The Bavarian state will restore the Kehlsteinhaus mountain guest house after a fire on Friday night left the structure almost completely destroyed. The site, which formerly served as a retreat for Nazi officials and later as a tourist restaurant drawing about 300,000 annual visitors, was previously described by local police as unlikely to be saved due to the extent of the damage.
German police detained a 33-year-old Berlin resident on suspicion of arson in connection with the blaze. While investigators are examining potential political motives, a court has ordered the man’s temporary placement in a psychiatric facility. Roughly 200 emergency personnel responded to the fire at the 1,834 meter summit, where toxic smoke and difficult terrain hampered the operation.
