BERCHTESGADEN, Germany — A fire tore through the Kehlsteinhaus, the Nazi-era mountaintop building known as the Eagle’s Nest, late Friday, leaving the structure nearly destroyed. Police detained one person as investigators work to determine the cause.
A fire alarm was triggered at about 9:15 p.m. Friday, Oct. 23. When firefighters arrived, the building was fully involved, authorities said.
About 200 firefighters and emergency personnel responded to the site, which sits on a steep ridge more than 6,000 feet above sea level. The remote location and difficult terrain complicated firefighting efforts, and crews were still working the fire Saturday morning. Authorities said the building had been almost completely destroyed.
No one was inside at the time, and no injuries were reported.
Police detained a person after the fire broke out but have not said whether that individual is connected to the blaze. The cause remains under investigation.
The Kehlsteinhaus was completed in 1938 as a reception and meeting site for Nazi officials and their guests. Although widely associated with Adolf Hitler, he visited only occasionally. The building was separate from the Berghof, Hitler’s residence on the Obersalzberg below.
Since 1952, the Eagle’s Nest has operated as a mountain restaurant and drew visitors from around the world, with an exhibit on its history.
