Everyone has a bucket list. The trip to Obersalzberg was on mine. So while on vacation in Austria and the Czech Republic I knew I wanted to slip over the border from Salzburg into Germany to see the Eagle’s Nest. I encourage everyone to go. If you only get to one place, Salzburg and Obersalzberg are worth the trip. I feel very fortunate to be able to do these sorts of things. For those of you that can’t, I hope you get a fraction of the satisfaction I got, by enjoying these photos. I feel obligated in a way to share my trips whether picking, or vacationing with all of you. Without my customers and the tremendous friendships I have made thru this hobby turned business, none of this would be possible. Thank you!
This view is just outside Salzburg. Statuary on the bridge head was very nice with the Alps in the background.
Here is a view from the car on the way up to Berchtesgaden and the Obersalzberg.
Here you can see the Kehlsteinhaus or more commonly known Eagle’s Nest on the very tip of the mountain.
Here I am standing outside the Documentary Center on the scenic overlook. Notice the clouds up top? I was contemplating having a good cry at this moment. I had just come from inside where I was told that the Eagles nest was closed due to snow falling over night and still hanging around. 4000 miles to be denied.
This is the view from the scenic overlook outside the Documentary Center. The Documentary Center is one of 2 remaining original buildings at the Obersalzberg community that Hitler had built.
The clouds were thickening up again. I was praying for a heavenly parting of the clouds. We were told to call first thing Friday morning to check the status of the road and to see if the buses would be running. Positive mental attitude was the order of the day.
Here you can really see how thick the clouds were.
We came out of the Documentary Center several hours later and this was the view. Perhaps the praying is working after all.
This is the Documentary Center. We spent the entire afternoon in this building. There is so much to learn in this center, it is amazing. Some of it was fascinating, other parts completely depressing. Regardless of that, it is something everyone should see so we never forget that horrific time in our history.
Just to the east of Obersalzberg is the small village of Oberau. We were mesmerized by the view and the quaint village atmosphere. We were also hungry so we found a small pub/restaurant next to this beautiful church.
This photo is typical of Alpine meadows and views. It was like it was right out of the movies, except I am standing there trying to grasp the whole thing.
My wife, Kathy grew up on a dairy farm. She was fascinated with the cows and she wanted to show her dad. She ventured a lot closer and got some “personal” shots of the cows.
If you ever get to OberSalzburg, you have to stop at this pub. Service was fantastic. All home cooked, truly authentic alpine food and of course, some local beer …
Now, I am not a big beer guy, but when you are in this location, you have to have some. I chose this locally brewed Pilsner at the Hofbauhaus in Oberau, Berchtesgadener Pils. It was fantastic. I had 2. The food was terrific as well.
OK. Friday morning!!! We got a green light. Snow has been cleared off the road and we have partly cloudy skies at the moment. We rushed back out to the site in hopes it would last.
Holy cow, we made it to the base of the mountain. The bus ride is 20 minutes up the sides of the mountain thru continuous switchbacks. I was sitting on the left side of the bus and anyone who knows me, knows, I am not good with heights. I have to apologize as I could not look out the right side of the bus on the way up, so no photos until we stopped. I had to look to the left the entire way up. Looking out the right side meant looking straight down the side of the mountain. This view is looking back towards Salzburg high above the Obersalzberg, but not to the top yet.
The crest above the tunnel opening states that it was dedicated to Hitler in 1938 on his 50th birthday. A gift to him from the 3rd Reich.
The tunnel going back into the mountain to access the elevator was several hundred yards deep. These stones are all hand cut, unpolished marble. Photos of the elevator are not allowed. It is still the original solid, polished brass one built in 1938. Only the electric motors and cable lifts are modern technology.
This is the view you see as you step off the elevator and step to the left out the side door of the house. This is looking back towards Salzburg proper to the east.
From down below, you think the house is as high as you can go. Wrong! The mountain it sits on, rises substantially higher. You can walk part way up. There was 6″ of new snow that had fallen overnight.
A view looking back down at the road up to the base where the tunnel is. A long way down.
In the following pictures, you will see a view from the back of the house. You will notice that there is an archway to the left of the house in that photo. That archway is the entrance to a sun porch with arched windows in it. This view to the alpine lake below is what you would see, sitting on that terrace.
Ok, so we got up here about 9:30 am. When we arrived, we had blue skies. Notice what is coming in from the West. Sun was at my back in this photo, so it does not really show how gloomy it was getting. Notice the archway on the left side of the house.
My absolute favorite view that day. The sun was going away fast and the snow was glistening with the front coming in fast.
The spot in the center of the photo below that has the bare spots is the Obersalzberg compound. You can see the landing where the tunnel entrance is just below me.
Standing on the lookout point staring down 3000 plus feet.
Spectacular wood work was found thru out the house. This room has wood that can only be found in this local area.
The door way on the right is the entrance to the sun porch.
Looking out the first archway window of the sun porch.
The ceiling in the main dining hall.
Italian marble given to the project by Mussolini. Notice that the center stones have a jagged edge to them and they are arched upward. Originally, these were straight across and squared off like the rest. Soldiers chipped away at the stones for souvenirs, which left it like it is today.
A reference to how big the fireplace is.
Standing at the base where the busses stop.
Our return bus trip was scheduled for 12pm. At 11:30 we went inside to have a bite to eat. Remember the clouds coming in? Well, by 11:30 it was snowing again and starting to get socked in. Hard to see here, but I was trying to capture the snow falling.
A 20 minute ride back down. By the time we got back down, you could not see any of the mountain top due to the heavy clouds and snow that came in just as we left.
Friday was special in several ways. One, my prayers were granted and we got 1.5 hours of gorgeous sun and weather up top. After that, it was not looking good. Second, I got to celebrate my buddy Don’s 75th birthday at the Stiegl Brewery restaurant in Salzburg. A special cake was presented to him, a gift bottle of beer as well. The staff and the food were outstanding. I highly recommend you stop here for both food and beverage.