Ordensburg Vogelsang

Schleiden, Germany

Ordensburg Vogelsang is a former National Socialist estate placed at the former military training area in Eifel National Park. The landmarked and completely preserved estate was used by the National Socialists between 1936 and 1939 as an educational centre for future leaders. Since 1 January 2006 the area has been open to visitors. It is one of the largest architectural relics of National Socialism. The gross area of the landmarked buildings is 50,000 m2.

The three buildings at Eifel have been known as 'NS-Ordensburg' since 1935. The first phase of the project was the construction of the Castle of Vogelsang, which with up to 1,500 workers took only two years. Several much bigger buildings were also planned, such as a huge library to be called the 'House of Knowledge' measuring 100 metres by 300 metres, a 'Kraft durch Freude' hotel with 2000 beds, and the biggest sports facilities in Europe. Construction at the site halted on the outbreak of war.

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Details

Founded: 1935
Category: Miscellaneous historic sites in Germany
Historical period: Nazi Germany (Germany)

Rating

4.4/5 (based on Google user reviews)

User Reviews

Denis X (4 months ago)
Good for taking a walk in picturesque surroundings, but not so much for historical sightseeing. Most buildings of the former training camp are simply locked, with very little information about their past.
Károly Szommer (6 months ago)
The place was both shocking (historical aspepct) and mesmerizing. The area is large, you should expect a lot of walk, but it worth. If you are looking for the exact preservation of the national socialist place, you should look elsewhere. This facility was used a lot since then, so lots of modernizations happened, but this did not take out any experience from me. The location is awesome with excellent lookout.
Fatma Ahmed (7 months ago)
A very chilling yet interesting place to visit. It has an amazing view. The site is very big. If you’re into history, then i totally recommend this place. From there you can also start a 4 hour hiking tour that goes around the sea and back to site.
Charles Ogier (8 months ago)
Amazing historical place, although a bit difficult to apprehend without going through the museum. The museum is well thought, focusing on the background for building such a place before going through it (brief) use by the nazis and the impact on the graduates. It really shows the inefficiency of the authoritarian regime, but also the indoctrination and resulting horrors. A great place to visit on a sunny day!
Philippe Luyckx (4 years ago)
I came here as a soldier during my military service so was little bit disappointed now that it has become a tourist attraction. Still has a lot of history but beware of your physical condition , a lot of stairs , it's in the mountains on many levels
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