10-Z Bunker

Hidden deep under Špilberk Castle in Brno lies the 10-Z Bunker, a once-secret fallout shelter built to protect political elites from nuclear attack. Originally constructed during World War II as a Luftschutz (air raid shelter), it was later adapted by the communist regime during the Cold War as a classified civil defence facility. For decades, it was shrouded in secrecy.

The bunker could support up to 500 people for three days in complete isolation. Its reinforced concrete corridors contain preserved living quarters, decontamination rooms, a control centre, and Cold War propaganda murals. The air is cold, heavy, and dry—the kind that clings to silence and cement.

Today, the 10-Z Bunker is open to the public as a museum and, unusually, also operates as a retro-style hostel. Guests can sleep in the same beds that would have housed officials during nuclear emergency—an experience described by visitors as cold, claustrophobic, and unforgettable. For those who want to feel history press in from all sides, few places deliver it quite like this one. To be honest, my stay there was actually a bit cozy.