Editing Berchtesgaden

{{short description|Municipality in Bavaria, Germany}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}}
{{Infobox German location
|name               = Berchtesgaden
|image_photo        = The Watzman 8-15-2010.jpg
|image_caption      = Berchtesgaden and the [[Watzmann]] in August 2010
|image_coa          = Wappen Berchtesgaden.svg
|coordinates        = {{coord|47|37|53|N|13|0|15|E|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
|image_plan         = Berchtesgaden in BGL.png
|state              = Bavaria
|region             = Oberbayern
|district           = Berchtesgadener Land
|elevation          = 700
|area               = 35.63
|Gemeindeschlüssel  = 09172116
|postal_code        = 83471
|area_code          = 08652
|licence            = BGL
|website            = {{URL|https://www.gemeinde.berchtesgaden.de/}}
|mayor              = Franz Rasp<ref>[https://www.statistik.bayern.de/wahlen/kommunalwahlen/bgm/ Liste der ersten Bürgermeister/Oberbürgermeister in kreisangehörigen Gemeinden], [[Bayerisches Landesamt für Statistik]], accessed 19 July 2021.</ref>
|leader_term        = 2020&ndash;26
|party              = CSU
|year               =
}}

'''Berchtesgaden''' ({{IPA|de|ˈbɛʁçtəsˌɡaːdn̩|-|De-Berchtesgaden.ogg}}) is a [[Municipalities of Germany|municipality]] in the district [[Berchtesgadener Land]], [[Bavaria]], in southeastern [[Germany]], near the border with [[Austria]], {{convert|30|km|abbr=on}} south of [[Salzburg]] and {{convert|180|km|abbr=on}} southeast of [[Munich]]. It lies in the [[Berchtesgaden Alps]]. South of the town, the [[Berchtesgaden National Park]] stretches along three parallel valleys.

The [[Kehlstein]] mountain ({{convert|1835|m|ft|disp=or|abbr=on}}), with its ''[[Kehlsteinhaus]]'' (Eagle's Nest), is located in the area.

==Etymology==
''Berchtesgaden'', Upper Bavaria (Achental), earlier ''Perchterscadmen'', ''Perhtersgadem'', ''Berchirchsgadem'', ''Berchtoldesgadem''; the word underwent a Latin distortion of [[Old High German]] ''parach'', Romance ''bareca'' 'hay shed'. After the basic meaning was forgotten, a variant word of Old High German ''gadem'' 'room, one-room hut' was added, implying the same meaning: 'hay shed'. Cf. Old High German ''muosgadem'' 'spice room'.

There was a [[folk etymology]] that supported a derivation based on the legendary figure of ''Frau'' [[Perchta]] (Berchta), a woman (''Holle'' < ''Holda'' 'well disposed, dear') with good and bad changing features, who was venerated on ''Perchtertag'' ([[Epiphany (holiday)|Epiphany]]) and was sworn to during the Perchta procession.<ref>Translated by Carl Masthay, St. Louis, 2012, from Wilhelm Sturmfels and Heinz Bischof: ''Unsere Ortsnamen im ABC erklärt nach Herkunft und Bedeutung'', Bonn, 1961, Ferdinand Dümmlers Verlag.</ref>

==History==
{{More citations needed|section|date=July 2023}}

The first known record of the area, from 1102, mentions the area's rich [[Halite|salt deposits]]. [[Salt mining]] began in the area in 1517, and subsequently produced much of Berchtesgaden's wealth.<ref>''The Mysterious World of Salt'' – Salzbergwerk Museum tourist information leaflet.</ref>

[[File:Schlossplatz 180 Grad-Tag.jpg|upright|left|thumb|The former Royal Palace at Berchtesgaden, originally an [[Augustinians|Augustine]] monastery]]
The town and its surroundings belonged to the [[Berchtesgaden Provostry]], an independent state of the [[Holy Roman Empire]] (called ''Fürstpropstei Berchtesgaden'') and was ruled by the [[Prince-provost]] of the [[Augustinians|Augustine]] monastery in the town. It remained independent until the ''[[Reichsdeputationshauptschluss]]'' in 1803. During the [[Napoleonic wars]], Berchtesgaden changed hands a few times, such as in 1805 under the [[Treaty of Pressburg (1805)|Treaty of Pressburg]], when the area was ceded to Austria.

