{"id":9131,"date":"2024-08-23T17:47:18","date_gmt":"2024-08-23T16:47:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/purplemeanie.co.uk\/?p=9131"},"modified":"2024-08-23T20:01:09","modified_gmt":"2024-08-23T19:01:09","slug":"day-19-kehlsteinhaus-eagles-nest-and-konigsee","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/purplemeanie.co.uk\/index.php\/2024\/08\/23\/day-19-kehlsteinhaus-eagles-nest-and-konigsee\/","title":{"rendered":"Day 19 – Kehlsteinhaus Eagles Nest and K\u00f6nigsee"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Wow!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The day started in minimalist mode at the Winkl-Landthal campsite where we\u2019d left the van in a minimalist mode over night, to make a quick get away. We had wound the awning back in the night before and hadn\u2019t even slept in the pop top.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Minimalist Mode<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

That meant we could skedaddle really early, with hardly any tear down, and beat the rush to Eagles Nest. It was a quick \u201cteeth brush\u201d and \u201cloo stop\u201d then off the site by 8.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019d booked a 9:20 bus, the night before, to take us from the Obersalzberg Dokumentation (Information Centre) Car Park. This is only one of the most expensive bus rides (within reason) that you can take\u2026 \u20ac31 each for a 6.5km there and 6.5km back journey. Wowzers!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But seeing as we were so keen to get out early, we\u2019d got to the bus departure point by 8:30. We were told by the ticket office that we could ask the drivers for an earlier ride. So after waiting until the departure time to see if there was space, we managed to get on the 8:55 bus instead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There were 4 electric busses, all in convoy, doing the 15 minute ferrying from the information centre up to the eagles rest site. The bus stopped about halfway up to let another 4 busses pass\u2026 8 servicing the hill in total. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Busses at the top of the mountain<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Tunnel from bus drop off to bottom of lift<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The bus deposited us at a drop off point 124m lower than the Kehlsteinhaus \u201ctea room\u201d on the top. You then had to walk about 100m along a tunnel to get to the base of a brass plated lift to take you the 124m up to the main hill top.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The tunnel is quite amazing. It is incredibly well constructed – straight and with highly precise stonework. Amazing craftsmanship. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Now that\u2019s a lift door!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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The Kehlsteinhaus lift has an original phone and clock<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

At the hill top you exit the lift into the main \u201chouse\u201d and then onto the walkway around the property. We took a left and headed down to a lower lookout.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As soon as you step out of the lift, you\u2019re hit by the enormity of the landscape. You are literally sitting on top of the world. And I\u2019m sure the sense of \u201ccommanding all you survey\u201d was not lost on Hitler.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unfortunately, pictures really don\u2019t do the view justice. But hopefully some of the majesty comes through.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Selfie from the lower lookout<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s very difficult to keep the whole experience in context. The scenery is stunning but so is the historical significance of the decisions that we being made there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After the lower viewing point we headed back up past the house and had a coffee – upsetting the waiters in the process, by moving tables after we\u2019d ordered. We left him a healthy tip by way of a sorry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Coffee at Kehlsteinhaus <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

We then headed up to the top of the site, past the cross and to the very top of the mountain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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View from the top of the Kehlsteinhaus Mountain<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Those views are just staggering. You are perched on a rocky outcrop, with almost vertical cliff edges on all sides, and so you feel like you\u2019re looking down at valleys wherever you turn. The views to lake K\u00f6nigsee are stunning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We were very lucky to have a clear day with blue skies. The past two or three days have been grey, Eagles Nest would not have been the same in the rain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here\u2019s a panoramic video\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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