Obersalzberg, Mountain settlement and former Gnotschaft in Berchtesgaden, Bavaria, Germany

Obersalzberg is a mountainside settlement on the Salzberg ridge above Berchtesgaden, its lowest point around 752 metres and its highest the Klingeneckkopf at 1,137 metres. The Kempinski Hotel Berchtesgaden, opened in 2005, stands as a long, low cluster of pale buildings around a central open area with a curved driveway, screened by trees on the upper slope.

From 1933, Martin Bormann bought up or forced out the residents of Obersalzberg, had most of the original buildings demolished and grouped the houses of leading Nazi politicians around Hitler's Berghof. Allied air raids in April 1945 largely destroyed the built-up area, and the former inhabitants' plan to rebuild the original village after the war was never carried out. The site then served as a recreation centre for the US armed forces until it was handed back to Bavaria in 1996.

The Documentation Center presents visitors with exhibits across multiple floors about the construction changes and political events of the 20th century. Hiking paths connect the settlement areas with the Kehlsteinhaus on the summit, and visitors can observe how tourism and remembrance coexist in daily life.

Regular bus services run between the valley and the settlement, while several parking areas accommodate visitors arriving by car. Most public areas are accessible for mobility-limited travelers, and hikes into the surrounding region suit different fitness levels.

Several kilometers of tunnel systems run beneath the surface, serving during the construction phase as connections between different parts of the complex. Some of these underground passages are partly accessible today and show the technical challenges of building in rocky mountain terrain.