Discover Hidden Treasures: Year-Round Tours of Air-Raid and Nuclear Shelters
Cold War Museum in a bunker beneath the Jalta Hotel
The secret rooms of the three-storey nuclear shelter are located right in the centre of Prague, under the Jalta Hotel, which was built in the mid-20th century on the site of a house demolished by a Soviet tank in 1945. The hotel was built after the shelter. The shelter was intended to house the crisis staff of the Warsaw Pact countries in the event of war. Experts estimate that the construction costs amounted to around 100 million Czech crowns in today’s money. Interestingly, the shelter was never used because there was no war; it was only decommissioned in 1998. Now you can visit the Cold War Museum here. Tours take place every day, but it is necessary to book in advance. The basic admission fee is CZK 250, CZK 120 for children, and CZK 190 for students and senior citizens.
Shelter under the Harmony Hotel in the Krkonoše Mountains
An even more secret place than the bunker under the Jalta Hotel is the anti-nuclear shelter under the luxurious Harmony Club Hotel in Špindlerův Mlýn. Its construction began in 1984 on a former military training range on the Medvědín slope. This project was considered one of the most secret, because in the event of a crisis, the government was to find refuge here. The location was chosen by Warsaw Pact experts so that it could not be detected by the satellites of the time; this is why one of the largest mountain hotels in the Krkonoše Mountains is only visible from a few places. The public is still largely unaware of the existence of the shelter, and the hotel management does not advertise it, but it is possible to visit it daily from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. for 50 CZK (guests staying at the hotel have free admission). Organised guided tours can be arranged individually and cost 80 CZK.
Air-raid shelter at Pardubice Castle
Pardubice Castle hides an important secret – an air-raid shelter from the 1950s, about which many fantastic stories are told. The shelter, which is hidden in the castle ramparts, was probably built as a secret civil defence command post with a capacity of up to 120 people. New myths circulate about it and it is considered a mysterious place. There is speculation that it is connected to a hospital hidden underground in the castle. The public was never supposed to know about its existence and it was kept under strict secrecy during the Cold War. Some rooms have been preserved, such as the engine room, where the generatorfor producing electricity is still functional. There is also a private water source (well) and a filter-ventilation system designed to filter out radioactive dust. There is also an original telephone and telegraph. Tours usually take place on Saturday mornings from 11:00 a.m. More detailed information can be found on the website of the East Bohemian Museum in Pardubice. The maximum number of participants on a tour is 15. Tickets must be booked in advance by calling 773 819 028 or by emailing [email protected]. The admission fee is a flat rate of CZK 100.
Secret atomic shelter 10-Z in Brno
10-Z is the code name for the most secret shelter in Brno from the communist era (1959), intended for the political leaders of the city and region. The shelter on Husova Street was built during Nazism as a Luftschutz shelter from American and Soviet bombing of Brno. During the tour, you will have the opportunity to explore the most interesting parts of the bunker (diesel generator, filter room, telephone exchange) and you will also see Polášek’s tables from the New Town Hall, which were abandoned in the shelter and are considered the most valuable piece of furniture associated with the history of Brno. The exhibition also includes doors from the death cells of the former Regional Prison in Cejl, on which those sentenced to death during the war and in the Stalinist era carved their messages before their execution. Tours take place every day except Monday from 11:30 a.m. to 6:15 p.m. Admission is CZK 250 for adults, CZK 100 for seniors and young people, and CZK 50 for children.
Air-raid shelter in Prague Zoo
In the Prague Zoo, under Zakázanka, there is a 500-metre-long viewing path, under which is the entrance to a historic tunnel. This short corridor was built in the mid-19th century and served as an improvised air-raid shelter during World War II. Today, there is a replica of a World War II air-raid shelter at the entrance. The war period is captured here not only by equipment and period sound effects, but also by a wealth of information about the occupation of the Prague Zoo. It is open every day throughout the year, and admission is included in the price of a ticket to the zoo.
Tour of the Liberec shelter
The city of Liberec has opened an interesting attraction to the public – the largest civil defence shelter in Liberec. This kilometre-long labyrinth of corridors includes the Liberec Underground exhibition. The shelter on Lucemburská Street also includes original equipment (such as a fully functional engine room and filter-ventilation system) and recalls a time when civil defence was part of everyday life. Come and see this unique attraction for yourself, whatever the weather. Tours take place every first Saturday of the month, starting at 8:30, 10:00 and 11:30. Admission is CZK 100, CZK 50 for children, students and seniors. We highly recommend booking in advance, as tickets must be purchased in advance at the City Information Centre.
