
Hitler himself seldom used the Eagle's Nest, finding the excursion up to the top too unnerving due to his fear of heights. After the War, thanks to Mr. Jacob, the local governor at the time, the Eagle's Nest was spared being blown up.
Today the Eagle's Nest is open to the public and can be seen in its original form. Since 1960 it has been in the hands of the Berchtesgaden tourist board and leased out as a mountain top restaurant.
mountain road
In 1952 the road was closed to the public and the special mountain buses were put into operation for the transportation of guests to this unique destination.
From the Eagle's Nest upper parking area, a hand blasted tunnel takes you 124 meters (406ft) through the mountainside to an ornate elevator lined with shiny brass. In just 41 seconds you are transported another 124 meters up through the mountain and into the building itself.
Hitler's home, the Berghof, was blown up after the war; however, thanks to the intervention of the District President, Theodor Jakob the Eagle's Nest was spared the same fate. This is why, today, the Eagle's Nest can be visited as a historical monument in its original form. Since 1952 it has been open to the public and in 1960, the Kehlsteinhaus passed into the ownership of a trust which uses the profits for charitable purposes in the local area.
It is administrated by the Tourist Board of the Berchtesgadener Land and leased out as a mountain-top restaurant. The building is only open when the buses have safe access up the mountain - usually from mid-May to mid-October. During that time, nearly 300,000 visitors use the bus service to visit the building.
entrance tunnel
ACCESS
The Eagle's Nest, or Kehlsteinhaus, is open only from around mid-May to mid or end of October, depending on weather conditions. To reach the building, you must take a special bus from Obersalzberg; the uphill buses run from about 8:30 to around 16:00. At the end of the bus trip, you walk through a tunnel at the end of which the original brass-lined elevator speeds visitors up through the mountain and into the building itself, today a restaurant (Tel.: +49(0)8652/2969).
Allow enough time at the summit, the view is - weather permitting - spectacular; it is an unusual place for refreshments or lunch.
QUICKTIME MOVIE
Eagle's Nest
Thursday, 21. August 2008
