The Obersalzberg in January?

[rosstcorbett]

Hi everybody,

I have ear marked some time In January to do some more filming in Germany. The idea was to go back to Berlin but I'm desperate to finally visit the Obersalzbuerg.

If possible I would love some help and advice with the following:

What are the general weather conditions like in Jan?
Is the road up to the Berghof accessible by car? Is the road maintained against the snow etc.
Is it possible to reach the Tea House (Not the Eagles Nest) area in the snow?

I know I should probably wait until Spring but the Obersalzberg in the snow sounds like an adventure

Thanks.

Ross

[Geoff Walden]

Hi Ross,

One word ... SNOW. And lots of it. OK, having said that, it *is* possible to visit in January and see little or even no snow (very rare, but I think it happened in 2002), but the norm is a lot of snow. So much snow that just about everything except the coal bunker and the top of the Berghof retaining wall would be buried. I was only there one January (early), and the snow at the Berghof site was 3-4 feet deep. You could still walk up there, of course. I *guess* you might be able to walk to the Teehaus. I did a lot of walking in the woods when it snowed 16 inches in October one time - it was OK, but even then, most all the ruins were obscured.

Anyway, who knows - you might get lucky. And yes, they do keep the road clear. But maybe not the road past the Türken, as the hotel is closed and the government sometimes calls that part a "private road" to get out of clearing it.

Hope you have a great trip, whenever!

Geoff

[rosstcorbett]

Thanks Geoff!

Hmm, I'm torn. I don't know if I should just wait until the Türken opens and stay there but I'm guessing the Obersalzberg looks pretty special covered in snow

I'm about to order your guidebook for more research as whatever happens we will be visiting a number of times next year to film.

Thanks again!

Ross

[ffbikersar]

I was once there in February and, except the Dokumentationszentrum, was not able to see much more - SNOW again. Get this guidebook, it's excellent!:

http://www.kopp-verlag.de/PastFinder-Ob ... i=A0270223

[rosstcorbett]

OK, so I didn't get the chance to visit back then but fingers crossed I am now on for this winter.

With the Türken being closed, can anybody recommend where to stay? Preferably as close as possible or on the Obersalzberg?

Any advice would be most appreciated.

Ross

[klemt]

I think the road must be cleared of snow even past Türken as the hotel Kempinski is open year-round. If you do not mind the relatively high cost, you could stay at the Kempinski. From there you can explore Obersalzberg very easily.

[Mannheim]

Personally, I wouldn't go in the winter but it's obviously your choice. If you go in the winter, you pretty much have to stay on the mountain which can be expensive and you're going to see a lot of snow, the ruins of the Berghof for example will be covered. If you go at some other time - autumn is my preference - you get to see the Berghof ruins, you can travel up and down the mountain (most hotels offer a free daily bus pass) and if you've got Geoff's (excellent) book, you can enjoy a great walk from the Berghof to the Mooslahnerkopf, something I wouldn't do in winter as it's easy enough to fall on your arse in good weather. I'd recommend staying at the Alpenhotel Kronprinz as it's got, inter alia, a great terrace for overlooking Berchtesgaden and the valley. The only problem with the Alpenhotel Kronprinz is that the beer and view are so great it can sometimes be a task tearing yourself away.

[*NL*]

Well, IF the sun is shining during winter, the Berchtesgadener area is a lovely place to visit.
But the Berghof ruins en the Kehlsteinhaus can be covered in meters of snow. Just some pics to satisfy your apitide, or not.

[*NL*]

Obersalzberg, Kehlstein in winter.

[Geoff Walden]

I visited the first week of October in 2007. It was great weather for a couple days, then it snowed 16 inches in about 20 hours. (Somewhere I have some photos taken on 1 Jan. 2001, but I can't find them. The snow was much deeper then.)

Here are views of the Berghof site and the Türken after the snow.

berghofoct07a.jpg (76.34 KiB) Viewed 2398 times

berghofoct07b.jpg (76.54 KiB) Viewed 2398 times

IMG_5718.JPG (52.94 KiB) Viewed 2398 times

tuerkenokt07e.jpg (62.95 KiB) Viewed 2398 times

[Geoff Walden]

Göring's tunnel exit, Moll Bunker on the Göring hill, Kampfhäusl, and Coal Bunker in the snow.

georingstollenoct07.jpg (51.43 KiB) Viewed 2398 times

IMG_5731.JPG (41.02 KiB) Viewed 2398 times

IMG_5690.JPG (68.46 KiB) Viewed 2398 times

IMG_5688.JPG (82.51 KiB) Viewed 2398 times

[Annelie]

What beautiful photos.....thanks for posting.
However, NOW I am homesick for the place and area.
Even with the snow, as I like cold weather much better.

I remember hiking up to Kehlsteinhaus at the end of Oktober.
At the bottom of Obersalzberg it was fairly warm in the sun, halfway
up it rained and by the time I reached the top it was snowing.
It was pure heaven.

Kehlstein is closed at that time of year so I am guessing your purpose of the visit
is just to view the area?

[*NL*]

Maybe this entire posting could be moved over to the Berghof Obersalzberg thread by a moderator ?
viewtopic.php?f=44&t=28208&start=5100

[Br. James]

Gorgeous photos!!

Br. James

[rosstcorbett]

The snow photos are amazing! Thank you for all of the replies.

I know by visiting in winter it will be harder to see and travel but the area looks incredible when white and I will of course want to return when everything opens up. I'm a YouTuber and it will be a great opportunity to get some winter shots.

I have seen the documentation centre is open in winter so that will be a bonus.

*NL* is the Kehlstein accessible in winter as you have got some great photos. I know the building is closed but can you still get up to the mountain top for pictures??

Ross

P.S If I were to stay in Berchtesgaden, is it easy to get a taxi up onto the Obersalzberg and back?