A fire nearly destroyed the Eagle’s Nest, a historic mountain retreat near Berchtesgaden in Bavaria, Germany, on Friday night. Completed in 1938, the building was intended for senior Nazi officials, although Adolf Hitler rarely visited it. In recent years, it housed a restaurant, an outdoor drinking area and an exhibition about its history.
About 200 emergency workers fought the flames overnight. Access was difficult because crews had to follow narrow, winding roads and tunnels up the mountain. Strong winds and rain, which later turned to snow, made their efforts harder. The building had closed for the evening, so nobody was inside and no injuries were reported.
Police arrested a 33-year-old German man whom emergency workers caught riding a motorcycle down the mountain road. He is being held in a psychiatric hospital, which provides mental health treatment. Investigators suspect arson, meaning that someone deliberately started the fire, and are examining whether the site’s Nazi history was a motive.
Police said the damage was extensive and that the building was unlikely to be saved. Bavaria, which owns the property, plans to consult historians, local authorities and experts in protecting historic buildings. State Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann said the site should not remain a ruin and stressed the importance of remembering its history.
