Bavaria to Rebuild Burned Eagle's Nest After Friday Fire
Police detained a 33-year-old man after flames destroyed the historic mountaintop structure near Berchtesgaden.
By Lina Lewis ·
The Kehlsteinhaus, the Alpine structure known as the Eagle's Nest, was largely destroyed by fire on Friday night.
Traunstein dispatchers received an alarm for the building at 21:15 local time. Firefighters arrived to find the structure fully engulfed in flames. No injuries were reported, though the steep terrain complicated efforts to control the blaze.
Bavarian police detained a 33-year-old German man near the scene. Officers stopped him on a motorcycle. A criminal investigation is currently underway to determine the motive. Local police official Gerhart Holzinger stated at a press conference that there is no evidence pointing to other suspects.
Approximately 200 emergency personnel responded to the site. Local media reported that the building had been largely destroyed and asked the public to stay away from the area.
Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann confirmed the state's intention to restore the site. Speaking to broadcaster BR24, Herrmann said the location would "under no circumstances remain a ruin." He noted that continuing the work of remembrance is a priority for the state.
The structure sits at an elevation of roughly 1,800 meters above the town of Berchtesgaden. It was part of the complex used by Adolf Hitler and his entourage during World War Two. The Nazis completed the building in 1938, and it survived the war to become a popular tourist destination and mountain inn.
The site has become a focal point for debates on preserving Nazi-linked buildings. Germany and Austria have frequently discussed whether such structures should be kept, repurposed, or demolished. In June, Berlin announced plans to demolish one of Hitler's bunkers to build residential and office space. In July, Austrian authorities converted Hitler's birthplace in Braunau am Inn into a police station.