Berchtesgaden came under the rule of the [[Kingdom of Bavaria]] in 1810. It soon became popular with the Bavarian royal family, the [[House of Wittelsbach]], who often visited [[Königssee]] and maintained a hunting residence in the former Augustine monastery (still used today by [[Franz, Duke of Bavaria]]). Tourism began to evolve and several artists came to the area, which reportedly gave rise to ''Malereck'' ("painters' corner") on the shore of the Königssee in nearby [[Schönau am Königssee]]. The most famous author who lived in Berchtesgaden was [[Ludwig Ganghofer]].

===Nazi era===
[[Image:American soldiers at Berchtesgaden toast victory, 1945.jpg|upright|left|thumb|U.S. soldiers toast the capture of Berchtesgaden (1945).]]

[[Adolf Hitler]] began vacationing in the Berchtesgaden area in the 1920s. He purchased a home in the [[Obersalzberg]] above the town on the flank of the [[Hoher Goll]] and began extensive renovations on his ''[[Berghof (residence)|Berghof]]'' in the following years. As other top [[Nazi Germany|Third Reich]] figures, such as [[Hermann Göring]], [[Joseph Goebbels]], [[Martin Bormann]], [[Heinrich Himmler]], and [[Albert Speer]], began to frequent the area, the Nazi Party began to purchase and requisition land in the Obersalzberg.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.uncommon-travel-germany.com/obersalzberg.html|title=History of the Obersalzberg, Hitler's Mountain}}</ref>

To serve as an outpost of the German ''[[Reichskanzlei]]'' (Imperial Chancellery), Berchtesgaden and its environs (''Stanggass'') saw substantial expansion of offices, security, and support services, mainly on the Obersalzberg.  Included in the town were a [[Berchtesgaden Hauptbahnhof|new railway station]], with a reception area for Hitler and his guests, and an adjacent post office. The Berchtesgadener Hof Hotel, where famous visitors such as [[Neville Chamberlain]] and [[David Lloyd George]] stayed, was substantially upgraded.

Berchtesgaden was where [[Adolf Hitler]] met [[Neville Chamberlain]] in 1938 before the [[Munich Agreement]]; see [[Berchtesgaden meeting]].

Even though a feared [[Alpine Fortress]] last stand of the Nazi Regime in the Alps failed to materialize late in World War II, the Allies launched a devastating air raid on the Berchtesgaden area in the spring of 1945. The April 25 [[bombing of Obersalzberg]] did little damage to the town. On May 4, forward elements of the [[7th Infantry Regiment (United States)|7th Infantry Regiment]] of the [[3rd Infantry Division (United States)|3rd Infantry Division]] arrived<ref name=historynet>[http://www.historynet.com/world-war-ii-race-to-seize-berchtesgaden.htm World War II: Race to Seize Berchtesgaden] HistoryNet 12 June 2006</ref> and received the town's surrender.<ref>[http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USA/USA-SS-Chronology/USA-SS-Chronology-5.html UNITED STATES ARMY IN WORLD WAR II, Special Studies, CHRONOLOGY 1941–1945]. "In U.S. Seventh Army's XV Corps area, 101 regiment, croberg, Hitler's Mountain</ref>

===Post–World War II===
After the war, Berchtesgaden became a military zone and most of its buildings were requisitioned by the [[United States Army|U.S. Army]]. Hotel Platterhof was rebuilt and renamed the [[General Walker Hotel]] in 1952.<ref>{{cite web |last=Walden |first=Geoffrey R. |title=Platterhof |url=http://www.thirdreichruins.com/platterhof.htm |publisher=Third Reich in Ruins |access-date=2016-09-10}}</ref> It served as a [[Armed Forces Recreation Centers|U.S. Armed Forces Recreation Center]] through the [[Cold War]] and beyond.<ref name=htgbcus>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=A09WAAAAIBAJ&pg=6899%2C1208042 |work=[[Eugene Register-Guard]] |location=Oregon |title=U.S. to give back Hitler's resort |date=5 February 1995 |page=16A}}</ref> Remnants of homes of former Nazi leaders were demolished in the early postwar years, though traces of some remained. In 1995, fifty years after the end of World War II and five years after [[German reunification]], the AFRC Berchtesgaden was turned over to Bavarian authorities to facilitate military spending reductions mandated within the [[Base Realignment and Closure]] program by the US [[United States Congress|Congress]] and [[United States Department of Defense|Pentagon]] during the administration of [[President of the United States|President]] [[Bill Clinton]].<ref name=htgbcus/> The General Walker Hotel was demolished in 2000–2001.

