Bavarian state orders full rebuild after fire consumes Kehlsteinhaus

Bavaria will rebuild the Kehlsteinhaus, the mountain retreat formerly known as the Eagle's Nest, after a fire on Friday night reduced the 1,834-metre structure to a damaged shell. The building, located on the peak of Obersalzberg, stands as one of the few intact monuments from the Nazi era.

Police received a fire alarm at 9:15 p.m. when a smoke detector triggered the system. By the time approximately 200 firefighters from six municipalities arrived at 9:50 p.m., the building was completely ablaze. No one was inside, and no injuries were reported. Firefighters battled the blaze through the night, though strong winds and rain, which turned to snow, forced a temporary withdrawal.

The fire was still burning at 7:00 a.m. on Saturday and appeared extinguished later that morning, though smoke persisted. A police spokesperson told the tabloid Bild that the house was unlikely to be saved. Lisa Maier, a police spokesperson, noted that the remote location and altitude required crews to use heavy breathing apparatus to reach the site.

Authorities arrested a 33-year-old German citizen who has ties to the area but does not reside there. Investigators suspected arson, though no official cause has been determined. Prosecutors stated the suspect showed signs of mental illness and is being sent to a psychiatric facility. Police said they would examine a political motive but indicated no one else was involved.

The building was constructed between 1937 and 1938 and inaugurated by Adolf Hitler in 1939. Visitors access the site via a road cut into the mountain, a tunnel, and a 124-metre brass lift. Since 1952, the structure has housed a restaurant and an exhibition by the Institute for Contemporary History detailing the site's Nazi history.

The state government owns the property. Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann told reporters that officials would consult with local authorities, historians, and conservators before beginning work. "We're not going to leave a ruin there," Herrmann said, emphasizing the need to continue the work of remembrance.