Imagine stepping into a building where the mountain itself seems to unfold before you, revealing secrets from rushing streams to windswept peaks.

Nestled at the entrance to Berchtesgaden, the Haus der Berge serves as your gateway to understanding one of Germany's most pristine wilderness areas. More than just an information center, this striking facility brings the Berchtesgaden National Park indoors, offering visitors an immersive journey through alpine ecosystems before they even set foot on a trail.

The building itself makes a statement, with weathered corten steel and regional timber creating a facade that deliberately ages alongside the natural world it celebrates.

From Historic Hotel to Modern Gateway

The Haus der Berge opened its doors on May 24, 2013, replacing the previous national park center that had operated since 1988. The site carries its own intriguing past. Where this modern facility now stands once stood the Berchtesgadener Hof hotel, which served American forces in the postwar decades until 1996.

Bavarian Minister President Edmund Stoiber promised the new center in 2003 during the national park's 25th anniversary celebrations. Construction began in October 2010, transforming the 17,000-square-meter hillside property into a state-of-the-art environmental education hub funded by Bavaria and the European Union.

The Vertical Wilderness Exhibition

The centerpiece of the Haus der Berge is the 900-square-meter "Vertikale Wildnis" (Vertical Wilderness) exhibition. This isn't your typical walk-through museum display. Instead, visitors follow a steadily climbing path that mirrors an actual mountain ascent, moving through four distinct habitat zones: water, forest, alpine meadow, and rock.

Each zone recreates the sights, sounds, and stories of life at different elevations. The exhibition brings together interactive displays, natural specimens, and multimedia presentations that reveal how plants and animals adapt to increasingly harsh conditions as altitude increases.

Learning Beyond the Walls

What sets the Haus der Berge apart is its commitment to hands-on environmental education. The education center offers specialized spaces like a water laboratory, forest workshop, meadow kitchen, and rock view for school groups and organized visitors.

The outdoor grounds extend the learning experience into fresh air. The historic Lahnerkaser, an authentic alpine hut from 1848, stands alongside themed areas focusing on water, forest, and meadow ecosystems. The Alpinum showcases alpine flowering plants and ferns, while the panorama trail offers sweeping views into the national park itself. The facility's design philosophy embraces sustainability and accessibility throughout.

House of Mountains Highlights & Tips

• Vertical Wilderness Exhibition Walk the steadily ascending path through four alpine habitat zones, experiencing the progression from valley streams to mountain peaks in a single indoor journey.
• Historic Lahnerkaser Hut Visit the authentic 1848 alpine hut on the outdoor grounds to see how mountain people lived and worked in the Berchtesgaden region.
• Cinema and Changing Exhibitions Check out the on-site cinema for nature films and explore rotating special exhibitions that dive deeper into specific aspects of alpine ecology.
• Start Here Before Hiking Visit the Haus der Berge before exploring the national park to better understand what you'll see on the trails and get current information about conditions.
• Library and Resources Take advantage of the on-site library if you want to research more about the region's natural history and alpine ecosystems.
• Cafe-Restaurant Available The center includes a cafe-restaurant, making it easy to spend several hours exploring without leaving for meals.
• Accessible Design The facility was built with full accessibility in mind, with barrier-free access throughout the exhibition spaces and grounds.

The Haus der Berge represents a new generation of environmental centers, where architecture, education, and nature interpretation merge seamlessly. Whether you're planning a hiking expedition into Berchtesgaden National Park or simply want to understand alpine ecosystems without climbing a mountain, this facility offers something remarkable.\n\nThe deliberate choice to let the building's materials weather naturally reflects the very philosophy it teaches: that nature follows its own rhythm. Come discover why this corner of Bavaria has earned protection as a national treasure, and let the Vertical Wilderness exhibition prepare you for adventures in the real mountains beyond.