Visiting WWII Zell am See, Austria from the End of Band of Brothers

Zell am See is a small lakeside town in north/central/western Austria widely known for its winter sports and summer relaxation. But WWII buffs like us mostly know it as the last stop for Easy Company of the 101^st Airborne Division.

For those of you looking to follow in the Band of Brothers footsteps, here’s what you can expect from a visit to Zell am See, Austria.

Band of Brothers and Zell am See

It was a long road that led the men of Easy Company and the 101^st to the shores of Lake Zell. From beginning their journey in Normandy on D-Day, to battling it out in Bastogne, and eventually taking Hitler’s Eagle’s Nest in Berchtesgaden, their next and last stop was Zell am See.  

On May 8^th, 1945–the day Nazi Germany officially surrendered to end World War II in Europe–the men of the 506^th Parachute Infantry Regiment set up headquarters at Zell am See’s Grand Hotel (then called Hotel Zell) to begin occupation duty (and a well-deserved period of rest and relaxation). By the end of the summer, the 101^st would be deactivated and Easy Company would cease to exist.

Mountain weather, unlimited sports, women and booze, easy duty, good hunting, and a hard-assed colonel whom everyone loved. Zell am See provided, in Webster’s view, “the soldier’s dream life.”

Stephen Ambrose, Band of Brothers

The division’s time in Zell am See fittingly constitutes both the last chapter of the Band of Brothers book and the last episode of the miniseries. However, that last episode wasn’t actually filmed here in Zell am See, Austria. Instead, director Stephen Spielberg chose to film in the village of Giessbach, Switzerland. The scenes that take place at the Grand Hotel in Zell am See were actually filmed at the Grand Hotel Giessbach.

So while you should definitely visit Zell am See for its interesting World War II history and Alpine beauty, just know you won’t be able to visit any “real” filming locations from the show.

1. Grand Hotel Zell am See

Upon reaching Zell am See, Colonel Robert Sink of the 506^th immediately set up HQ here at the Grand Hotel. (And when you get here, you’ll see why.) This hotel is indeed grand and sits on its own private peninsula in Lake Zell.

The 101^st used this building as their headquarters for the next few months, but U.S. forces continued to occupy this hotel for the next ten years. During this time, it also served as a university–Rainbow University, sponsored by the 42^nd “Rainbow” Infantry Division.  

Today, the Grand Hotel is still Zell am See’s most prominent and popular hotel. You can stay here as a guest, or simply visit for a fancy lunch or dinner and take a stroll around the property.

2.  Zell am See War Memorial

Behind the Saint Hippolytus Church of Zell am See (the region’s oldest and most famous), you can find a large but understated memorial dedicated to those killed in the two world wars. (On the map, look for the word “Kriegerdenkmal.”)  

Above, the memorial reads: “Love and loyalty are stronger than death.” And below: “Honor and remember the dead of the two world wars.”

3. Schloss Fischhorn (Fischhorn Castle)

Just a little outside the center of Zell am See you can stop by Schloss Fischhorn, notable for being the place where American troops officially captured Hermann Göring at the end of the war.

The castle itself dates back to around the 10^th or 11^th century but was reconstructed after a fire in 1920. The Nazis seized control of this residential estate early on which served several different purposes throughout the war. Among them, as a storage house for stolen art and as a Dachau satellite camp.

The details of Hermann Göring’s last days as a free man are somewhat murky, but the general belief is that it was here at Fischhorn Castle (on May 9, 1945) that Göring met with U.S. officials after escaping Berchtesgaden. Members of the U.S. 7^th Army then took him into custody where he was eventually tried for war crimes in Nuremberg.

The next day, American troops also arrested Philipp Bouhler and his wife here at Fischhorn, both of whom committed suicide shortly after. Philipp Bouhler was a high-ranking Nazi official who, among other things, co-founded and developed the Aktion T4 “euthanasia” program that killed around 250,000 disabled people and others the Nazis considered “unworthy of life.”

After their capture, Bouhler’s wife jumped to her death from a window at Fischhorn Castle. Bouhler killed himself via cyanide capsule nine days later at the nearby internment camp where U.S. troops were holding him. Good riddance.

Where to stay in Zell am See

Zell am See is a great place to visit for much more than its WWII history. Give it a few days and you can enjoy tons of outdoor activities and some of the most beautiful scenery. Here are a few personal hotel recommendations:

Recommended reading & watching

If you’d like to catch up on your Band of Brothers, here’s where you can do so:

A few additional books you might like are:

Worth noting

Something I’d also like to mention is how, while hiking Zell am See’s Schmittenhöhe mountain, I saw tons of gliders being released into the skies above me. Zell am See is a prime location for paragliders, but this was the first time I’d ever seen gliders like this! So keep your eyes peeled while you’re here and you might see some too.

Like this post? Have questions about visiting Zell am See? Let me know in the comments below. Enjoy Austria!

Save this info, pin this image: