The Eagles Nest

One of the top highlights of the entire trip was our visit to Hitler's Eagles Nest in the Alps just across the border from Salzburg.  This was our final tour of the trip, following the morning visit of the salt mines.  Known to the Germans as Kehlsteinhaus, this is a chalet-like structure built on a sub peak of the mountain complex above Berchtesgaden.  This chalet was built as a retreat for Hitler and a place to bring dignitaries.  

The road up to the entrance of Kehlsteinhaus is private and traveled only by buses operated by the facility.  The view is progressively better as the bus climbs the mountain.  The day we visited was cloudy and drizzling, so the clouds made interesting layers and patterns and were changing constantly.  Below is a photo from the bus as we climbed the mountain.

We exited the bus then walked a long distance down a bricked tunnel to the very same elevator Hitler used to ascend to the Kehlsteinhaus!  Once on top, the views were spectacular!

But the real treat was still ahead of us.  A pathway extends from the level of the Kehlsteinhaus, up along a ridge to a point well above the Kehlsteinhaus.  There are many photos from our walk up that ridge, but my favorite of all of them is below.  The view of the Kehlsteinhaus from the ridge above it, with the clouds slightly embracing the structure from the left, is really spectacular.  This may be my favorite photo from the entire trip!

There are many beautiful photos in this album and it is one to not miss!  This visit was one of top two or three activities of the entire trip!