September 25-28, 2015
After a fun filled weekend in Germany, we decided to take a slightly longer route home and stop in at Kehlsteinhaus, also known as Hitler's Eagles Nest. It wasn't quite as we imagined, now being more of a viewing area and restaurant, but still a very informative stop during our weekend.
Atop an alpine peak lies a lodge overlooking both Germany and Austria. This lodge was given as a gift to Adolf Hitler for his 50th birthday in 1939. This lodge, known as Hitler's Eagles Nest, was part of a large compound which was used not only as his second seat of government, but also as a last resort refuge.
We started at the base and took a bus to the last possible area where one can drive. From there we walked through a tunnel until we found ourselves at a rather fancy golden brass elevator, buried deep within the mountain. The elevator brings visitors to the top, where the building is located. There is a restaurant within the lodge now, but we were more interested in the sweeping views of the Alps moving from Austria into Germany. On a clear day, one can even grab a glimpse of Salzburg.
Most of the original artifacts were destroyed between 1945 and 1952, but some pre-1945 artifacts can be found in the Documentation Center. One of the highlights of our time in Berchtesgaden was touring the bunker under the center. The bunker was constructed in 1943 and is set up like an underground town filled with meeting rooms, offices and living quarters. There are four miles of tunnel all cut out of solid rock.
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