Travel Tips

Like it or hate it, the fact is that Berchtesgaden had an association with National Socialism, Adolf Hitler and the hierarchy of the Nazi Party. The people of Berchtesgaden did not seek this association and it should not be seen in any way as a poor reflection on them.
In reality many people who visit Berchtesgaden want to see some of the places and things associated with Adolf Hitler and the Nazi party.
I have therefore decided to write a travelogue with this interest in mind.
It in no way offers support or sympathy to Nazism or its policies.

I will begin with probably one of the first sights a visitor arriving In Berchtesgaden will see.
The Hauptbahnhof.
Before National Socialism (NS) settled itself in Berchtesgaden, the town had a small railway station. It was decided that a more imposing one was needed and the one you see to day was built. It is huge and when one considers that the railway line to Berchtesgaden is, in places, a single track, even though it spreads out into 4 platforms, such a large station was definitely a matter of pride.
It is of course a very typical example of NS architecture.

A special waiting room was constructed in the Hauptbahnhof for the use of Adolf Hitler.
Today it is the offices of a travel agent

On the North side of Berchtesgaden on the road to Bad Reichenhall, at a place called Stangass, it was decided to built a 2nd Reich Chancellery, where affairs of state could be carried on while Adolf Hitler was in Berchtesgaden.

Adolf Hitler had an office in the Chancellery

The 2nd Reich Chancellery was taken over by the US Armed Forces who used it as their headquarters for the Rest and Recreation authority.
This use continued until 1995 when the US forces left.

The complex has now been converted into apartments

To get there take the 841 Bus (Jennerbahn – Berchtesgaden – Bad Reichenhall) to bus stop Reittoffen (5 stops from Berchtesgaden Kurhaus).
There is a small road to you left as you alight the bus. Go down that road

If you visit this complex, please remember that people have their homes here and please take care to respect their privacy.

The original Nazi Eagle remains over the main entrance, minus the Swastika.
here are not many original Nazi eagles left in Germany to-day.

Adolf Hitler had a home on the Obersalzberg.
It was a typical Alpine house but was remodelled and turned into a very substantial residence and renamed the Berghof.
Other Nazis had homes there as well, including Herman Goring and Martin Bormann. There were also barrack blocks, a kindergarten, a hotel, a model farm, a tea house and various dwellings for staff. After 1945 there were nearly all gradually pulled down and great efforts were made to remove any trace of them., especially in the last few years and it appears that this policy was been largely successful.
A New Five Star Hotel now stands on the site of Goring's House and dominates the whole area
The rather uninteresting photo is of where the main Nazi complex was, with the Hotel in the distance

The Party Guest House which was used as an office by Martin Bormann, remained a ruin until the late 90,s when it was converted into a documentation centre with access to the Wehrmacht bunkers.
This documentation centre in no way praises or offers any excuses for National Socialism
It's extremely interesting and the opportunity to visit the bunkers is a reason in itself for a visit.

The Kehlstein Haus or Eagles Nest must be one of the most spectacular sights in Bavaria if not al Germany.
It was a tea house built by Martin Bormann as a present for Adolf Hitler on his 50th Birthday in 1939
However it was not a favourite of Hitler's who preferd a small tea house much lower down on the Obersalzberg and in fact the most recorded visits, and these do differ, is 16.
It is on top of the Kehlstein Mountain at a height of1834m.
It is now a restaurant

Access to the Eagles Nest is restricted to official bus transport.
It is closed from October through to May.
The Eagles Nest is one of the few remaining original building associated with National Socialism.
There appears to have been, in recent years, a policy of eradicating anything associated with National Socialism. Where this idea originated is beyond me, but I do know that eradicating buildings associated with matters unpleasant will in no way alter history.
I hope this policy is not applied to the Eagles Nest.