Eagle’s Nest vs. Obersalzberg: What’s the Difference?

Eagle’s Nest, Obersalzberg, Berghof – isn’t that all the same thing?

This is a question on many a visitor’s mind. The short answer: No, it’s not the same thing. While all three are in close proximity to each other, they are different and very distinct in their location and historical significance.

Read on to learn about the differences between these three places – how they are connected and what differentiates them.

Eagle’s Nest vs. Obersalzberg: The Short Answer

The Obersalzberg is an area above the town of Berchtesgaden. A former off-limits area, it has several important historical sites connected to the Nazi leadership and an excellent documentation center.

The Eagle’s Nest (Kehlsteinhaus) is a single building located much higher up on the Kehlstein mountain.

Importantly, the Eagle’s Nest is not another name for the Berghof, Hitler’s residence in Berchtesgaden.

What Is the Obersalzberg?

A long time ago, Obersalzberg (elevation approx. 1,000 meters/3,280 ft.) was an independent mountain village above Berchtesgaden (elevation 572 meters/1,877 ft.). It was popular with tourists who liked to rent rooms from the famers living there.

Then Hitler started to visit in the 1920s. He bought a house. Then his Nazi buddies started to buy houses.

Why Was the Obersalzberg Important?

In terms of Nazi history, the Obersalzberg is a very important place.

Once Hitler became the chancellor of Germany in 1933, the entire Obersalzberg was taken over by the Nazis. The residents either sold their homes or were expropriated. The area became off-limits to normal people – nobody could enter without a special permit.

Besides Hitler, a number of Nazi grandees had homes there, including Albert Speer, Hermann Göring and Martin Bormann. In addition, Heinrich Himmler and Josef Goebbels spent time there and used some of the buildings.

There was also considerable infrastructure in place, including a farm, SS barracks and administrative buildings. During the war, a massive bunker system was constructed.

The Obersalzberg became a second government seat. Hitler ended up spending a third of his time in power there. A great number of very important decisions were made here before and during the war, including the attack on Poland and the extermination of the Jews.

The Obersalzberg was not just a random place in a remote corner of Germany.

What Can You See at the Obersalzberg Today?

The British Royal Air Force destroyed most of the buildings on the Obersalzberg in an air raid on April 25, 1945. Today, none of the original Nazi-era buildings remain with the exception of the bunker system.

The main site of interest is the Dokumentation Obersalzberg, the excellent documentation center opened in 1999. It takes you through the history of the site and explains how the Obersalzberg and world events were connected.

You can choose between a 40-minute and an 80-minute audioguide tour. The 40-minute tour only scratches the surface. If at all possible, stay longer (much longer) to look at the exhibits in more detail.

At the end of your tour, you can access the bunkers.

A short walk beyond the documentation center, you will find the site of the Berghof, Hitler’s former residence. Today, only the supporting wall remains.

In addition, certain traces of former structures remain, e.g., of the SS barracks.

There is also a restaurant, but it is not historic.

What Is the Eagle’s Nest (Kehlsteinhaus)?

The Eagle’s Nest (German name Kehlsteinhaus) is a building on top of the Kehlstein mountain. It sits at an altitude of 1,834 meters (6,017 ft), high above the Obersalzberg.

Why Was the Eagle’s Nest Built?

The Eagle’s Nest was originally built for representative purposes – a place where the Nazi regime would meet high-level visitors.

Contrary to popular belief, the building was not a present on the occasion of Hitler’s 50th birthday.

The entire construction phase took only 13 months (1937-38). In these 13 months, a road was blasted into the mountain side, a tunnel and elevator shaft were dug and the building itself was erected and decorated. This was extraordinary, considering the location of the site.

The whole place was an excellent PR instrument. Just imagine yourself in the scene: You are driven up a narrow mountain road with steep drops. You walk through a torch-lit tunnel to arrive at a gleaming bronze elevator. 41 seconds later, you emerge on the top of a mountain with stunning views.

Who would not be impressed?

And that was the whole point.

Did Hitler Live at the Eagle’s Nest?

No. Hitler did not live at the Eagle’s Nest.

In fact, he didn’t like the Eagle’s Nest much and only visited about 14 times. He had a fear of heights and hated elevators. He was also worried about exposure to assassination attempts.

Whenever he was in Berchtesgaden, he lived at the Berghof down on the Obersalzberg.

However, his partner Eva Braun used the Eagle’s Nest to hang out with her friends.

What Is the Eagle’s Nest Used for Today?

Today the Eagle’s Nest houses a restaurant. It is a viewpoint with fantastic vistas of the surrounding German and Austrian Alps.

It is of course a historic site too. The building was not damaged in the British air raid and therefore remains in its original state. On the sun terrace, as you walk towards the back of the building, you will find a small exhibition giving you additional historic background information.

