"Eagle's Nest" on Mount Kehlstein in Bavaria - world history was made here
The Eagle's Nest estate on the Kehlstein mountain in Bavaria - world history was once made here
Day nine of the Alpine Trio tour
Today, according to the program, we have the most unusual excursion on this tour. We are going to the Berchtesgaden National Park, to the Kehlstein mountain, to the Eagle's Nest estate. I dreamed about visiting this place for the last two years in a row. And now, finally, I have this opportunity. Even yesterday we were wondering if the weather would allow us to climb the mountain, or we would have to abandon the excursion, but in the morning we were pleased with the dry weather, and we happily left the hotel for an excursion.
Almost the entire group went to the elective course, with the exception of a few people. We brought these tourists to Salzburg to the parking lot near the Mirabell Park, and from here the bus then picked them up after the tour. There we again pick up our guide Eugene and head to the border with Bavaria. The Berchtesgaden National Park is territorially located in Bavaria, but it is not far from Salzburg.
There was a little fog in the morning, so on the way we still stop by the Kö nigssee lake, and by 9 o'clock we land at the parking lot near this lake. There are a lot of shops with local souvenirs on the shore of the lake, and we are given 45 minutes for shopping. A short walk along the shore of the lake, a photo of the village, and then the tour of souvenir shops begins.
Shopping was very pleasant. We were pleasantly surprised by bags, belts and wallets made of genuine leather at very affordable prices. And for lovers of products made from natural pebbles, it was just a paradise here, with such a wide selection and beauty of the items offered. Time has passed quickly and it is time for us to return to the bus. Most tourists bought local souvenirs here, and some overstocked with leather trouser belts and wallets. They decided that this would be the best gift for their loved ones.
The weather is getting better, the fog has almost cleared, and we continue on the route to the village of Obersalzberg, to the lower mountain bus station near the Kehlstein mountain. In half an hour we were there.
From the lower station on a special mountain bus we go upstairs. The way up takes about 20 minutes. On the bus, an audio guide tells a brief history of the construction of this estate. This estate was built on the initiative of Bormann as a gift to Hitler, on his fiftieth birthday in 1938, and was the Fuhrer's summer residence for especially important diplomatic meetings. Here, in the Oval Hall with a huge fireplace donated by Mussolini, 13 official receptions were held at the highest level.
All the way up is a unique mountain serpentine with very beautiful views. On the way we pass five tunnels, and stop at the site near the entrance to another foothill tunnel, which leads to a high-speed elevator. Our entire group fits in the elevator. The elevator is a marvel of technology and an example of luxury and understands us another 124 meters up. Inside the elevator, the walls are covered with gilded brass and mirrors. The glow inside the elevator was so dazzling that for a while I closed my eyes, but then I got used to it a little, and prepared to take some pictures after leaving the elevator.
From the elevator, we pass through the restaurant hall into an oval hall with a marble fireplace, and then into a gallery with a photo exhibition dedicated to the historical past of this place. Here our guide Eugene stopped and continued his story. But we are already looking forward to going outside as soon as possible in order to admire the peaks of the Alps that surround us.
On the top of the mountain there is a huge oak cross with the image of edelweiss. It shows the height of Mount Kehlstein. And so we all began to climb to this peak. The ascent was not too high, but since the beauty surrounding us was simply stunning, this ascent dragged on for half an hour. Each meter of ascent opened up more and more new views, and I stopped to admire and take another photo. Sometimes, a small cloud flew over the mountain, and we found ourselves between the clouds. It was incredibly beautiful!! ! I went up to the cross, but my legs lead even further, and further along the mountain path. Then there was a heap of stones, and I sat down to rest. From clean air and silence came a blissful state of mind. Well, my two-year dream came true....
Time has flown by and it's time to return to the meeting place at the elevator. We stayed there, judging by the photo, 1 hour 20 minutes. Some even had time to dine in the restaurant. But most of the group did not waste time for lunch, but enjoyed the mountain scenery. The sun, interspersed with clouds, created such a fantastic beauty around that I did not want to waste a single minute.
Everyone gathered at the elevator on time, and we go down to the mountain bus stop. Buses run strictly according to the schedule, and since the serpentine is narrow, then all the buses at once, with an interval of five minutes, go up, and then, in the same order, go down. While descending, we again admired the beauty of the Alps.
We transfer from the mountain bus to our own bus, and drive on, because today we still have a pleasant event planned: a visit to a schnapps factory with a schnapps tasting.
We drove for a short time, in half an hour we were there. The brewery is located next to the road, the bus to the parking lot, and we go inside. First of all, we go to the workshop where this schnapps is brewed. A small tour of the workshop, the master talks about the technology, Eugene translates his story for us. Gentian is the main raw material for brewing in this schnapps factory. It is grown by local farmers, but it also grows wild. As the connoisseurs said, the schnapps here are of the highest quality, triple distillation. Then other drinks are made on the basis of this schnapps: liqueurs and cream liqueur.
After the workshop, we are taken to the trading floor, where various schnapps drinks are placed on two trays in small glasses. Here everyone was able to taste at least four glasses of different drinks. Next to each row of glasses was a bottle with a label so that we could remember what we were drinking.
In the same place, on the shelves along the walls, and in the middle of the trading floor, there are bottles of various capacities of drinks that you can collect in a basket so that you can pay at the checkout at the exit. Baskets with samplers of schnapps were of particular interest to everyone. Each sampler cap. 20ml costs 1 euro. The whole interest was that it was possible to collect such samples of different types of schnapps for souvenirs to your friends. Yes, and to try it already at home. After some thought, I chose 12 samples, and then at home I already regretted that I had not taken more. Some of them were very good.
After tasting and buying the drinks we liked, we sat in the courtyard near the store at the tables and had a snack with our supplies before the road.
From here, we are already going back to Salzburg, for the rest of our groupmates, and then we go to spend the night in Hungary at Lake Balaton. The weather is sunny and warm again, and it was such a pity to leave this wonderful part of the Salzkamergut.
On the way, stop for dinner at an autogrill in Austria. Broth with beef meatball, a plate of vegetables and a bun cost me 8 euros. Once again we stopped in Slovenia, where there were already very different prices. Only 1.5 euros for a large cup of coffee with milk - it was so nice. At 23-15 we were already at the Molo Hotel in Siofok. The day was so full of impressions that the walk along the lake was postponed until morning. We will live in this hotel for two nights, and we will have enough time for walks along the Balaton.