In 1986, Berchtesgaden was a first-round candidate city to host the [[XVI Olympic Winter Games]] to be held in 1992. The vote eventually went to [[Albertville]], [[France]], in October of that year.<ref name="GamesBids">{{cite web |title=Past Results |url=http://www.gamesbids.com/eng/past.html |publisher=GamesBids.com |access-date=11 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120504224506/http://www.gamesbids.com/eng/past.html|archive-date=4 May 2012}}</ref>

===Berchtesgaden today===
[[Image:Berchtesgaden.jpg|thumb|Aerial view of Berchtesgaden]]
[[Image:BerchtesgadenFog.jpg|thumb|Berchtesgaden in the morning]]

The Hotel Türken, which was near the Nazi buildings and was often used by the SS and then by the ''Generalmajor'' of the Police, was badly damaged in 1945. It was rebuilt in 1950 and reopened as a hotel before Christmas.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tripadvisor.ca/Hotel_Review-g187299-d238373-Reviews-Hotel_zum_Turken-Berchtesgaden_Upper_Bavaria_Bavaria.html |title=Hotel zum Turken - UPDATED 2018 Prices, Reviews & Photos (Berchtesgaden, Germany) - TripAdvisor |publisher=Tripadvisor.ca |access-date=2018-10-14}}</ref> Visitors can still explore the historic underground hallways and tunnels that had been used by the Nazis.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.inspirock.com/germany/berchtesgaden/zum-turken-a588040681|title=Visit Hotel Zum Turken WWII Bunkers on your trip to Berchtesgaden|website=www.inspirock.com|access-date=9 August 2017|archive-date=8 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170808193713/https://www.inspirock.com/germany/berchtesgaden/zum-turken-a588040681|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=j9IVBAAAQBAJ&q=Berghof+Hotel+zum+T%C3%BCrken&pg=PA87|title=Hitler's Alpine Headquarters|first=James|last=Wilson|date=13 January 2014|publisher=Pen and Sword|isbn=9781473831872|via=Google Books}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://bunkersite.com/locations/germany/obersalzberg/turken-out.php|title=Hotel zum Türken, Obersalzberg - Bunkersite.com|last=Bunkersite.com|website=bunkersite.com}}</ref>

In 1972, local government reform united the then-independent municipalities of Salzberg, Maria Gern and Au (consisting of Oberau and Unterau) under the administration of the town of Berchtesgaden. Another suggested reform uniting all remaining five municipalities in the Berchtesgaden valley (Bischofswiesen, Ramsau, [[Marktschellenberg]] and [[Schönau am Königsee|Schönau]]) failed to gain enough popular support; it passed in Berchtesgaden but failed everywhere else.

The Berchtesgaden National Park was established in 1978 and has gradually become one of Berchtesgaden's largest draws. Mass tourism is confined to a few popular spots, leaving the rest to nature-seekers. Other tourist draws are the [[Königssee]], the [[salt mine]], the ''[[Kehlsteinhaus]]'', open seasonally as a restaurant, and the [[Dokumentationszentrum Obersalzberg]] museum about the area's history, operated by the Munich [[Institut für Zeitgeschichte]] since 1999.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.obersalzberg.de/obersalzberg-home.html?&L=1&cHash=89852a3347# |title=Dokumentation Obersalzberg: Home |access-date=27 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170629214925/http://www.obersalzberg.de/obersalzberg-home.html?&L=1&cHash=89852a3347# |archive-date=29 June 2017 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="auto">{{cite web|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2005/04/the-hitler-shrine/303844/|title=The Hitler Shrine|first=Timothy W.|last=Ryback|website=[[The Atlantic]] |date=1 April 2005}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tripadvisor.ca/Attractions-g187299-Activities-Berchtesgaden_Upper_Bavaria_Bavaria.html |title=THE 15 BEST Things to Do in Berchtesgaden 2018 - Must See Attractions in Berchtesgaden, Germany &#124; TripAdvisor |publisher=Tripadvisor.ca |date=2017-11-28 |access-date=2018-10-14}}</ref>

