Hitler's Eagle's Nest Retreat - Berchtesgaden, Germany

IN A NUTSHELL

WHAT: Hitler's Eagle's Nest
WHERE: Village of Oberzalberg, on the German-Austrian border.  CLICK HERE to Map It!
WHY: WWII landmark; featured in "Band of Brothers"; spectacular scenery.
WHEN: May to October.
HOW: Short trip for those staying in Munich or in Salzburg.  Day trip for those in Southern Germany.
IF YOU LIKE THIS... Then you should check out Appenzell, Switerland or Neuschwanstein Castle, Germany.

Hitler's "Eagle's Nest" was designed and built for Adolf Hilter's 50th Birthday by his personal secretary and Head of the Nazi Party Chancellery Martin Bormann.  The monument is called "Kehlsteinhaus" in German because of it was originally intended to be a "Teahouse" for the head of the Third Reich.  This mountain-top hideaway played a prominent role as the main unit objective in HBO's critically acclaimed mini-series "Band of Brothers."

   

The allied bombing and battles of World War II left the building intact and today the Eagle's Nest remains in its original state.  In the years after the war, the Eagle's Nest and the surrounding area of Berchtesgaden remained a part of US Armed Forces property in southeastern Germany.  The US military set up a recreation center where servicemembers could hike in the summer and ski in the winter.  The US military returned the area to Germany in the 1990s.

At that time, the German government demolished the American General Walker Hotel at Obersalzberg, to make way for the existing bus depot that serves the Eagle's Nest.

Guided Tours of the Eagle's Nest and Berchtesgaden - CLICK HERE!

TODAY:
Today, you can get there by taking the local bus or driving from Berchtesgaden to Obersalzberg, a small village community.  At Obersalzberg, you must buy tickets on the Eagle's Nest bus (the road is closed to privately-owned vehicles) which takes you up the mountain.  This bus route provides some of the most spectacular views of the German and Austrian Alps. 

At the end of the bus ride, you will walk through a marble-lined tunnel 400 feet into the heart of the mountain.  There you will ride the original brass elevator 400 feet straight up into the Eagle's Nest building at the top of the mountain.

       

There you will be able to walk around the grounds at 6017 feet altitude and enjoy the spectacular scenery.

You can combine this wonderful day trip with a stay in the nearby city of

Salzburg, which is just across the German border with Austria.  Or you may want to visit other World War II historical sights in the area, such as the Hofbräuhaus and Dachau Concentration Camp in Munich.

TOUR:
Tickets to the Eagle's Nest can be purchased at Obersalzberg.  Busses leave for the Eagle's Nest every 20-30 minutes from 8:00am to 4:00pm daily from May to October.  For more information, call +49 8652 2969 from May - October, or +49 8652 61244 from November - April.

Cheap Car Rentals from Munich's Franz Josef Airport Cheap Car Rentals from Frankfurt Airport Click Here to map the Eagle's Nest!

   
   
   

Visit the Official Eagle's Nest Website HERE

HOTELS:
Use our hotel guide to find hotels in the local area, or elsewhere in Germany too.

Berchtesgaden hotels from $85 Munich hotels from $55 Frankfurt hotels from $55
 

Nearby Activities and Sights

SALZBURG Come to Austria and tour the musical town that gave birth to both Mozart and The Sound of Music.  Munich Beer halls, Glockenspiels, and lederhosen.  The capital of Bavaria a a fan favorite and there is always a festival or museum exhibit to visit. HOFBRÄUHAUS  The largest beer hall in Munich is a must-see attraction.  Enjoy the atmosphere, the live band, and the beer songs!   Hohenschwangau Take a trip into the Bavarian Alps to see the castle Bavaria's Mad King Ludwig grew up in. Neuschwanstein Venture into the Bavarian Alps and visit the fairy tale landmark upon which the Walt Disney based his Disney Land Castle: Mad King Ludwig's Schloss Neuschwanstein.