14-05-2025
Eagle's Nest memorial: Hitler's former holiday home renovated
The Kehlsteinhaus on Obersalzberg, once a retreat for Adolf Hitler and other Nazi leaders, has been a mountain restaurant with a stunning view and a memorial since 1952.
Hundreds of thousands of people visit the site, known as the Eagle's Nest in English, in the Bavarian Berchtesgaden Alps every year. The site was expanded during Adolf Hitler's rule of terror between 1933 and 1945 to become the second seat of the Nazi government, according to the tourism association in Obersalzberg.
New lift motor after 50 years
Visitors can reach the site either via a hiking trail or through a tunnel, followed by a lift that was inaugurated alongside the house in 1938.
This lift has now been fitted with a new motor, approximately 50 years after its last engine replacement, according to the Berchtesgaden Tourism Association. The new motor cost approximately €500,000 ($562,000), replacing the previous one from 1973.
The lift cabin weighs around 4.4 tons and can carry up to 46 people over the 124-metre distance from the tunnel to the house. It retains its original features, including Venetian mirrors, polished brass panels, green leather upholstery, a mechanical clock and a Bakelite telephone.
The house, located just below the Kehlstein summit, was part of the Führer's former restricted area on the Obersalzberg. Situated at an altitude of 1,834 metres, it can be reached via several hours of hiking or from the Obersalzberg car park via the Kehlstein Road.
Cars are prohibited from driving on the road, which features steep gradients and several tunnels. Only special buses from the Kehlstein line are allowed.
Exhibition explains the site's Nazi history
An exhibition in the Kehlsteinhaus showcases the site's history. The residence was was intended to serve as a political representation site away from the public eye, but was reportedly used far more often by the Nazi entourage for recreation and private celebrations.
For those wishing to delve deeper into the subject, the tourism association recommends visiting the Obersalzberg Documentation Centre, which features an interactive permanent exhibition "Idyll and Atrocity."
This exhibition, like the one in the Kehlsteinhaus, was designed by Germany's Institute of Contemporary History and provides in-depth insights into the history of Obersalzberg.
It is advisable to purchase tickets online in advance. From the Kehlstein car park, visitors can either walk or take the lift for the final stretch to the house. The lift ride is included in the bus ticket price, and entry to the Kehlsteinhaus itself is free. The road and the house are closed from late October to early May.
