The Kehlsteinhaus, also known as the Eagle’s Nest, was an extension of the Obersalzberg complex built by the Nazis in the German Alps near Berchtesgaden. It is situated on a ridge at the top of the Kehlstein mountain (1834 m), reached by a spectacular 6.5 km road that cost 30 million Reichsmark to build. The last 124 metres up to the Kehlsteinhaus are reached by an elevator bored straight down through the mountain and linked through a long granite tunnel below. The Kehlsteinhaus was an official 50th birthday present for Adolf Hitler. Nicknamed Eagle’s Nest by a French diplomat, it was meant to be a retreat for Hitler and a place for him to entertain visiting dignitaries. It has been suggested he only visited the Kehlsteinhaus around 10 times, and most times for no more than 30 minutes. Perhaps because of this lack of close association with Hitler, the property was saved from demolition at the end of the war. Today the building is owned by a charitable trust, and serves as a restaurant. It is a popular tourist attraction, particularly for British, Canadians and Americans attracted by the historical significance of the ‘Eagle’s Nest’.