Big D and I spent a weekend in the German Alps last September – visiting The Eagles Nest was our primary goal. We even watched the final few Band of Brothers episodes to brush up on history (as seen through the eyes of Tom Hanks, anyway…)

The drive south included a few miles in Austria (adding another country to Fletcher’s doggie passport) and was slow thanks to rain and terrible traffic.

We took an informative, guided tour the first day featuring a museum, Third Reich sites in the area, an elaborate bunker system, and a trip to Kehlsteinhaus – the Eagle’s Nest.

5 May 1945 French Army graffiti in a bunker

This fireplace was a birthday gift to Hitler from Mussolini

I’m sorry, I ordered the large??

Sadly, the weather that day was not cooperative:

We were shocked when we awoke the next morning and saw the view of Kehlsteinhaus from our hotel room!

Our tour guide told us how to hike from our hotel to Hitler’s actual summer house (he never resided at the nest) via an unassuming, unmarked path. We took her advice and also took advantage of the great weather:

remains of the Berghof foundation

To deter tourists, sight-seers, and neo-Nazis, the Bavarian government blew up the ruins of the Berghof on 30 April 1952, the anniversary of Hitler’s death.

using the self timer

And then we put the top down on my car, drove around, and really enjoyed the day, which included an electric boat ride on the Königssee, which was breathtaking!

For scale, note the church on the lower left.

And then we ventured back to the Eagle’s Nest, and oh what a difference a day makes!

Enjoying a Hofbrau above the clouds

Our evening walk included a stop at Hotel Zum Türken, one of only 3 remaining buildings on the Platterhof – and former SS Headquarters.

Photography forbidden? Whoops.

And after a cocktail to round out the evening and a short walk downtown the next morning, our trip came to a close.

More photos from our adventures in the Bavarian Alps are over on Flickr.