The secret of the bunker hidden over 300 rooms in the heart of Europe

Facility 0774 Nuclear Shelter, also known as Bunk'Art 1, is not far from the capital Tirana, has existed for many decades, but only a few years ago the people of Albania were known.

It was a Facility 0774 shelter built by the government of Enver Hoxha, who took power for four decades (1944-1985) in Albania - to avoid the risk of a nuclear or catastrophic day attack. Apocalypse. Hoxha said that the enemy with Albania in both the East and the West would attempt to invade this small country. Therefore, he ordered the deployment of a solid shelter construction program with the aim of creating a defense system.

Picture 1 of The secret of the bunker hidden over 300 rooms in the heart of Europe
Residence includes more than 300 different rooms.(Photo: AP).

The basement was completely built in the 1970s with a length equivalent to 2 football pitches. Facility 0774 is a complex with more than 300 rooms, mostly located under the Mali Dajtit mountain range, in Tirana, east of the capital of Albania.

The cultural guide, Artemisa Muco, told the BBC that the tunnel was built with the purpose of being able to provide shelter for the previous administration for months."There is enough food, water and fuel here to meet the demand for a whole year," Artemisa Muco said.

Until his death in 1985, Hoxha also spent only a few nights inside the Facility 0774 shelter, although there was a separate office for this leader with luxurious furniture.

Picture 2 of The secret of the bunker hidden over 300 rooms in the heart of Europe
Shelters were also built with the aim of fighting grounds.(Photo: AP).

The last time the Albanian army used Facility 0774 for rehearsal operations was in 1999. Since then, the cellar has been closed due to degradation. Until 2014, the new cellar was reopened thanks to the efforts of Italian journalist Carlo Bollino, who wanted to uncover secrets about the Facility 0774 or Bunk'Art 1.

"I decided to open Bunk'Art 1 in 2014 when the Albanian Ministry of Culture called for the idea of ​​celebrating the 70th anniversary of the National Day. Until that time, no tourists or a Albanian population knew about the secret. This secret, " Carlo told the BBC.

When the bunker opened to visitors in 2014 created a special attraction, attracting more than 700,000 Albanian tourists."The people of Albania only know there is a nuclear shelter that they have not known for years ," Muco said.

Some rooms in the cellar have been converted into art galleries. So far more than 100 rooms here have been remodeled, while most of the rest remain the same or simply edit.

Picture 3 of The secret of the bunker hidden over 300 rooms in the heart of Europe
Some artifacts found inside the cellar are quite strange.(Photo: BBC).

Journalist Carlo said, maintaining the original condition of this cellar is not easy because of wet conditions. However, the biggest challenge is the collection of previous government-related documents and objects.

Some artifacts found inside the cellar are quite strange. An object that looks like a garbage basket with pictures of red stars is actually an air purifier. Soviet-style poison masks also make visitors imagine a fierce conflict and the tunnel becomes a temporary shelter for hundreds of people. In the cellar there is a large hall that accommodates hundreds of people. This area has now become a place for historical films or music performances.

Residence Bunk'Art is currently considered the most attractive tourist destination in Tirana. Senada Murati, a member of the cellar group, said travelers from countries like Britain, the US and New Zealand also began to be interested in this attraction.