Fire largely destroys Hitler's former Eagle's Nest retreat in Bavaria
24.10.2026
Bavaria's Kehlsteinhaus, a mountain retreat also known as Eagle's Nest formerly used by Adolf Hitler, has been largely destroyed by a fire overnight, police said on Saturday.
Emergency forces were called to the site in southern Germany on Friday evening at around 10 pm (2000 GMT), with the fire still burning by 7 am on Saturday morning, officers said.
Police believe the blaze was caused by arson.
A motorcyclist detained near Eagle's Nest after the fire broke out is thought to have started the blaze, dpa learnt from investigators.
Authorities are due to share further details during a press conference on Saturday afternoon.
Police assume that no one has been injured as no one is believed to have been inside the building, which is now used as a restaurant, at the time the blaze broke out.
Firefighting efforts were complicated by the building's remote location atop the Kehlstein peak at 1,838 metres. The site is normally accessed via bus, on a trip that takes 20 minutes and passes through five tunnels.
Firefighting operations continued on Saturday morning, with the surrounding area cordoned off. The building could only be accessed using heavy breathing equipment, police said.
The former Nazi retreat near the Austrian border was completed in 1938. It has been used as a restaurant since 1952. However, the establishment was closed on Friday.
Hitler visited Eagle's Nest several times to receive diplomats and other foreign guests, according to the local tourism association in the nearby town of Berchtesgaden.
However, politically, the retreat "remained of little significance" and was mainly used by senior Nazi officials for leisure purposes and private celebrations, according to the association.
Today, it houses an exhibition highlighting its Nazi history.
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