Recreational and competitive sports have grown in importance. The town's [[ski slope]] is popular. The [[Königssee bobsleigh, luge, and skeleton track]] has hosted ski-running and several international events and competitions. Berchtesgaden's most famous sports personality is [[Georg Hackl]], a multiple Olympic medal winner. The city is home to the [[International Luge Federation]] (FIL).

Unlike the northern part of Berchtesgadener Land and the Salzburg area, Berchtesgaden has virtually no manufacturing industry.

[[Berchtesgaden Central Station]] is connected by the [[Salzburg–Berchtesgaden railway]] to the [[Rosenheim–Salzburg railway]] at [[Freilassing station|Freilassing]].

The Bavarian state government facilitated the erection of a hotel, which opened in 2005 and is operated by the [[InterContinental Hotels Group]].<ref name="auto"/> Since May 2015, the hotel has been the Kempinski Berchtesgaden.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.kempinski.com/en/berchtesgaden/kempinski-hotel-berchtesgaden/|title=Luxury 5 Star Hotel in the Bavarian Alps - Kempinski Hotel Berchtesgaden|website=www.kempinski.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ebookers.com/Upper-Bavarian-Alps-And-Lakes-Hotels-Kempinski-Hotel-Berchtesgaden.h9631205.Hotel-Information |title=Kempinski Hotel Berchtesgaden - Reviews, Photos & Rates |publisher=ebookers.com |date=2018-08-23 |access-date=2018-10-14}}</ref>

==Geography==
Berchtesgaden's neighbouring towns are [[Bischofswiesen]], [[Marktschellenberg]], [[Ramsau bei Berchtesgaden|Ramsau]], and [[Schönau am Königssee]].

The municipality counts the following villages which are (''Ortsteil''): Am Etzerschlößl, Anzenbach, Hintergern, Metzenleiten, Mitterbach, Oberau, Obergern, Obersalzberg, Resten, Unterau, Untersalzberg I, Untersalzberg II, and Vordergern.

<gallery widths="200px" heights="160px">
Image:Berchtesgaden1.jpg|The [[Watzmann]] from Berchtesgaden
Image:Berchtesgaden towards the Königssee.jpg|View of Berchtesgaden towards the [[Königssee]]
</gallery>

