The Eagle's Nest (or in German Kehlsteinhous) will be strangely familiar to many people - almost everyone will have seen it from pictures of WW2. Today it is open seasonally and is a tourist site as well as a restaurant and beer garden. It offers some of the most spectacular views of the German Alps.

Another impressive German alpine attraction is the Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria which has been the inspiration of Disney's castle. Another hotspot of alpine castles is the famous Count Dracula castles in Transylvania in Romania - like Bran Castle.

History and Background of The Eagle's Nest

The Eagle's Nest (or Kehlsteinhous) was built during the days of Nazi Germany just before WW2. It was used exclusively by members of the Nazi Party. There are many pictures of Adolf Hitler attending government and social meetings here. He is known to have visited on 14 occasions. His 50th birthday was considered the deadline for its completion.

The Eagle's Nest is stunningly perched up on a ridge on the Kehlstein at an elevation of 1,834 meters or 6,017 feet.

  • Elevation: 1,834 meters or 6,017 feet
  • Built: 1938

The main building's main reception room is dominated by an ornate fireplace made of red Italian marble (presented by Italian Benito Mussolini). When visiting, check this fireplace out, one will see there are chips missing as victorious Allied soldiers chipped away at it to take pieces home as souvenirs.

The road that climbs up to the Eagle's Nest is only 4 meters or 13 feet wide and gains 800 meters or 2,600 feet over a distance of 6.5 kilometers or 4 miles.

At the base, there is a large car park with a 124 meter or 407-foot entry tunnel that ascends the remaining distance by elevator. The tunnel is lined with marble. Generally, high-ranking officials would just be driven through the tunnel to the elevator. Afterward, the driver would have to reverse out as there was no space to turn around.

  • Bombing: The Allies Tried to Bomb It But Missed

The Allies tried to bomb the Kehlsteinhaus or Eagle's Next in 1945, however, they were unable to hit it. Instead, the Berghof area was severely damaged. As the Allies had been unable to destroy it, after capturing it they used it as a military command post until 1960 when it was handed back to the German State of Bavaria.

  • Military Command Post: It Was Used As an Allied Military Command Post Until 1960

Related: An Entire 'Escape' Tunnel System Still Exists Under Berlin, With Decades Of History Behind Its Creation

Visiting The Eagle's Nest Today

Today the building is owned by a charitable trust and is open to the public (but not in the winter and reopens in May). Instead of being the conference center for the leaders of the regime, it serves as a restaurant that offers indoor dining and an outdoor beer garden.

  • Restuarant: Today it Is A Restuarant and Beer Garden

It is now a popular tourist attraction - especially for those with an interest in the history of the war. That being said the building does not mention much about its past today.

Since 1952 the road has been closed as it is considered too dangerous, so visitors have to hike up to the house. As at the time of writing the road is also closed due to road work construction.

  • Hike: Takes Around Two Hours From Obersalzber
  • Bus: There Is Also a Bus From The Documentation Center in Obersalzberg

Related: Berlin Was Once Home To A Maze Of Over 1,000 Bunkers, And Many Are Open To The Public Today

Tour of The Eagle's Nest and Bunkers

Today one take a tour of the Eagle's Nest. Visitors are given a detailed historical account of the construction and use of the infamously iconic Eagle's Nest. See how it was built as a unique mountaintop conference center.

As the Fuhrer's former residence and the second seat of power for the Reich, there is also a large underground bunker system. Tours also explore some of these bunkers that were built to function as the last redoubt for the regime.

On the driving tour, one will see some of the original buildings from the 1930s, see buildings used as Albert Speer's home, the headquarters, the State Security Service headquarters, and more.

One will also see original photographs of buildings that are no longer standing today.

The tour will take one underground to see the bunker complexes that stretch into the mountain. This extensive fortress-like system was built as an air-raid shelter, as a war headquarters, and even as the "possible last refuge for the leaders of the Reich."

  • Bus: The Tour Is On A Specially Equipped Mountain Bus
  • Elevator: Use The Original Brass-Lined Elevator To The Eagle's Nest\
  • Season: Daily from mid-May through October (provided the Eagle's Nest is open)

Next: Visit The Neuschwanstein Castle In Germany, Which Has Inspired So Many Other Mythical Castles