Prague is full of anti-nuclear shelters. Some places are surprisingly hidden
Prague hides a total of 768 anti-nuclear shelters in underground spaces in various parts of the city. In total, they are able to accommodate around 150,000 people, but the current state of the art would not save many of the hidden ones.
However, Prague must keep them running at all times, so maintenance is permanent, but they could hardly dispose of their weapons. Most of the anti-nuclear shelters were created in the fifties and sixties.
Subway as cover
The relatively small capacity of anti-nuclear shelters increases significantly when we incorporate the Prague metro into it. This, if necessary, turns into a “bunker” that can accommodate 332 thousand inhabitants.
A large-capacity space that can be used as a shelter can also be found in the Strahov tunnel, whose capacity is around 15,000. In total, up to 40 percent of the population would hide in the Prague underground.
Overall, however, the underground spaces are a remnant of a bygone era and it is difficult to assume that in the event of a massive atomic bomb attack, people would flee to the Prague underground. Instead of sheltering, one would choose to escape from the affected area somewhere far beyond the city.
The current premises were created mainly in fear of conventional notions of bombing the city. During the Cold War, the state imagined a real threat, so it used the underground to be prepared to save several thousand lives.
Although they are still maintained, they look more like museum places, where interesting tours are sometimes held.
Prague hills
Basically, we would find underground shelters in all the important hills of Prague. It is famous for its two ridges. Places like Petřín, Vyšehrad, Parukářka, Vítkov or Folimanka always decorate massive metal doors, which occur in a series of underground corridors, which are prepared in case of danger.
Petřín itself is riddled with 18 underground galleries, which have been established since the Middle Ages. For the purpose of the cover was to be used mainly those bearing the technical designation XXII.
The largest shelter can be found in the Parukářka park, where the Bezovka underground shelter is located. It has a capacity of about 2,000 people. It is interesting that it has its own sanitary facilities and its own source of electricity and a large water tank. In the past, a music club was hidden in the underground spaces.
Such a cover under Vítkov, its entire existence, serves as a technical background. Today, there is a small particle accelerator in one of them. It was originally intended for employees of the ČKD and Auto Praga factories.
If necessary, the Folimanka shelter in Prague 2 is fully functional. Regular inspections are held here and its capacity is around 1,300 inhabitants.
Mysterious covers
Underground anti-nuclear shelters are undoubtedly something very unique in their atmosphere, but if you are looking for a place where the genius loci is even more interesting, then be sure not to miss the shelter that is part of Thomayer Hospital. The minimum capacity contains fully functional halls, which are retro, but in the event of a nuclear war, everything is ready.
We can also find a very mysterious and mysterious atmosphere in Vyšehrad. The local southern casemates are really historical in nature and do not even have anti-nuclear protection. It is interesting that the whole hill of Vyšehrad can be “overgrown” with secret corridors.
The Czech Pentagon is the most secret and mysterious place. He is in the care of the Czech Army and is located in the Prokop Valley. The exact extent of the entire military area is still classified, including its purpose. However, the underground cover is always ready.
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