Just like the mysterious secret cities, bunkers have existed throughout history and in many parts of our planet. Their original function was military, they were the refuge of many when a city was bombed. Over time, its uses have changed. some have even been considered secret and hidden bunkers that you can now access. In Supercurioso we have a question for you, would you dare to delve into some of them?
These secret bunkers have served to protect some important personalities from the dangers of wars throughout history.What is interesting is that some of those places that were previously prohibited can be visited today because they are open to the public. So if you are a history lover and you want to delve into these wonderful and mysterious secret bunkers, we are going to give you some information about it. Join us to discover them!
8 Secret Bunkers You Can Visit
One of the war phrases pray: «War is what happens when language fails”… In times of war and despair people always leave a mark. The secret bunkers that you will see are presented as relics of a troubled past, traces of fear and memories of the man who seeks protection from himself. Today you will return to the past to learn some -not entirely- secret stories…
1. The Greenbrier
This secret bunker is located in the Allegheny Mountains of West Virginia. It is a luxury complex that has housed 26 American leaders since 1778. In the 1950s, the government converted this complex into what was called the Emergency Relocation Center, which was intended to house the entire Congress in the hypothetical event of a disaster.
The bunker had 18 bedrooms, designed to shelter more than 1,100 people, a clinic with specialized areas including an intensive care unit, a decontamination chamber, and meeting rooms. It was one of the most luxurious secret bunkers of the time. Its existence was discovered in 1992 and it was dismantled, however, today it is open to the public and you could visit it if you wanted.
2. Nuclear Bunker Museum
It is amazing to discover that under the hustle and bustle of the streets of Prague lies one of the most shocking secret bunkers in history, whose purpose was to keep people safe from nuclear explosions during World War II and the Cold War. Today it has been converted into a museum filled with equipment from the Soviet era.. Guided tours are offered that will take you through the fantastic abandoned tunnels and the treasures of ancient masks, helmets seasoned with interesting stories.
3.Hack Green
This place is located in Nantwich, one of the cities in england and was used for military operations during World War II. For more than 60 years, this vast underground complex remained a secret.. It is currently one of the largest secret bunkers in the world and would have been the center of regional government if a nuclear war had broken out.
It was built in the 1950s but it wasn’t until the 1980s that it became explosion proof. The regional government appointed him one of the 18 places to go in case of nuclear war. Today you can visit its decontamination facilities and discover a public exhibition of nuclear weapons, probably the largest in Europe.
4. National Hotel of Cuba
This is one of the few secret bunkers in Latin America, the Hotel Nacional de Cuba was used by both Fidel Castro and the Che Guevara to prepare for a possible attack aircraft during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Before that happened, the place was used by famous people like Frank Sinatra or Winston Churchill.
The hotel has been positioned as a historical jewel of Havana for its distinction worldwide. Today you can visit the large underground framework that makes up the bunker as it is open to the public. Your visit will take you to a distant time where you can feel the tension of the Cold War. Do you dare to visit it?
5. Broadway Tower and Nuclear Bunker
From the list of prohibited places in the world, we tell you a little about the real bunker. The destiny of this wonderful tower was to house royalty, literally speaking. In 1798, the 6th Earl of Coventry, George William, used this tower as a watchtower. It was also the home of Sir Thomas Phillips, who was undoubtedly a great collector of history books and manuscripts.
In the World Wars, the Royal Observer Corps used the tower to detect enemy aircraft, and during the Cold War, one more of the secret nuclear bunkers was built below a nearby field. It was dismantled in 1991, but don’t be discouraged, it’s open to the public!
6.Kelvedon Hatch
If you are a lover of spaces with history, you should know that this is one of the secret bunkers with the greatest uses. Initially designed to house up to 600 soldiers and civilians, its task was to protect the life of the population that inhabited it. The bunker had three main lives. Initially as RAF ROTOR station and later as the seat of regional government, with a brief period as a civil defense centre.
This shelter was built as part of the UK air defense network. Following its decommissioning in 1992, the bunker was purchased from the government by a wealthy family at public auction. Although it is private property, this bunker is open to the public and today its facilities serve as a space for temporary art exhibitions..
7. Hospital on the Rock
Next we will talk about one of the most secret bunkers in history. The Rock Hospital is an underground facility located in Budapest, Hungary. It is made up of long expanses of caves and tunnels and is situated just below the iconic Buda Castle..
Originally, during World War II, this place was a military hospital and in the Cold War it was an object top secret with denomination LOSK 0101/1. In 2008 it was opened to the public, there you can learn about the history of the hospital and the development of military medicine.
8. Bunker 42
To close our list of secret bunkers, we tell you about bunker 42, which is located in Moscow, Russia. This amazing place was the refuge of Joseph Stalin and the USSR government in the event of a nuclear attack. Another use of this place was as a communication center for strategic bombers in Russia.
Today it is a place with a large number of tourist attractions such as a museum, a restaurant and also a conference center. You could choose from numerous sightseeing tours where the guides could show you unique Cold War memorabilia.
This has been our journey through some of the secret bunkers in history, many of which can be visited today. What do you think? Does the idea of taking an incredible trip to discover any of these places appeal to you? Tell us what is your opinion! We read you. And if you want to continue reading, discover some of the darkest places in the world, they will give you chills.