The Turken is an old world building that offered a stay unlike any I have had in my numerous trips to germany. Its an historic building that was used by Hitler's men during the war. The place has postcard views of the mountains and even have a tunnel entrance into WWII air-raid shelters that Hitler and Eva Braun used! The lady who owns and runs the place was so nice that we felt like family. Do not expect elevators and wide screen TVs here - you need not travel if you are looking for the USA here in the Bavarian Alps.. The hotel is in walking distance to both a golf course and a small ski area. Historic sites were all around us and we had some great hiking plus a trip to the salt mines. This is a place not to miss - most hotels like this have been long torn down and can only be seen in old postcards...A+

The bunker (tunnels below this hotel) were a highlight of my vacation to Berchtesgaden. They were built by the nazis after they stold this sweet old hotel from the owner and appropriated it into their defense system. The owner's daughter bought the property back after the war and her daughter, Ingrid Scharfenberg, is still alive and running the place. She is a delightful person who speaks impeccable English. Before the US Army pulled out of this region in the 1990's, they used this hotel as an officer's retreat and encouraged Ingrid to preserve the tunnels underneath it.

Sadly, I think most visitors these days only see the small section of tunnels that are part of the documentation center which is just a short distance away. They probably don't know about this older section that is far more interesting. You descend by stairs over 200 feet below ground and see the tunnels pretty much as they were left after the war ended. You encounter machine-gun nests, a jail, some sleeping quarters, and other rooms. There are artillery marks in the walls from the nazi's last stand against the allies. The lighting is dim which heightens the experience and in places there are hand-painted explanations of what you are seeing that must be over 60 years old. Ingrid will also give you a nice little souvenir information sheet to read as you wander about the tunnels.

I heartily recommend adding the tunnels below Hotel Zum Turken to your agenda. You can do the whole tour in one-half to one hour. There is free parking at the hotel, or if you are parked at the documentation center parking lot (the starting point to catch the bus up to Eagle's Nest) you can just walk down. It takes about 5 minutes on a well marked path.

BTW, "Zum Turken" means "to the Turk". Be sure to ask Ingrid to tell you the story of how that name came about.

If you're interested in the history of World War II you absolutely have to visit the Obersalzberg. In order to prepare yourself for the trip you should first read Angela Lambert's "The Lost Life of Eva Braun" and Heike Görtemaker's "Eva Braun. Leben mit Hitler". Also watch Eva Braun's amateur home movies showing the carefree, pleasant and luxurious life in villa Berghof. And it is also an absolute must to stay at Hotel zum Türken. The history of the Obersalzberg and that of Hotel zum Türken are so exciting that no thriller or detective can compete with it. Meeting, getting to know and talking to Frau Ingrid Scharfenberg will give you enormous pleasure and leave an everlasting impression. One of the other reviews complains about the fact that when one arrives late, the hotel key is thrown down to you from an upstairs window. Even though we arrived late we missed out on this experience - which we personally think is a pity: it sounds very romantic! History is alive in Hotel zum Türken - you can literally touch it with your own hands. Go there, you will never regret it! We want to go there again. Frau Ingrid Scharfenberg: thank you! Natasha and Claus de Vries

The Hotel zum Turken was our Berchtesgaden "bucket list" accommodations as we revisited a favorite location from years before. While in the military, and during the 1980's, my wife and I often stayed at the General Walker Hotel, the old Platterhof from Nazi Germany days. While little is left of those Obersalzberg days, the zum Turken was a great place to appreciate that era as the hotel was expropriated by the Nazis in the 1930'a and was connected to the Berghof by tunnels which still exist and may be visited. While the hotel was old and somewhat Spartan it sat in the middle of history and was very comfortable with the bonus of an incredible view of the valley. It was also located on paths which led by the ruins of Hitler's Berghof on the short walk to the Platterhof area which now consists of the original Platterhof/Walker restaurant, a transit point for tours of the "Eagles Nest", and a museum, the Dokumentation Obersalzberg, which those interested in the Nazi era will find fascinating. If you have an interest in WWII or appreciate great scenery, the Hotel zum Turken is well worth a stay, a memorable experience.