What Was Hitler’s Berghof?

Berghof is the name of Hitler’s residence in Obersalzberg. It is not the same building as the Eagle’s Nest.

Where Was the Berghof?

The Berghof was located on the Obersalzberg.

Can You Visit the Berghof Today?

The Berghof doesn’t exist anymore. It was damaged in an air raid in April 1945 and subsequently set on fire by SS troops.

In 1952, the ruins of the Berghof were bulldozed and the site filled with rubble. Today, all that remains is the supporting back wall.

Eagle’s Nest, Obersalzberg and Berghof Compared

Can You Visit the Eagle’s Nest and Obersalzberg on the Same Day?

Yes, you can. If you are historically interested, combining them makes a lot of sense.

The Obersalzberg will be your starting point. This is where you park your car or arrive by public transportation/tour bus.

From the Obersalzberg, you can catch a special bus up the mountain to the elevator that will take you to the Eagle’s Nest. After your visit, you return to the Obersalzberg the same way.

You can also walk up and/or down, but this will take several hours.

Which Should You Visit First?

The answer to this question depends on a number of factors.

The most practical question is, How good is availability for the bus tickets? So find that out first when you arrive. The ticket offices are right by the bus stop.

Note that your ticket will be for a specific departure and return time.

If availability is limited, grab whatever departure time you can get, and then arrange the rest of your visit around it.

If there is good availability all day long, look at the weather before you decide. It doesn’t matter much if it rains at the Obersalzberg, because the documentation center is indoors. However, you will want good weather (ideally sunny and dry, definitely no strong winds) at the Eagle’s Nest. Otherwise, you may be stuck inside the building. It’s interesting to look around, but there is not a ton to see – 15-20 minutes will be enough. You don’t want to spend two hours in there just staring at the wood panelling!

How Much Time Do You Need?

To go to the Eagle’s Nest only, you will need a good three hours:

• 30 minutes to travel from the Obersalzberg bus stop to the Eagle’s Nest (including the elevator ride)
• 2 hours at the Eagle’s Nest (the standard amount of time for every ticket – you can change your departure time at one of the terminals at Eagle’s Nest)
• 30 minutes to return to the Obersalzberg

If you would like to also visit the Obersalzberg documentation center (highly recommended!), add at least 40 minutes. More time is better – you can easily spend 2-3 hours there, if not longer.

To visit the site of the former Berghof, just downhill from the documentation center, add around 20 minutes. You can also try to find the remains of other sites or just roam around, which may add another hour or so to your stay.

Which Is More Worth Visiting: Eagle’s Nest or Obersalzberg?

Great question. It depends on your interests.

Choose the Eagle’s Nest if …

… your main interest is in seeing the landscape or visiting a historical (notorious) site in its (mostly) original state.

Choose Obersalzberg if …

… you are mainly interested in the history of the place and the historical context.

If Possible, Visit Both

Interesting as it is, the Eagle’s Nest only tells part of the story and gives little context. Moreover, while it is foremost on most visitors‘ minds, it is, historically speaking, the less relevant location. The real history was made at the Obersalzberg, and the documentation center is there to tell you all about it.

Common Misconceptions About the Eagle’s Nest and Obersalzberg

Is the Eagle’s Nest Hitler’s Former Home?

No.

When in Berchtesgaden, Hitler lived at the Berghof.

Is the Berghof the Same as the Eagle’s Nest?

No.

The Berghof was Hitler’s residence on the Obersalzberg.

The Eagle’s Nest was a representative building on the Kehlstein mountain, about 850 meters above the Obersalzberg. Hitler did not live there. In fact, he only visited about 14 times.

Is the Eagle’s Nest Located on the Obersalzberg?

No.

The Eagle’s Nest was part of the off-limits area demarcated by the Nazis. But it is not located on the Obersalzberg itself. It is located on top of the Kehlstein mountain. To get there, you ride a special bus and an elevator. Or you walk uphill for a few hours.

Does Hitler’s House Still Exist?

Not in Berchtesgaden.

The Berghof, where he lived, was damaged and burned at the end of the war. In 1952 (on Hitler’s birthday), it was bulldozed to the ground. Today, only the supporting back wall remains. If you are familiar with historic photos of the Berghof, the site is completely unrecognizable today.

The apartment building in which Hitler lived in Munich, on Prinzregentenplatz, still exists today. It is now a police station. (This is the apartment where Lee Miller was famously photographed in Hitler’s bathtub after the liberation of Munich.)

Final Thoughts: Understanding the Two Sites

When visiting the Eagle’s Nest and Obersalzberg, you get to see two places that are connected and both relevant in their own way.

The Eagle’s Nest is a historical site with spectacular views.

The Obersalzberg and especially the documentation center will help you better understand the entire area’s historic relevance and role during the Third Reich.