==Notable people==
[[File:Hermann von Barth Portrait1.jpg|right|thumb|upright=0.6|Hermann von Barth]]
* [[Wolfgang Bartels]], (1940–2007), Olympic [[Alpine skiing|alpine skier]] bronze medalist
* [[Karl Bartos]], (born 1952), electronic musician, former electronic percussionist in the band [[Kraftwerk]]
* [[Sigmund Freud]], (1856–1939), psychoanalyst, owned a house for family holidays in Schönau near Obersalzberg. His villa was taken over during the Second World War by Heinrich Himmler.
* [[Franz Graßl]], (born 1965), [[ski mountaineering|ski mountaineer]]
* [[Judith Graßl]], (born 1968), [[ski mountaineering|ski mountaineer]]
* [[Georg Hackl]], (born 1966), first Winter Olympics competitor to win five consecutive medals with consecutively two silver and three gold medals in the men's single [[luge]] event
* [[Adolf Hitler]], (1889–1945), leader of the [[Nazi Party]] and German dictator 1933–1945; owned the [[Kehlsteinhaus|Eagle's Nest]] mountain retreat in Berchtesgaden
* [[Kathrin Hölzl]], [[Alpine Skiing|alpine ski racer]] and gold medalist in the [[FIS Alpine World Ski Championships 2009 – Women's giant slalom|giant slalom]] at the [[FIS Alpine World Ski Championships 2009|2009 World Championships]]
* [[Princess Irmingard of Bavaria]], [[Nazi]] resister and survivor of [[Sachsenhausen concentration camp|Oranienburg-Sachsenhausen]], [[Flossenbürg concentration camp|Flossenbürg]] and [[Dachau concentration camp|Dachau]] concentration camps
*[[Katrya Hrynevycheva]], Ukrainian writer and community leader.
* [[Jutta Kleinschmidt]], (born 1962), German [[off-road racing|offroad automotive racing]] competitor
* [[Toni Kurz]], (1913–1936), German 20th century [[mountaineer]]
* [[Patric Leitner]], five-time winner of [[luge]] World Cup and four-time World Championship titles (in men's doubles with [[Alexander Resch]])
* [[Felix Loch]], four-time [[luge]] gold medalist (two in singles and two in mixed team) [[FIL World Luge Championships]]
* [[Manuel Machata]] (born 1984), German former bobsledder
* [[Peter Öttl]], [[Grand Prix motorcycle racing|Grand Prix]] motorcycle [[road racing|road racer]]
* [[Hans Plenk]], Olympic bronze-medalist in the men's single [[luge]] event
* [[Romy Schneider]], (1938–1982), German-French film actress
*[[Kaspar Stanggassinger]], (1871-1899), Redemptorist priest, declared Blessed in 1988
* [[Silvia Treimer]], [[ski mountaineering|ski mountaineer]]
* [[Hermann von Barth]], (1845–1876), German 19th century [[mountaineer]]
* [[John Allan Wyeth (poet)|John Allan Wyeth]] (1894–1981), [[American people|American]] [[war poet]] and [[Post-Impressionist]] painter, was a regular visitor to Berchtesgaden, where he would indulge in his passion for landscape painting, during the 1930s.

==Toy symphonies==
In the 1760s several anonymous toy symphonies (including the famous [[Toy Symphony]] often attributed to [[Joseph Haydn|Haydn]] or [[Leopold Mozart]]) were composed at Berchtesgaden, then a manufacturing centre for toy instruments.<ref>Adeline Mueller. [https://books.google.com/books?id=vEQ6EAAAQBAJ&dq=Berchtesgaden+toys&pg=PA175 ''Mozart and the Mediation of Childhood''] (2021), chapter 6</ref> Some of the instruments used for these can be seen in the [[Salzburg Museum|Museum Carolino Augusteum]] in Salzburg.<ref>Davies, Hugh. 'Toy Instruments', in ''Grove Music Online'' (2001)</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Berchtesgaden}}
{{wikivoyage|Berchtesgaden}}
* {{Official website}} {{in lang|de}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20120418051646/http://en.berchtesgadener-land.com/en/live/ennavi/parser,id,75,nodeid,.html Regional tourism portal] {{in lang|en}}
* [http://www.berchtesgaden.com Regional website for visitors and tourists] {{in lang|de|en}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20140408094903/http://www.nationalpark-berchtesgaden.de/ Berchtesgaden National Park] pictures and information
* [http://www.photoglobe.info/hl_duerrnberg/ PhotoGlobe – Berchtesgadener Land] offers high quality photos of the area around Berchtesgaden together with GPS coordinates.
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20050412211910/http://www.afrcski.com/timeline/ AFRC Timeline]
* [http://www.thirdreichruins.com/bgaden.htm "Third Reich in Ruins"] {{in lang|en}} (historical and modern comparison photos)
* [http://roha-fotothek.de Pictures from Berchtesgaden]
* [http://www.hoeckmann.de/germany/bavaria.htm Map of Bavaria in 1789]
* [http://hdl.library.upenn.edu/1017/d/ead/upenn_rbml_MsColl647 Berchtesgaden military intelligence records, Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts, University of Pennsylvania]

{{Cities and towns in Berchtesgadener Land (district)}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Berchtesgadener Land]]
[[Category:Ski areas and resorts in Germany]]
<!--- [[Category:Displaced persons camps in the aftermath of World War II]] --->