Aug 31 Berchtesgaden and Eagle's Nest History Tour

When the war in Germany was coming to an end in 1945, there were two prized military objectives. One was Berlin (taken by the Russians) and the other was Berchtesgaden and Hitler's Berghof (mountain home) with its surrounding military installations in the Obersaltzberg (just above Berchtesgaden). Hitler actually spent 75% of his time at the Berghof during the time he was chancellor (1933 - 1945).

There has been considerable debate on whether the Americans or the French reached Berchtesgaden and Hitler's Berghof first. It was the Americans who first reached Berchtesgaden and the French who first traveled above Berchtesgaden to the Berghof. Hitler's Berghof had actually been heavily damaged by the British Royal Air Force in a bombing raid a month earlier (the house ruins have since been totally removed). Hitler was in Berlin and the Nazi's had abandoned the Berchtesgaden area as the Americans and French approached and there was very little resistance. 

The building called "The Eagles Nest" is actually a tea house that was built on a mountain peak high above Hitler's Berghof. It was built as a birthday gift by the Nazi party for Hitler's 50th birthday. It was never used as Hitler's home (there were no bedrooms). Hitler only visited the Eagle's nest 14 times (he preferred another tea house closer to the Berghof). It was not damaged by the RAF bombing raid and today is a tourist attraction and restaurant.

Yesterday we took a a 4 hour guided tour called the "Eagles Nest History Tour". It starts in Berchtesgaden, takes you on a bus to a newly constructed Nazi documention museum near where Hitler had his Berghof, and then on another bus up the  narrow mountain road to the Eagles Nest high above the Berghof (about a 20 minute ride). The tour was in English, very well organized and informative. Well worth the 50 Euro ($56) for seniors.

View of the Eagle's Nest

(looking west from a path leading to

an overlook that looks east to Austria)

Panoramic view from the Eagle's nest to the north

(Saltzburg is barely visible in the center

just below he horizon)

A similar view toward Saltzburg

The Obersalzberg Documention museum

documents the history of Hitler's as

chancellor of Germany.

Posters used as part of

Hitler's Youth program.

Symbols worn by persons considered "unfit"

for Hitler's community programs

(in the 4th row, two triangles making a star of David 

worn by jews)

An extensive series of  bunkers and tunnels were

constructed in the Obersaltzberg region 

(nearly 2.5 miles total).

Some are open to the public.

An etching in the wall made by French 

soldiers when they entered the bunkers 

in May of 1945.

Other pictures (taken in the morning before the tour)

Konigsee (Kings Lake)

(located 3 miles south of Berchtesgaden)

Boat houses at the lake harbor leading

to the main lake.

Round trip boat rides (55 min each way)

were 17.50 Euro ($19.50) for adults.

The boat rides were very popular.

There are restaurants and walking trails at

the other end of the lake so you could

get off and walk or enjoy a lunch

and then take a boat ride back.

The lake is surrounded by steep mountains.

View of Berchtesgaden from the south

(from a back road leading into the town)

View from a covered bridge in Berchtesgaden.

View just  outside  of Berchtesgaden

(on a back road from Bad Reichenhall)

Aug 30 Mondsee and St. Gilgen

Mondsee is a small scenic village 17 miles east of Salzburg (next to the lake with the same name). St. Michael's Basilica in Mondsee was used for the wedding scene in The Sound of Music. 

St. Gilgen is a small scenic village on St. Wolfgangsee (Lake St. Wolfgang) in the same region. It was the birth place of Mozart's mother and Mozart's sister lived there after she was married (Mozart himself never visited St. Gilgen).

We made a circle tour through these two villages and then back to Bad Reichenhall via some narrow country roads we probably would not have found (or driven) if not for our GPS guiding us.

