The Hotel zum Türken is one of the few surviving historic buildings associated with the Nazi leadership complex at Obersalzberg, near Berchtesgaden in Bavaria, Germany. During the Nazi era, the property was incorporated into Adolf Hitler's restricted mountain retreat and used by members of the SS security service and other security personnel responsible for protecting the Nazi leadership.
The building originally operated as an inn owned by the Schuster family. In 1933, the family was forced to relinquish the property as the Nazi regime expanded its presence at Obersalzberg. The site subsequently became part of the security infrastructure surrounding Hitler's residence, the Berghof.
An extensive underground bunker system beneath the hotel formed part of the wider network of air-raid shelters and connecting passages in the Obersalzberg complex. The hotel was badly damaged during the Allied air raid on 25 April 1945. After the war, the original owners' family eventually regained the property and rebuilt the surviving section of the building.
Today, the Hotel zum Türken remains an important surviving witness to the history of Obersalzberg during the Third Reich. Its historical significance lies in its connection to the SS security apparatus and the protection of the Nazi leadership, rather than in its role as a conventional military headquarters.
The Hotel zum Türken is privately owned, and access to the historic building and its underground bunker facilities depends on the owner's current arrangements. It should not be assumed that the hotel or bunker is open to visitors, and access should be confirmed in advance. Visitors must respect private property and any access restrictions.
For those wishing to explore the history of the Nazi leadership complex at Obersalzberg, the nearby Documentation Obersalzberg offers a permanent exhibition on the Nazi dictatorship and includes access to part of the historic bunker system during opening hours. It provides historical context for the wider site and its role in Nazi Germany.
Historical period: 1933–1945
Location: Obersalzberg, Berchtesgaden, Bavaria, Germany
Category: Historic Site
Historical themes: SS security service, Nazi leadership, Obersalzberg, air-raid shelters, underground bunkers, Allied air raids
Plan your World War II trip with guides to museums, battlefields, memorials and historic sites worldwide. Discover the best WWII locations for your next tour.