Inside the Ruins: Walking the Forgotten Remains of Hitler’s Berghof in BavariaRight now, I’m standing in southern Germany, just outside the Bavarian town of Berchtesgaden—a place most people immediately associate with the famous Eagle’s Nest. While the mountaintop structure is dramatic and visually striking, Hitler spent surprisingly little time there—only a handful of visits, somewhere between 10 and 14.His true Alpine headquarters, the place where countless major wartime decisions were made, sits lower on the mountain: the Berghof. Today, almost nothing remains—only scattered ruins, stone foundations, and fragments of a site that once played an outsized role in the direction of World War II.A Road Steeped in HistoryTo reach the Berghof, visitors and dignitaries once ascended a guarded mountain road. SS personnel monitored entry from a checkpoint and gate positioned near the base of the hill. Continuing upward, you pass the Zum Türken Hotel—an early structure tied to the regime. After Hitler rose to power, the building was seized and repurposed as a security headquarters and later connected to an extensive underground bunker network.Today, the façade still stands, overlooking the mountain road—silent but eerie.Climbing Toward the Former Heart of PowerAs you continue up the original driveway route, remnants begin to appear: a low stone retaining wall, broken steps, and scattered concrete blocks buried in soil and moss. These pieces mark locations where soldiers, foreign leaders, and Hitler himself once walked.The Berghof began as a modest rental house where Hitler reportedly finalized Mein Kampf. By the late 1930s, it had been expanded into an extravagant residence outfitted with terraces, guest rooms, and conference spaces. It served not only as a retreat, but as a nerve center of strategy, diplomacy, and propaganda.Standing Where History Was MadeOne of the most recognizable features—the massive window overlooking the Alps—is gone, but the foundation still outlines where it once stood. The window contained 90 glass panes and could retract mechanically into the basement, creating an open-air viewing space over the mountains.Many archival photos and private home films—often misattributed to the Eagle’s Nest—were actually taken here. These include Eva Braun’s personal color films, now stored in the U.S. National Archives.Foreign leaders such as Neville Chamberlain and Benito Mussolini stood in this very area while attempting to negotiate with Hitler. The decisions made here shaped the trajectory of the war.Bombing, Destruction, and What SurvivedOn April 25, 1945, the Berghof and surrounding area were hit by an RAF bombing raid intended to prevent its continued use. The building was left heavily damaged. When American forces arrived shortly after, they found the site already largely destroyed.In the 1950s, the remains were deliberately demolished—except for the retaining wall, which still supports the hillside today.Nearby, partially hidden by mud and woods, lies the exit of Hitler’s escape tunnel—a stark reminder of how closely this idyllic landscape is tied to world-changing history.