St. Michael's in Mondsee

(from the village plaza)

Inside the basilica

(Used for The Sound  of Music wedding scene)

Some views in Mondsee

From the Mondsee city park by the lake

Some views on the main street in Mondsee

Some pictures from St. Gilgen

The house where Mozart's mother was born

and his sister lived after she was married

St. Gilgen city hall

Other views in St. Gilgen

Some contryside scenes on the way 

back to Bad Reichenhall

Mountain view from the road between 

Berchtesgaden and Bad Reichenhall

Views of the Jodlbauer (Yodeling Farmer) Ferienwohnung (vacation

apartments) 100 yards above the one we are staying in 

Dinner at the apt

(when in Germany, do as the Germans do)

Aug 29 Obersalzberg History

Bad Reichenhall is 12 miles from Berchtesgaden (village) and Obersalzberg (region just above Berchtesgaden) where Hitler had his mountain home (Berghof). A quote from the internet: 

"It was on the Obersalzberg that Hitler made his home, along with Hermann Goering and Martin Bormann. High level meetings were held here, and many important decisions affecting the lives of millions were made by Hitler sitting in his mountain retreat, the Berghof. The government of Barvaria has removed most of the building associated with that period in an attempt to restore the area to its original pastoral atmosphere and, many suspect, to erase evidence of a disturbing period of their history."

An internet image of Hitler's Berghof

which was largely destroyed by a bombing 

raid shortly before the end of the war. 

The ruins have since been removed and

the area largely overtaken by trees.

It was raining so we spent most of the day sipping cappucino and emailing and Googling information about the Obersalzberg to prepare for a history tour wednesday that will include Hitler's Eagle's Nest, some of the bunkers, and a documentation museum.

The weather cleared in the late afternoon.

View from the apt kitchen window looking west.

View looking east after the rain stopped

(in the general direction of Berchtesgaden)

Aug 28 Salzburg

The name Salzburg (salt castle/fortress/city/community) has been used for this beautiful Austrian city since 755 AD. One third of the population perished during the 14th century plague. The work on the fortress that overlooks the Altstadt (old city) started in 1077. The city reached its prime in the 1600s and 1700s as revenue from the salt mines was used to build beautiful palaces and churches. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart is the city's most famous inhabitant. Almost half (46%) of the city's buildings were destroyed by air raids in WWII.
Several of the scenes for "The Sound of Music" with  Julie Andrews were shot in various locations in or near Salzburg. There are numerous Sound of Music tours offered that visit the movie locations.

The fortress above the Altstadt
(from the west)

Fortress fom the northwest

The fortification walls extended all around the

hill on the south side of the Altstadt.

View to the Altstadt

(from the hill to the west)

Altstadt and Fortress

(Salzach river to the left and fortress to the right)

Some of the fortification walls

on the hill above the Old City.

Mozart's home in the Altstadt on the northern side of the Salzach river.

The red umbrellas on the left side of the building are

a small sidewalk cafe beside the entry to Mozart's home.

Entry to Mozart's home.

The sidewalk cafe beside Mozart's home.

Mozart coffee and bon-bon

Mozart hawking bon-bons in the Altstadt.

One of several Mozart bon-bon shop windows.

View of Mirabellgarten

Scene of the "Do Re Mi" song in the movie.

Looking toward the "Do Re Mi" steps

at the west end of the garden.

View from the top of the "Do Re Mi" steps.

(The fortress above the Altstadt in the background)

Another movie location that is part of

the Merabell Garden

View from the fortress hill looking over the

Schloss Lepoldstrom (Lepoldsrom Castle)

with the small lake behind it (lower center of picture). 

This is where Maria and the children fell into the lake.

Closer view of Schloss Lepoldstrom

and the Lepoldstromer Pond behind it.

Some miscellaneous pictures

There is a  pedestrian bridge that crosses the

Salzach river connecting the south and north sides 

of the Old City. The sides of the bridge are covered with

padlocks (yes padlocks) that people  have put  there as

momentos of their visit. Some have only one name and 

others  have "Adam + Eve".

A few more pictures from the Altstadt

Back at the Ferienwohnung (vacation apartment) 

where we are staying.

The main house.

The building with our 3 room apartment

(just  to the left of the main house)