The Kehlsteinhaus aka Eaglesnest above Berchtesgaden, Bavaria, has been in flames since shortly after 9 p.m. local time
In May 1945, paratroopers of the 101st Airborne Division reached it, and it became a symbol of the Allied victory over tyranny in Europe.
https://www.br.de/nachrichten/bayern/brand-in-berggasthof-kehlsteinhaus-in-berchtesgaden,VYuStBs
https://www.ricksteves.com/watch-read-listen/read/articles/hitlers-eagles-nest-at-berchtesgaden
a 7:02 minute story has just been put up by DW (Deutsche Welle, the German public news channel - completely reliable) on YouTube - in English.
https://youtu.be/EJahgOVshcg?si=E1hIbx7RXYa6tJgU
The head of the Documentation Centre below the building in the fire is interviewed.
A suspect has been arrested.
.my wife and I remember visiting quite a few years ago, and were able to climb up to the cross. I don't remember such a good path as is shown in the DW piece.
According to a press release from the Bavarian Ministry of the Interior, the Kehlsteinhaus has been completely destroyed by fire. Although the walls are still standing (you can see the still smoking ruin on the Kehlsteinhaus webcam at https://www.bergfex.de/jenner-schoenau-am-koenigssee/webcams/c5087/), it will likely have to be demolished and replaced with a conventional Gasthaus. Tourists with Nazi obsessions will have to go elsewhere in the future.
Bavarian news in German:
https://www.br.de/nachrichten/bayern/brand-in-berggasthof-kehlsteinhaus-in-berchtesgaden,VYuStBs
After the fire in the Eagle's Nest near Berchtesgaden, everything points to arson. The police have arrested a 33-year-old. He is said to be psychologically conspicuous. Interior Minister Herrmann assumes that the former Nazi building will be rebuilt.
When I was there, visibility was very poor so I didn't go up to see it. I was not disappointed because my research indicated that it wasn't all that much. OTOH I spent at least 2 hours in the Documentation Center - before visiting the remarkable bunkers underneath. By the time I left, the entire sight was fogged in. Well worth the visit.
I visited the Eagle's Nest some years ago and it was worth the trip. The scenic views were awesome.
During my Army time end of the 80s I stayed at the then General Walker Hotel and the Gasthaus that was the Nazi farm by what is now the golf course. It was a good deal for a Soldier and family then. Of course we visited the Keilsteinhaus and the tunnels under the General Walker Hotel before they were open to the public and the yet to be built Documentation Center. Both the hotel and Gasthaus have since been torn down after being returned to Germany @2001. I remember the huge leather chairs and the stories of how the local farms had beautiful wooden floors taken from the Obersalzberg ruins. Fantastic view of the Watzmann from the golf course.
What a shame that such a distinctive historic site has been destroyed, especially if it's a proven case of arson. I can imagine how difficult it was to fight the fire. and more difficult at night. Hopefully they will rebuild it in a somewhat authentic manner.
Historian Mark Felton has already posted a video of the site, with before and after fire pictures - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JOAt-PHuiis .
I'm really thankful I visited in September. My grandpa was there at the end of WW2 and he said Berchtesgaden was the most beautiful place and that my dad should visit and visit the Eagle's nest. So my dad visited twice and I finally did just last month with my husband. It was a historical connection and also to my grandpa who died when I was 6.
I watch all of the videos from Mark Felton, and this one was very informative and good to watch if you want a close-up of the damage.
The photos of the destroyed interior used in the video can be found here https://www.instagram.com/reel/De6nD_JRGts
I really can't see the point of rebuilding it - architecturally undistinguished, there are more meaningful places to learn about the Third Reich, and Adolf Hitler himself reportedly hardly ever visited (scared of heights).
If they want to have a nice cafe on the site, do something that would really upset AH, raze the ruin to the ground and build something in "degenerate" glass Bauhaus style to really take advantage of the views.
