| Show Berchtesgaden Hitler's rs r's Eyrie Now Popular as Tourist Spot 1 0 I db 4 i MI 5 Here it is an exterior deaD vieto o of oJ f f eld Chancellor hitler's cottage at al Berchtesgaden hit his retreat in the Bavarian mountains maim n ains lains where hillier Hillert first meeting g with Prime minister Neville Chamberlain took look place Berchtesgaden it is closely guarded at al all times lime Prepared by National Geographic Society gl lg get Washington D D. D C. C C. w Service Berchtesgaden's flare fiare into the he news headlines during the first meeting of Britain's Premier Premier Premier Pre Pre- mier Chamberlain and Germanys Germany's Germanys Germany's Germanys Germany's Ger Ger- many's Fuehrer Hitler suddenly suddenly suddenly sud sud- denly thrust the Bavarian repeat retreat retreat re re- re- re treat peat on to the list of popular places to be visited in Europe Recently a Paris tourist agency included Berchtesgaden I I den on a brand new tour out of the French capital Berchtesgaden called Germanys Germany's Germanys Germany's Germanys Germany's Ger Ger- many's second capital lies in one of the most beautiful regions of Germany steeped In history and folklore but also Identified with much modern German history mak ing lag Long before Hitler rose to power Berchtesgaden was a health and holiday resort noted for Its mountain moun moun- aln tain air and the stern beauty of its tree clad mountains crowned in I winter with snow and ice Beneath the he waters of 01 one of its neighbor neighbor- Ing ng lakes the a fabulous golden olden treasure is supposed to be hidden guarded by elves A pistol shot fired from a boat on the lake echoes and re-echoes re as much as nine times from the bordering cliffs Legend of Charlemagne From the flower decked balcony of the Berghof Hitler can look out upon many towering mountains notable notable no- no table able among which is the berg erg Beneath Deneath It says local legend legend leg leg- end sleeps Charlemagne ruler a thousand years ago of the Holy Roman Roman Roman Ro Ro- man Empire of 01 the West which included included In Included in- in much of what is now Ger many When Charlemagne's beard has grown three times around the great stone atone table at which he sits the legend goes on he will awake emerge and fight the last great decisive decisive de de- de battle batUe of the world Then the da day of judgment will dawn But Dut there is nothing legendary about what lies Pies under another part of ot the mountains near en There are salt mines which were worked as far back as Roman times and for tor centuries they were claimed by bishops and kings who coveted their revenues Today modern modem machinery and electric lights assist in the mining Rocks shot through with veins of 01 salt are cut out and soaked in a alake alake alake lake far tar below ground Then the resulting resulting resulting re re- salt solution is pumped to boilers and the water evaporated Toy Making Is Popular Berchtesgaden's people work not only in the salt mines but at wood carving and toy Visitors tors to the mountain resort can wander wan wan- wander der over many attractive mountain paths and In winter whiter skiing is a popular sport Some of 01 Germanys Germany's best downhill skiers learn their art at Berchtesgaden A show place of ot the village is the a ahouse ahouse ahouse house of worship warship completed in 1222 though since modernized The two-story two house of ot the Fuehrer ter stands on a steep tree-covered tree slope above the town and about feet teet above sea level with a giant snow clad snow mountain peak as a backdrop Its white walls gently sloping roofs roots and dark brown woodwork wood work are In harmony with Bavarian architecture The Berghof and its surrounding estate are heavily guarded accordIng accord accord- lag big to newspaper reports Near the house are new barracks for Hitler's Hitler's Hit Hit- lers ler's own bodyguard the fel mei mel distinct from the regular army There are buildings to house representatives of the Reich Retch chancellery chan cellery The Berghof itself formerly Just Justa a small mountain chalet has been enlarged and Improved The house now can accommodate 40 guests On the lower floor is the large cheerful dining hall haU commanding a magnificent view of ot mountain scenery scenery ery and opening on to the balcony A large central hall hail with a fireplace fireplace fire fire- place and other rooms for social functions also are on this floor and it Is here that Prime Minister Chamberlain of Great Britain was received by the Fuehrer |
