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Bunker Museum Wurzenpass/Carinthia |
A Top-Secret Facility for Decades – Now Open for Everyone!
Cold War between East and West: Austria installs a secret network of Bunkers, field fortifications and barrages. They are meant to save the small and neutral Alpine Republic from attacks and marching throughs.
It was also on the Wurzenpass in Carinthia that decade-long and intensive war preparations were taking place – for the protection of the Austrian state border and the defense of the military key area of Arnoldstein/Villach. In 1968 (Prague Spring) and 1991 (Civil War in Yugoslavia) the Austrian Armed Forces were put on alert and soldiers occupied their positions ….
The “Bunker Museum Wurzenpass/Carinthia” offers for the first time the possibility to get an impression of those original bunkers prepared during the Cold War. This is the place where you can have a look at a comprehensive documentation and exhibition dealing with the – until now – secret and unknown history of the Austrian Field Fortifications and their “Barrage Troops” (1955-2005).
Be it with your family or on your own, as part of a school class, a company, a club or a group of soldiers: A trip to this “hidden world” of our younger contemporary history will certainly be a lasting impression for you.
As a visitor you do not need to have any historical or military background; you will be accompanied by our competent guides. We have also prepared food and drinks for you. In addition, our museum shop offers you interesting items which you can either purchase on the spot or via our internet homepage: www.bunkermuseum.at.
Set off for an impressive recce tour in our large, fenced-in museum area of more than 11,000 m2 where you can discover, across a spacious trench system, the bunker station itself, fitted with:
| • | two bunkered 105 mm Centurion tank turrets (including camouflage huts and dummy positions) |
| • | an antiaircraft position with a cal .50 heavy machine gun |
| • | covered fighting positions and communications trenches |
| • | command and control as well as supply compartments |
| • | fortified positions with overhead cover |
Constructed between 1963 and 1995, this – until 2002 fully operational – fortification, fitted with original equipment, produces a particular effect on its own. Audio-visual media, posters and additional assets convey information and impressions in a very specific way.
You can also see, among others, four formerly bunkered tank turrets and their main guns (M24, T34, M47 and Charioteer), various types of anti-personnel and anti-vehicle obstacles as well as a patrol boat of the “Danube Barrage Regiment”. This part of the exhibition will be enlarged.
This museum is not meant to glorify force, the military or weapons: Within a unified Europe bunkers fortunately have become obsolete. They now have the memorial function to prevent the future generation from forgetting the past.
The Bunker Museum is a private initiative, supported by the public, and was opened in August 2005 as a concrete contribution to the “Anniversary Year 2005 – 50 Years of Austrian Armed Forces”.
Please note the limited opening hours!
For further information please contact our homepage www.bunkermuseum.at . You can also find us in the media. Please send your e-mails to besuch@bunkermuseum.at or contact us by telephone: +43(0)664-2226423
During the year 2011, the “Bunker Museum Wurzenpass/Carinthia” will be open for individual or groups of visitors from 1000 to 1800 hours on the following days (marked green):
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Entrance Fees:
| € 7 | for adults (individual visitors; one visit only) |
| € 5 | for adults (groups of 10 and more) |
| € 3 | for children over 6, pupils, students, conscripts, alternative servicemen and pensioners over 65 |
Access is free of charge for children under the age of 7 and for members of the „Verein zur Erhaltung der Sperranlagen der Sperrkompanie WURZENPASS" (VESpa WURZEN) [=“Union for the Maintenance of the Blocking Company of the Wurzenpass”].